Yesterday I spotted a lovely light green metallic 450SLC for sale. Although not in the market I turned the rig around and went back for a close look. It had 114K miles, appeared rust free, had some wear on the drivers seat leather and the rear deck cloth faded. it was a 1980 model with the evil Chrysler ac controls. Asking 8700.

Not for me. Interesting cool paint color though and a nice rust free straight body.

The slc is really an impressively small car. Perhaps a candidate for a dieselization.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I used to think I would own an SLC but negotions didn't work out on the carbureted/manual/6cyl one I tried for years ago and I haven't gotten close again.

There is a convertible here for easy money but I just can't get excited about it.

I have a faint recollection that Mercedes attempted to enhance the fuel economy in their M117-engined cars for the 1980 model year by detuning the engines slightly and making the final drive ratio a bit taller than preceding years. These changes did not enhance the performance of these vehicles. I would go for a 1979 model over 1980 for this reason, unless I had a good drivetrain from a 560SL laying around.

cool cars, IIRC, the car mags had little love for them, but I have always liked them. Sounds like a pretty high price though....

I'd consider using something like a VW turbodiesel. OK, I'm probably talking blasphemy here.

I think its true value is south of 5K. perhaps south of 4k.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

sounds more reasonable

I had a '77, they are neat cars you do not see many of. Its becoming as a friend of mine puts it, "a rare car no one is looking for"

I liked mine, but someone liked it more than I did, and I parted with it. Would not mind having another, but I would probably seek out a euro. A good friend of mine has a Euro 450SLC that is a 4speed that he uses as a vintage rally car, that is a neat car.

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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

It is rare, but the 123 coupe is much more desirable IMO.

That said, I saw a lovely 280 SLC a few years back--green on green with plaid cloth seats, crank windows, manny tranny, manual AC controls, Euro lights and bumpers.

I probably would have made an offer if it was for sale, but it wasn't.

Every once in awhile one comes up but I just can't do it justice with my work schedule.

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Nate Stanley
(Currently Benzless)
1985 F-250 6.9l 170K
2009 SCION XB 36.5K
2003 LS430 78K
2012 Kubota B 2320

Sounds like a euro. I am not afraid to leave notes on windshields about "if you ever....give me a chance."

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I wouldn't go so far as to call them rare, you can buy one any day of the week, you just don't see them out and about all that often.

A 123 coupe is an entirely different animal. I've had both, I would agree people seem to prefer the C123, but big v8 grand tourer compared for a midsize diesel or 6cylinder coupe isn't the same in my eyes.

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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

I wonder if anyone has actually added the 560SL drivetrain to this model and created a 560 SLC? Should be very doable.

With a parts car it seems like it would be trivial to do. Probably could just cut up a 560SEL and do the swap. Don't see many beater 560SLs out there anymore.

This thread makes me miss mine a little, and then I look at the 190SL and 350SL and don't regret it haha.

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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

I would go with an OM617.952, OM603, or OM606. The VW diesel would be strange in the car -- why put a rough economy-car motor with zero power into what was in its day one of the most expensive cruisers that Mercedes sold?

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

I think that the M117 is packaged a little bit differently for the Mercedes R107/C107 as compared to the W126. Different oilpan? Different accessory drive layout? I recall a difference, but don't recall the difference.