As I’ve alluded to before, I love rare colors on collector and hobby vehicles. In the case of this Mercedes-Benz 450SL, is appears to wear a shade of paint I can’t recall seeing on an R107 previously called Dark Green. There were lots of green paint options offered but Dark Green matches up with the year of production for this roadster. Given how few we see in this color scheme, it must not have been a hot option when it was new. The seller’s car is listed here on craigslist for $16,000 where it appears to be in excellent condition with a beautiful interior.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Todd K. for the find. Normally, a mid-70s SL wouldn’t get much of a look from me, and I’m a German car sympathizer. There were simply too many of these produced and many of the ones still available for purchase are in awful shape at the hands of someone who thinks the three-pointed star on the grill just automatically justifies a premium. However, when the car in question is as mint as this one appears to be, you can ask very fair money for one. The interior is in beautiful shape and that custom cup holder pod is a nice touch.
The seller doesn’t indicate that the 450SL has been repainted, so I’m going to assume based on the overall condition that it is original. Green was a big-time color in the middle 90s and then fell out of favor, almost certainly because too many cars were produced in this era with some shade of hunter green on its body panels. Now, you hardly ever see it, so the color scheme alone is going to drive some of the value here. The seller notes he has owned it for three years and prior to that, it was stored in a heated garage for 20.
From this angle, you can really start to appreciate how handsome this color scheme is. With a black top, tan interior, and dark green paint, it really a nice change of pace from the usual red, white, or black that the SL from this era tends to be clad in. The listing further notes that the air conditioning is working and new seat belts were recently installed, which seems like an odd maintenance item. The seller is looking for the best offer over $16,000 for this 102,000 mile example, and I suspect he might get it.
I had a 1972 280 SEL 4.5 and the seatbelts were rotten, thus replaced. Not unusual except it seems odd given the overall condition of the car.
I have had a few cars (different makes) that the safety belts frayed from use and the recoiling of the belt when unlatched, failed to retract fully. So, I can see this happening to a near 50 year old car.
But those bumpers… Almost insure a safe driving distance!
Holy cow! At least once your front bumper pulls in the driveway, anyone expecting you will know you’ll be arriving in a few minutes!
These are expensive. As a rule , owners keep up with maintenance, and don’t park these outside. Even old ones like this look good!
Pretty car. Back in the early 80s while working as a shade-tree wrench (and going to grad school), I helped a female customer (here for Duke’s Rice Diet clinic) look for a car. She was attracted to a 73 450 SLC for $3K. I persuaded her to buy a new Toyota Tercel instead. There were issues with the MB and you can double or triple the cost for any part you have to replace, to say nothing of what an MB mechanic charges for labor. As to the parts, ask me how I know. I’m sure the price on the instance car is obtainable for the seller given the condition. It’s also likely to appreciate, given what has happened to the 190s and the Pagodas, and don’t even mention the 300s…crazy money.
As to the custom cup holder, try resting your elbow on that during a long drive. No thanks.
The green paint and tan interior simply confirm that the Germans were jealous and wanted to make a British 2+2.
;)
Back in the 80s a doctor came into Scholfield MB in Wichita, sat in a green one (putrid color) on the floor, got out and said it made his complexion look green.
Not a popular color but not the same as this car.
1974 450sl’s have a design flaw. They put the catalytic converters (one on each side) right up agains the engine block. This creates a lot of heat which warps “stuff” like the exhaust manifolds, head, catalytic converters. If you consider buying this car, read up on this flaw. I had a 74 and never got it right. The cats are very expensive. Don’t let anyone tell you there is only one cat, this is true for 75 and newer, not 74.
Had a ‘80 450 SEL. Cat weld broke at the elbow. Dealer wanted several hundred for a replacement. Was hard to remove, but a welding shop fixed it for $8.
Was it also used as a snowplow?
Those are the ugliest bumpers that I have seen on ANY car, American, British, Italian, German etc. If it were my car I would pull those bumpers the day I owned it and if I couldn’t get the earlier model bumpers then I would drive it without bumpers. I have owned several Mercs, some of which were the 107 models like this, but fortunately they didn’t have American spec bumpers!