Photo: Bring a Trailer
The Mercedes-Benz 450SL is without doubt a stunning piece of machinery, but this sleek Merc produced until 1980 had its flaws.
However, Bring a Trailer is hosting an auction - which is now live and will last for six days - where a stock 1974 Mercedes-Benz 450SL is in the limelight.
So let's find out the car's story first and foremost. According to the auction website, we're looking at a "long-time Southern California car that was sold new in South Pasadena and delivered on October 8, 1974."
The car's odometer reads 49,000 miles (78,857 km) but we're mesmerized by how super clean and untouched the interior looks. The one selling this beauty claims every feature of the car is fully functional, including the factory Behr air conditioning system.
Also, the cabin comes fitted with original upholstery, carpets, dash, and wood veneers.
On the outside, a layer of Byzanz Gold (option code 422) is covering the cabriolet's old but charming body kit that looks in good shape from where we're standing, except a couple of minor dents.
Under the hood lies a 4.5-liter V8 connected to a three-speed automatic transmission while the owner informs us the "limited slip differential, suspension, steering, and brakes are in excellent condition."
This does not apply for the 1974MY, but Mercedes 450SL's built in 1975 and 1976 were known for vapor lock and hard restart because of the under-hood position of the catalytic converter. The issue was fixed once the 1977MY became available, as engineers moved the catalytic converter where the resonator was initially placed, just behind the transmission in the exhaust system.
So let's find out the car's story first and foremost. According to the auction website, we're looking at a "long-time Southern California car that was sold new in South Pasadena and delivered on October 8, 1974."
The car's odometer reads 49,000 miles (78,857 km) but we're mesmerized by how super clean and untouched the interior looks. The one selling this beauty claims every feature of the car is fully functional, including the factory Behr air conditioning system.
Also, the cabin comes fitted with original upholstery, carpets, dash, and wood veneers.
On the outside, a layer of Byzanz Gold (option code 422) is covering the cabriolet's old but charming body kit that looks in good shape from where we're standing, except a couple of minor dents.
Under the hood lies a 4.5-liter V8 connected to a three-speed automatic transmission while the owner informs us the "limited slip differential, suspension, steering, and brakes are in excellent condition."
This does not apply for the 1974MY, but Mercedes 450SL's built in 1975 and 1976 were known for vapor lock and hard restart because of the under-hood position of the catalytic converter. The issue was fixed once the 1977MY became available, as engineers moved the catalytic converter where the resonator was initially placed, just behind the transmission in the exhaust system.
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