Mystery model! 450sl '72 107 parts not offered, is it a 350? a '71?

[robinsegg]

Okay, I have done a lot of reading on this but I am still uncertain. Why is a '72 450sl not given as a part option for a 107? CAn I use a 350sl part since it is also a 107 or should I stick with the 450sl? Some companies don't even have a 1972 option. I think it has something to do with EPA regulations and 350sl were retagged 450sl when they were imported? My plate under the hood is engraved 3/72 450 sl so I don't think the numbers have been changed. My lovely girl would like some new parts to make her sparkle, please help.

[350SL4spd]

The R107 was only offered in the US in one guise in 1972: a 4.5L V8.

It was badged as a 350SL so the europeans wouldn't get jealous, as their only option was a 3.5L V8. The US got the extra litre of displacement to compensate for all the smog crap Mb had to put on the engine in the US.

I believe that MB dropped the ruse in '73 or '74.

So, unless you have a euro '72 R107 with an actual M116 3.5L, the 1972 350SL parts listings refer to your car.

And I'm sure someone will chime in if any of this off at all .

[cth350]

One source of confusion is the build date on the door jam. If you car has a 1971 build date after June of that year, it's for the 1972 model year. -CTH

[Tomguy]

This website shows your model listed. Any parts supplier should as well, and if you're not sure you can always call the guys who run this site and see what parts you can get for your car!

[mbdoc]

R107.044-12-0?????= 450SL, only model offered in the US in 1972.

MB did badge them as a 350SL that 1st year.

At the dealer I worked at when they came out in 1971, MB told us they didn't use the 450SL designation because they didn't want to hurt their own market.

[meltedpanda]

mine is a 72 450SL, yes not all sites list the parts, yes 72 350 and 73 350/450 all parts pretty much interchangeable