Low Mileage 1975 Mercedes-Benz 450SLC

I bought this car about a year ago from an acclaimed Los Angeles poet. who sold it because he was on his way to Berlin for a fellowship. He bought the car from the heirs of the original owner. who had kept it at a vacation home since it was new. driving it less than 1. 00 miles a year. When the original owner passed away. the car apparently sat unused for years because his widow just wouldn't sell her husband's treasure. The odometer now has just under 31. 00 miles -- a barn find if there ever was one! In the past year. my long-time certified Mercedes mechanic has brought this fine motor car roaring back to life: new ignition. fuel injectors. distributor cables new brakes (master cylinder. calipers. pads. etc) new coolant reservoir and exhaust system.

And because of its year. it doesn't require a smog certificate. ever!

Remember. this is the SL "C" - coupé - it's a foot longer than the SL. closer to a S class than a roadster - complete with a real back seat. hard top. and a power sun roof. too. At the time of sale in late 1974. this car cost 2013's equivalent of $225. 00 - a true luxury grand touring car! a famed 4. 5 L. fuel-injected. V 8 engine. this car goes quickly and makes a great sound doing it.

Mercedes made only about 6. 00/yr from 1972-1981-- and only a tiny fraction of them ever made it to the US. And Mercedes made only one SLC for every four SL models they made. so it's a truly scarce find. Further still. most SLC examples fell into disrepair as their second and third owners mistook them for ordinary SL roadsters. This particular car has none of those problems. Loved by the original owners. the car was properly garaged for about a decade. driven occasionally. In our care. the 450 SLC has been further fixed to solidify the car's excellent reputation for reliable performance and pedigree for luxury. 39 years after its original sale. there are practically none left on the road in such pristine original condition and so few miles.

It growls and creaks a bit at times (as any vintage car should). and it's lots of fun to drive. Listen to the V 8 roar and see if you don't smile.

Other features include original hubcaps and a properly reupholstered driver's seat. though the driver's seat does have a small tear in the left-side seam (easily repairable with some needle & thread. I have not had the time). There's a little 1" x 1" patch of damaged paint on the left door. and a tiny ding in a satin chrome strip that runs above the right door handle. If you like a car that starts conversations. and you appreciate fine character and pedigree. this is the car for you.

One other thing: The SLC model has a great racing history. with rally wins in Kenya. New Zealand. Portugal. Ivory Coast and elsewhere. We hear there's a resurgence of SLC rally racing going on now in Europe. so international buyers take note.

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