1974 450 SLC performance - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ja17 · #16 09-07-2009, 08:40 AM

Hello,

AMG made some high performance parts (headers, cams, heads) for these engines back before they were part of MB. They are very hard to come by these days.

Yes, duplication of some parts in fiber glass or other composites also saves weight. The front and rear spoilers would be easy. I made and installed a mostly fiberglass body on one of my early rally cars (1970 250 sedan).
How far you modify the car depends on the class you wish to run. Competition stock vintage classes are more practical as far as cost and feasability. A lot of mods will throw you into a "open class" with unlimited modifications and cost allowed. For instance, in La Carrera Panamericana, all competition cars are 1965 and earlier. Competition cars in the "open class" have been clocked at 180 mph in this event! A lot of these cars have unlimitited budgets!

cgoodwin · #17 09-07-2009, 06:45 PM

Great info!

"if you are worried about money now..."

Mind the pennies and the dollars will mind themselves my friend. I have a full autoshop and a metal fab business, the tools and experience to build the cars. I am building one for myself, one for a business associate with a background in racing, and another for a friend in tech. It is just as easy to build 4 an to build one (within reason). Pattern a roll cage and bend 3 sets of tube rather than one. The base cars are inexpensive, the interiors stripped except for race seats that can always be swapped into new cars. The cars can be easily trailered to events and the overall cost should be low.

The Panamericana is less than a grand a day, I can spend that sitting by a pool next to an overweight couple from Iowa. The Mexican 1000, the Chuahua 1000, etc, etc. I had an adventure travel business in the Baja through the 90's and know every inch. Store the cars in SD and fly there for $69 whenever we feel like tossing the camping gear, fishing poles, etc in the back and heading to the Cortez for some fun runs, camping, fishing, etc.

I ran tours following an off road track from the border to Cabo, staying in hotels each night, every two shared a sand rail and followed a guide car, they had some speed runs, some beach runs, and some slow mountain sections. Stopping at little towns, missions, cave paintings, etc. Back then I charged $600 a day.

The point is that the rallys are only part of the program. I just finished a 1991 Honda CRX, full cage, seats, gauges, v-tec motor, LSD 5 spd, Acura brakes inside 18" Montigi rims hooped with Toyo's. Easy 13 1/4 but it has no soul. I built it to race club days and take the lawyers in M3's but it lacks something and who wants to drive a Honda? Honda on a track for the afternoon, or a 450slc rally car down the Baja.....

cgoodwin · #18 09-07-2009, 06:50 PM

Re: La Carrera Panamericana. There are vehicles in Historica A class up to 1972 "or mechanically similar" Since the 450 slc was first avail in 1972 I have asked Edgardo Leon to allow the 450 slc, he indicated that if 3 or more cars were willing to sign up, they would likely be eligible for inclution.

cgoodwin · #19 09-07-2009, 06:53 PM

I can cast the rear spoiler in urethane if I can find one! I would avoid glass on a rally car if possible.

ja17 · #20 09-07-2009, 08:24 PM

Hello cgoodwin,

Count me as one. Lets explore the possibility of getting three SLCs in that rally. That will save me building a new finback rally car. What do you think?

cgoodwin · #21 09-07-2009, 08:58 PM

the race is in a month, so I am shooting for next year. The Mex 1000 is next week, the chuahua 1000 is in march though.

ja17 · #22 09-07-2009, 09:06 PM

Yes, I am planning for next year at this point. the economics just did not work out for this year.

mercmad6.3 · #23 09-07-2009, 09:17 PM

I saw the W107 rally cars in action in New Zealand back in the day .
heres a little info on the 500SLC evolution . note the horsepower..
http://www.rallye-info.com/carspecs.asp?car=207
http://users.telenet.be/mexthistoricrallyteam/pagina28.html

And as always You tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2CC01h_YBo

cgoodwin · #24 09-07-2009, 10:59 PM

Since only 2700(+/-) 450 SLC 5.0 cars were built it seems a shame to cut good ones up, in addition there is the fact that 450SLC's ate dirt cheap so spare engines, trans, diff, even complete spare cars could be had for very little. A good car for $1500, $300 into a cage, $500 for rice racer seats from fleabay, service, cam chain, belts, another $1000 in assorted bits, tires... I think for around $5k you could have a car. Maybe more for dual fuel pumps and a cell, extinguishers and the like.

mercmad6.3 · #25 09-08-2009, 02:01 AM

Around 15 years ago a mate raced a stude coupe in the PAn Americana. With several hundred horsepower this thing is 200MPH car. It is also merely a shell of a studebaker so the above post hit the nail on the head. buy a bunch of old SLC's and build race shells with carbon fibre skins front and rear. It's the only way to get competitive.
I wish i could get cheap ex race gear here but it's so expensive to buy new that it gets used until all the date stamps are used up,then thrown out or sold to kids for their rice cars.

ja17 · #26 09-08-2009, 11:51 PM

Thanks Mercmad6.3, I enjoyed that information!

Yes, would not attmept to enter the unlimited class. Too much money involved. Some of those guys think nothing of dropping $100 K in there toys!

The Historic (stock) classes are much more affordable for the "grassroots" enthusiasts of the sport.

I noticed when I was in AUS. that most of their SLCs are six cylinders. They are rare here in the US. There are plenty of V-8s. In fact the Rally officials in Adelaide bumped me up into a modified class since I was running a V-8 SLC instead of a six !?

Thanks again,

alabbasi · #27 09-08-2009, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ja17

I noticed when I was in AUS. that most of their SLCs are six cylinders. They are rare here in the US. There are plenty of V-8s. In fact the Rally officials in Adelaide bumped me up into a modified class since I was running a V-8 SLC instead of a six !?

Thanks again,

I have a 6 cyl SLC that i'm about to part out. I hate to because it's quite a solid car but it's definitely worth more in parts then a whole.

cgoodwin · #28 09-09-2009, 12:06 AM

What classes are they currently eligible for?

ja17 · #29 09-09-2009, 12:55 AM

Hello cgoodwin,

Elegibility depends on the rally you want to enter, or the organization you are running with. It varies.

It is best to find out what type of event you would like to enter then look at the requirements for elegibility.

mercmad6.3 · #30 09-09-2009, 03:14 AM

Joe, It's a pity I didn't get to meet you when you were doing the Adelaide thing,theres a big enthusiast following there amongst the vintage merc guys.
I haven't seen a 280 SLC here myself but we got the 'Australia only' 560 SL,which is a hotter version than the USA and european cars.
In fact the only 280 SL W107 I have seen here is a friends genuine AMG car which he has had for years but never driven .It is in storage with 40 of his other cars. He keeps saying he will do something with it ,but he also has a 'as new' 190SL ,again he's never driven it and keeps threatening to drop it in here so i can recommission it.