No Reserve Survivor! 1976 Mercedes-Benz 450SL

The elegant Mercedes R107 (“r” for roadster) arrived in 1971, following the popular “pagoda” W113. Though it was a roadster and marketed as a personal luxury car against other sporty contenders, the R107’s underpinnings were not derived from the lithe pagoda; instead, its suspension came from Mercedes’ “stroke 8” sedans such as the 200D and 280E, and its robust V8 was previously used in the swanky but substantial 280SE. Safety received intensified scrutiny, with new crumple zones, body reinforcements, padded elements in the cabin, and a relocated fuel tank. The first iteration sold in the US was the 350SL 4.5, confusingly named because rather than a 3.5 liter V8, it bore a detuned 4.5. The larger displacement provided some compensation for regulatory pressure on horsepower. The car was renamed in 1973 to match its engine, finally. Our subject car is a 1976 450SL located in Brooklyn, New York with an odometer reading of 17.000 miles, an assurance that that’s all she’s traveled since new, and the history to back up that claim.

Renowned for its reliability and longevity, Mercedes’ M116/117 V8 traces back to 1969, when it was introduced bearing a single overhead cam and Bosch Jetronic fuel injection. This engine was produced in a wide variety of sizes, with nomenclature to match. By the early 1970s, US regulations were forcing changes to emissions and power output; Mercedes was not immune. Compression ratios were reduced across the range, and by 1976, fuel management had shifted to Bosch’s K-Jetronic. Horsepower declined by about five ponies, to 187. None of this diminished the car’s popularity; despite a nose-bleed price, more units were sold every year. This car’s previous owner was a Mercedes restorer who coddled this car for forty-five years. The seller replaced the battery, serviced the car, and test-drove it; it is said to run and drive very well. A host of manuals accompany the car, along with several barometers of its originality including the tool kit, jack still with its tag, factory brake pads, and so forth.

Mercedes invented its own upholstery, closely mimicking leather but far more durable, called MB Tex. Other than a few hairline cracks in the dash, this interior is above reproach. The car retains all its original glass as well as both tops in near-new condition – including a top removal tool and factory hardtop caddy. The seller notes that the factory Bosch windshield wipers are still present – these are difficult to find now. The date-coded glovebox flashlight is also still with the car.

The unlovely bumpers never caused a sales hitch, though the automotive press complained vociferously. The triple-blue color combination is attractive; the seller believes the paint is all original. Note the ribbed rear lamps: Mercedes believed this shape discouraged dirt from accumulating – just one more detail verifying the company’s consideration for its product. This 1976 450SL is listed here on eBay, bid to $14,100 in a no-reserve auction. While this model is less desirable than the faster 560SL, the market tends to make room for exceptional examples; this car should sell for considerably more than the current bid – or someone will be enjoying a substantial bargain.