107 SL Prices

[mark cummins]

Im Trying to get the Dollar numbers for a 1974 450 SL
Its Repainted,New soft top,New Interior,Hard top,New tires,OE Alloys,books/records,No rust in the Rear Quarters/floor it has 90k on it 2nd Owner Seems ok? No Leaks..Runs Drives Great!What Price is it worth..Since I Dont See the Early ones for sale often.

[suginami]

Hey Mark, great to see you at the detailing gtg at Meguiar's on Saturday!

I look in the LA times classifides everyday (and I mean everyday), and I regularly see 450 SL's advertised in the $10k range, give or take $2k for mileage / condition.

You might see one in the middle teens, but it'd be in perfect condition.

I regularly see them advertised for $8k or so in average shape.

Have you read Frank Barrett's comments on these 450 SL's in his Illustrated Buyer's Guide?

If not, I'll look it up tonight and tell you what he says about each year and what to look out for.

[mark cummins]

Thanks Paul,

Please let me Know!

[suginami]

I copied the article from Roand and Track on the 107 Roadsters onto my hard drive, and they wrote the following:

"Still, all things being equal, it's best to avoid 1975-1976 models, and 1974 California cars as well. In the former, the cars carried catalytic converters inside the engine compartment. The heat generated by the converters tends to cook wiring and vacuum lines under the hood. Vapor lock was also a common malady. Mercedes engineers moved the catalysts farther downstream for 1977.

The 1974 California cars, according to Marx, were equipped with exhaust-gas-recirculation devices that cause stumbling problems."

"The 450SLs were subject to a formal recall, one still being honored by Mercedes-Benz, for cracking subframes. The dealer will replace or weld the subframe.

"During the Seventies, German cars were not noted for their effective air conditioners, and these SLs are no exception. Except for the servo units in the automatic climate-control systems of the 1977-1980 450SLs, which seem to fail every three years, the air conditioners don't break particularly often. "They just don't cool well", said Marx."

[suginami]

Frank Barrett gives all 72-80 450 SL's 3 stars (out of five).

Among the 450 SL's, he likes the pre-74 the best because they have the euro bumpers. The first couple of years had the best performance because they weren't strangled with emissions equipment.

The 72-74 U.S. models could use leaded or unleaded gasoline, but 75 and 76 models had the most vapor lock problems because their catalytic converters were in the engine compartment, where airflow was restricted by the tight-fitting engine hood. For 1977, the catalytic converters were moved back beneath the floor.

For 1976, CIS fuel imjection replaced the earlier electronic ignition, accompanied by hydraulic valve lifters and breakerless electronic ignition.

[mark cummins]

Thanks For the Info...