1978 Mercedes-Benz R107 SL

This 1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SL is said to have remained registered in Illinois with one owner until it was acquired by the seller in 2021, and it now shows 4,600 miles. Powered by a 4.5-liter V8 paired with a three-speed automatic transmission, the car is finished in Astral Silver Metallic over blue leather upholstery. Equipment includes a blue soft top, a body-color removable hardtop, 14″ Bundt alloy wheels, fog lights, a Becker Mexico cassette stereo, a folding center armrest, electric windows, and automatic climate control. This R107 is now offered with manufacturer’s literature, a binder of service records, a hardtop stand, spare tires, and a clean Illinois title in the seller’s name. The car is finished in Astral Silver Metallic (735) and features a blue convertible soft top. Additional exterior equipment includes fog lights, a power antenna, and chrome-accented bumpers and trim. The seller states that paintwork has been performed on the right quarter panel to repair a scratch. There is a section of wear on the soft top below the rear window. Silver-finished 14″ Bundt alloy wheels are mounted with 205/70 Michelin XWX tires that were installed in September 2022. The car was factory equipped with power steering and power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes. The brake hoses were replaced in February 2023, and the seller reports that an alignment was performed in February 2024. The cabin features two bucket seats upholstered in blue leather along with a color-coordinated center console and door panels. Additional appointments consist of zebrano veneer trim, a Becker Mexico cassette stereo, a folding center armrest, electric windows, cruise control, and automatic climate control. A four-spoke steering wheel frames VDO instrumentation including a 160-mph speedometer, a 7k-rpm tachometer, a clock, and gauges for coolant temperature, oil pressure, and fuel level. The six-digit odometer shows 4,600 miles, approximately 75 miles of which were added under current ownership. The hazard switch was replaced in preparation for the sale.   The 4.5-liter V8 features Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection and was factory rated at 180 horsepower and 220 lb-ft of torque. The oil was most recently changed at 4,200 miles, and the seller reports that service in 2024 consisted of replacing the battery and three of the fuel lines near the gas tank. Power is routed to the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission. The shifter bushings were replaced in 2004. Decoding the data tag above reveals the following information: 735 – Astral Silver Metallic Paint 467 – Central locking 491 – U.S. version 513 – Becker Europa stereo, USA 531 – Automatic antenna 587 – Folding armrest 592 – Green heat-insulating glass and side windows 639 – Elimination of warning triangle and first-aid box A body-color removable hardtop is included in the sale. An area of delamination is present in the rear window, a photo of which is viewable in the gallery below. Filed under: r107, sl