The Mercedes Benz 450SL has always been the epitome of style, class, and grand touring motoring. This 1975 Mercedes Benz 450SL is a two-owner coupe that is ageless in its design and beauty. The car is located in Junction City, Oregon just north of Eugene, Oregon. The steel blue exterior shows the great lines of this design. The Mercedes is listed for sale here on Craigslist for a very reasonable $6,850. The seller states that the car is in great condition. Ikey Heyman found this car and we appreciate him sending it to us.
The odometer on the car reflects 138,000 total miles since new. While the picture of the engine is blurry, you can see that the car is well kept and still houses its 4.5-liter V8 engine. The motor is backed by an automatic transmission and is said to run well and be a great cruiser. Being a 1975 model, this car is equipped with the Bosch D Jetronic fuel injection system.
The interior shows some wear and sun fading but overall is pretty nice. The soft rubber weatherstripping probably needs replacement and the steering wheel was probably originally blue not gray. The seller states that the car is not rusty or abused. He keeps it in a barn under a cover and drives it occasionally.
The Mercedes still sports its original factory wheels which I have always admired. I had a friend in high school whose dad owned a Mercedes Benz 450 SL. She always bragged that it could beat my 1978 Pontiac Trans Am in a drag race. One day she brought it to school and we tested out her theory at a stoplight. Let’s just say that America came out on top by a wide margin. Still, this is a grand touring vehicle, not a stoplight bruiser. This car should be considered desirable and is a beautiful survivor.
Descent price looking at its current condition. 75 was the last year for D-jet and probably better considering the 76 got CIS with exhaust manifold cats which was a bad combination. Looking at the paint and the interior you would spend more than the car is worth to restore this to its former glory. As I’m finding out with my SLC parts aren’t cheap and these cars typically need more than the eye can see. Best to buy from an owner who has a service file as thick as a book as so many fell in the hands of people who used them up rather than keep them properly maintained.
Those motors didn’t make a lot of power but the early ones were torquey for their size. This one is most likely bogged with smog equipment too. Still it looks like it could be a decent buy for someone looking for an SL.
Are timing chains single row or double row on this car ?
This car was also offered in Europe with a straight 6 and a 5 speed manual tranny. IMO, getting rid of the V8 was a good thing. The other alternative is to remove the boat anchor motor and put a chevy 350 in it instead. Then you can have both. A great cruiser and a tragic light car
LS &six speed candidate.