There was a time when I spied a car like this 1979 Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC I’d think, “Who needs to know anything about it, it’s fantastic looking”. Well, times change and so much for skin-deep thoughts. These are fine automobiles but I’m a bit more comfortable, as of late, knowing at least a little bit about what makes a special model tick instead of just throwing caution to the wind and being smitten by a slick designer’s pen. The seller claims that this Benz was the most expensive M-B model offered in ’79. Really? Well, it has killer looks but what really drove that price? Let’s look this Monterey, California domiciled tourer over and see if we can figure that out. It’s available here on craigslist for $17,900. Todd K gets the nod for this tip!

According to Hemmings, a 1979 450 SLC retailed for $16,498 which was $1,900 more than a 450 SEL sedan. Sounds like a total bargain today, right? The SLC was a fairly common find as there were about 63K produced between 1971 and 1981 but that covers the entire engine line-up, not just the 450 model which are those outfitted with a 4.5 liter V8 powerplant. So, what’s in a letter, in this case, the letter “C”? In M-B speak, the SLs were designated as an R107 chassis while the SLCs received the C107 designation. The Cs (coupe?) included a back seat and a moon roof equipped, fixed steel roof while the SL was a two-seater with a folding fabric roof or a removable hardtop. Other differences include length, some of the difference owing to the C’s four-inch longer wheelbase.

OK, here we have a two-owner car with 93K miles on its clock. We’re told that the black finish is stunning and I will admit that it’s strong without indication of fade or oxidization – it looks like it’s a mile deep. The standard Mercedes wheels, usually wearing an argent finish, have been chromed up – they look OK but it’s a matter of preference. I can’t find an exterior nit to pick.

Under the hood is Mercedes’s fairly common and well respected 4.5 liter V8 engine, in this case generating 180 net HP. That rating seems a bit light to me for such a vaunted piece of Tuetonic engineering but that’s what my source claims for a North American model. The European version ponies up 215 net HP and I would assume that the difference was due to America’s more stringent emission control standards that were in place in ’79. There’s nothing said in the listing as to how this automatic transmission-equipped Benz runs and drives.

The red leather interior is described as being in “perfect condition” and it looks it. I would expect some sign of wear and degradation, especially after 44 years of use and 93K miles traveled but none is apparent – a testament to M-B’s quality of materials. That back seat is looking a little tight but that should come as no surprise. What is a surprise is the size of the trunk – it’s more accommodating than I would have thought.

Well, the ask on this car is more than what it cost new but that’s the case, pretty much, with anything on four wheels today that has a collectibility aspect to it. I  think I have a good feel for what makes this 450 SLC tick, but I’m still a sucker for its lines. What I don’t know is what the operating/maintenance cost is like and how reliable or durable this model is, especially now that it has aged. Any current or previous owners care to weigh in on that matter?