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  #1  
Old 12-28-2006, 08:01 PM
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350sl or 450sl what is it?

I have a 1972 350 sl, I think. vin 107.044-12-000128 Does this mean it's the 128th ever made? The emblem on the trunk says 450sl. I understand some people changed them. When I look for parts ,most places including mercedesshop.com have a different listing for 350sl 043, 350sl 044, or 450sl all for 1972. My car has a plate in the door jam that says it was manufactured 7/71. An example of the problem for me is Ignition points. Nobody has ignition points for a 1972 350sl, but they do for a 1972 450sl. Are all these parts interchangable? Any help and information would be appreciated. I am a new owner with lots to learn. Thank you , John.

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  #2  
Old 12-28-2006, 09:02 PM
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The vehicle you have is most likely a 450SL with a 4.5L engine. It was the 128th LHD, Automatic 107.044 made. If it had a 3.5L engine, your injectors would be yellow - but they're blue/green on the 4.5L engine. Points are interchangeable between all 3.5's and 4.5's as well as a crapton of other parts. But you dont need to worry I bet
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  #3  
Old 12-28-2006, 09:36 PM
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Early 350SL's

Early US spec 350SL's came with a 4.5 liter engine.
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Old 12-28-2006, 09:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alabbasi View Post
Early US spec 350SL's came with a 4.5 liter engine.
Exactly - it'll be badged a 450SL but it'll have the 3.5 V-8 from the factory. All is normal.
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Old 12-28-2006, 09:44 PM
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hunh?

did you say that right?

i would have thought it was labeled 350sl and had 4.5 engine.

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Old 12-28-2006, 09:45 PM
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Yes it has the 4.5L engine. I thought the early 1972s with the 4.5 engine was originally called a 350sl?
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Old 12-28-2006, 10:14 PM
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Correct

Quote:
Originally Posted by 72350sl View Post
Yes it has the 4.5L engine. I thought the early 1972s with the 4.5 engine was originally called a 350sl?
The 3.5 litre never made it here in the R107 unless it was in a grey import.
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Old 12-28-2006, 10:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by POS View Post
Exactly - it'll be badged a 450SL but it'll have the 3.5 V-8 from the factory. All is normal.
1971 V-8-powered 350SL 4.5 (body style "W107" in Mercedes-Benz nomenclature) introduced to U.S. as as a 1972 model. Though introduced in Europe with a 3.5-liter engine, the W107 always carried a less efficient but detoxed 230-bhp, 4.5-liter, Iron-block V-8 here, coupled with a 3-speed automatic. Power-assisted steering, air conditioning, hard and soft-tops were standard.

1973 Name changed in American market to 450SL

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Last edited by 450slcguy; 12-28-2006 at 10:56 PM.
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  #9  
Old 12-29-2006, 11:33 AM
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it's really simple-----yellow injectors=350 engine blue injectors=450 engine and if you're still having trouble get to the engine # stamped on the bell housing left of centre.116=350 117=450.
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  #10  
Old 12-29-2006, 02:21 PM
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The real truth is that all USA version SL's from 1972-80 were 450s.

THE reason thet MBUSA said that the 1972 model was badged 350SL is that Germany didn't have the 450SL badge ready in time!
I do remember the first load of those cars back in late 1971! WE asked that question over 35 years ago.

R107.044= 450SL
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  #11  
Old 12-29-2006, 04:54 PM
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BTW, the yellow/blue rule breaks down when somebody uses after-market black ones. -CTH
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  #12  
Old 01-03-2007, 01:33 PM
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Thank you everyone, this is really great info. John.
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  #13  
Old 01-03-2007, 02:14 PM
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I have recently obtained the original mb data plate for my car. It reads as follows: original owners name and address 12-17-71
167 350slcr
107044-12-000128
670 117982-12-000188
32505 1

Now I'm confused about the cr that follows the 350sl. Any thoughts? John.

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