New To PeachParts, Not New To Pelican... 1980 450SL
 

Just reg'd into the MB site, been on the 911 site for sometime. Currently working on a '80 450SL that is in serious need of love. Looking forward to your insights!

Welcome
 

I moved this to the SL forum, for introduction.

What 1980 450SL issues are you working on ?

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Wayne put a beater in my third bay to write about - she shares it with my Targa and my Sons projects...(don't ask!)

I've begun tearing her down some and noticed that the previous owner had removed two plugs - looks like the threads are a bit monkey'd up on one. I'm thinking of taking of the cover and taking a good peak at what inside.

The rubber is a mess which is fine for articles. The tranny was rebuilt which is good but she has been sitting idle for 15+ years.

I would love a check list of sorts to assess if this is worth a resto or just a work pruct to be scrapped.

The body is rust free, chrome is good, interiour is horrid.

I will probably get hate mail for this:
If it is a US 450SL it is one of the least desirable 107 models. Low compression engine. Trouble prone climate control system. Sitting for 15 years it will need the tank drained and checked for rust. Fuel system flushed (probably major parts replaced) etc. Timing chain, guides, and tensioner replaced. Parts are not cheap. You can easily put 5K+ into it and end up with a 5K car. Current market just doesn't support this.
My opinion? Parts car or pass on to someone.

Let the flaming begin.

From a financial standpoint, it surely doesn't make sense to restore the car.

But if you have a sentimental attachment to the car or just enjoy doing the work, then whether it's worth the money you put into it is irrelevant.

No love for it, Wayne put it in my hands to write about. Its fun so far and I did think it may be worth a resto but if I had to pick all the cars made in the last 50 years to skin knuckle on this would be way down on the list.

Thanks for the insight though. Stay tuned for various DIY articles coming out of Tejas concerning this 450SL :)