A Restored Mercedes Benz 450SL Roadster with Many New Parts; Six Different Looks

1977 Mercedes-Benz 400-Series Chrome Description

Overall :

I purchased this beauty—a California car through and through—over 10 years back, with a salvage title from a California middle-school principal. The salvage title merely stems from what the insurance company decided how to reimburse what happened to the car when it was taken for a joy ride and then stripped; there was no major accident, but many parts of the car needed major replacement/rework. Insurance adjuster decided that it was cheaper for them to “total” the car than to pay for all the parts/labor and repairs.

I knew it was going to be a project car then—I have done the following upgrades and repairs on this car: Completely rebuilt transmission, new drive shaft, rear engine seal, new water pump, new radiator, new air-conditioning compressor and receiver-dryer, new Sears Diehard International battery, new alternator, new starter motor, new smog pump, new windshield washer motor, new alloy wheels with new tires (the car also has four painted hubcaps for 14” steel rims for an entirely different look), new brakes and master cylinder, new rotors and calipers with new brake pads, all new belts, new vacuum elements (gas port door, trunk and passenger door). The steering pump is rebuilt, as is the steering gear, with a new steering coupling. The car also has new springs (you can still see the MBZ parts tags on them) and shocks. The front control arm bushings and cam bolts are new, as evident in the undercarriage photos.

The car comes with an assortment of parts, in addition. Although it is no longer a major project car, it could be further restored with some TLC. In addition to my own time working on most of the items over the past 10 years, I have spent a lot of money on parts and shop repairs/rebuilds on this car in various ways; especially with heavy repairs, such as transmission rebuild, a/c compressor/parts, engine seals, and steering, and suspension rebuilds.

Although the soft top is in good shape the rear window is aged and faded. I, however, have a new soft top with a specially treated clear rear-window pane that stays clear with age. It needs installing, if the new owner so desires.

This rust-free beauty has its age apparent in some of its cosmetics: some areas have small touch-up paints as shown in photos; inside carpeting is frayed in places, and could use a makeover. Driver-side door seal shows age and could use replacement. Yet, there is no water leak at a car wash from this door seal. Both seats are in great shape as is the dashboard and top. All in all, the car still gets thumbs up when I drive it with the open top, with shouts from others at the stop lights of, “Hey, nice car! What year is it?”

This car can sport six entirely different looks: Three with the alloy wheels and three with steel rims and painted hubcaps. The four hubcaps come with this car. It’s beautiful to see in all its glory!

The car starts right up, raring to scream! It has sporty acceleration and power to spare even at 90MPH. This is one bad-ass car!

Model Description:

The 450SL model was shown to the public at the Geneva Auto Show in 1973, but was produced for the United States market earlier, in 1971. In fact, the earlier version, 350SL was discontinued for the US market in 1973 as a result of the EPA standards and upgraded to a bigger engine with more displacement to retain its original power. Some 350SLs in the US ended up with 4.5L engines as a result until late 1972. All SL models sported MB’s Unit Frame-Body design, with independent front and rear double wishbones, diagonal-pivot swing axle, an MBZ design feature for such cars. Its 14” wheels made the car look sexier than the larger wheels appearing on later SL cars (560SL).

With its removable pagoda top and soft cover, the car was able to sport three very different looks (six if you replace alloy wheels for those with steel rims and painted hubcaps). Its MBZ-patented steering also allowed turning circle radius at an amazing 34.4 ft. With an acceleration of 0-60 MPH in 8.5 secs. and a max speed of 133 MPH, this was truly a sports car of dreams.

The US version of the 450SL (outwardly identical by the different headlight arrangement only), had a lowered compression ration of 8:1 and milder camshafts with a V-8 engine. The car was equipped with heavier bumpers and was fitted with the new three-speed automatic transmission. Rear-axle ratio was changed to 3.07 and maximum speed was 124 MPH. The 4.5L V-8 engine actually developed less horsepower than the original 3.5L counterpart, a penalty US owners had to pay for the new EPA standards. The car also weighed 148 lbs more than the European version and had, of course, not quite the performance of its 350SL sibling.

Over the years following the 1973 introduction of the 450SL the European versions far outperformed the US counterparts with the engine compartments getting more and more crowded with emission plumbing and equipment. In later models even the massive battery left the engine compartment and was moved into the trunk, with heavy cables carrying the current for the starter motor and all other electrical needs up-front.

During the time the SL roadsters were reigning supreme, strict government safety regulations had dispatched their competitors back to the drawing boards or to the discontinued production lines. Yet, the foresight of Mercedes engineers had provided their design with heavily padded interiors, collapsible steering columns and steering wheel under impact, way back when such safety features were a novelties. Also, design details like the aerodynamic ribbing of the taillights (to help keep them clean) and quartz-halogen fog lights gave you an added margin of safety under less than ideal conditions. Yet, despite these advanced features, the 450SL was still a roadster with strong performance that only a car with racing pedigree could offer!

So, go ahead bid with confidence on this rare gem and be a proud owner of this still rare—and getting more so by each passing day—Mercedes history! If you’re local to the San Francisco, CA area, enjoy its test drive and see for yourself. Even take it to a mechanic for a look over. The car has been in CA all its life!