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Mercedes-Benz 450SLC Coupe

Mercedes-Benz 450SLC Coupe

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Mercedes-Benz 450SLC CoupeMercedes-Benz 450SLC CoupeMercedes-Benz 450SLC CoupeMercedes-Benz 450SLC CoupeMercedes-Benz 450SLC Coupe
Mercedes-Benz 450SLC CoupeMercedes-Benz 450SLC Coupe
Lot number 57
Hammer value £2,400
Description Mercedes-Benz 450SLC Coupe
Registration GBW 705V
Year 1979
Colour Light Green Metallic
Engine size 4,520 cc
Chassis No. 10702422029142
Engine No. 11798522049489
Documents V5C/3 and 2; some service history; handbook

Launched in 1972, the 450SLC was a big bruiser of a car in the finest Mercedes tradition. It was in its element charging down the fast lane of the autobahn scaring the wits out of English tourists by shooting past their weedy Allegros at almost double their maximum speed.

About the only car ever to be adapted from a roadster into a tin-top, it was based on the SL convertible but was stretched a few inches and had better handling thanks to its much stiffer structure. Indeed it proved just how tough it was by its impressive performance in gruelling long distance rallies, including a win on the South America Rally of 1978 and second place on the East Africa Safari.

The 450SLC was powered by a bomb-proof 4.5-litre V8 that produced 225bhp and 278lb/ft of torque and can still more than hold its own in today’s traffic. Fantastically strong and stable at speed, it also made a great endurance racer, as anyone who saw the brutishly handsome AMG ‘Mampe’ 450SLC winning the 1980 Nurburgring Six Hours will testify.

First registered in January 1980, this 450SLC has had just four owners, the third of whom owned it for 18 years (1995 – 2013). It has covered 96,279 miles to date with nine service stamps in the book, the last at 87,034 miles in July 1990. An online check shows that it was last MOTd and in use in 2008.

As you can see, the car is now looking rather sorry for itself following a prolonged period of outdoor storage but the light green metallic bodywork does not actually look too bad beneath the layer of grime and we are told that the engine still starts easily and runs “as sweet as a nut” (although we have not tried it for ourselves). Should they be required, a pair of new front wings are included in the sale.

Being offered here strictly “as seen” and at no reserve, it looks like a fairly straightforward restoration project for someone. It comes with all its original handbooks, the aforementioned service history and a V5C although bidders are advised that the private plate shown is not included and has been replaced with the number GBW 705V.

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