1973 Mercedes-Benz 450 SL

1973 Mercedes-Benz 450 SL, imported from the States, with the same colour combination as J.R Ewing's Merc during a period in the cult TV show Dallas. The car was imported to Sweden as early as 1990 and has been driven approx. 182016km. The car has had 5 users and comes in good used condition. The vehicle comes with various receipts for purchases in connection with rolling renovation carried out. In total, the current owner has spent approx. SEK 90,000 for parts and work. The previous owner had the car professionally repainted from white to red. The torpedo wall has been replaced and looks very good. Current owner have also had the front rocker reinforced as this was a production fault on the cars. All rubber strips and the convertible top have been replaced with new parts.

Equipped with torquey M117 V8 of 4.5 liters and approx. 225hp/370nm connected to a 3-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. The engine has been thoroughly overhauled by the current owner. More information on this can be found in the second paragraph below.

The general condition of the body is described as repaired by the previous owner and rust-free when the car was purchased. As previously mentioned, the torpedo wall has been replaced. Today there is some rust on the floor in the trunk, but nothing that spreads when stopped. The body is otherwise without door hinges or dents. There is wear given the age and mileage, including some wear in the paintwork on the boot lid and scratches up towards the rear window, some marks on the fuel cap and cracked paintwork on the door, although not particularly visible as it is on the thin side. There is also damage to the paintwork on both screens, towards the front edge of the bonnet and minor scratches. In general, we would describe the condition as good used condition that is not ashamed of itself. It is a car that the owner chose to drive and ensured that it became mechanically reliable instead of the small fix on the body. Glass panes are described as being in good condition. Most of the chrome on the car is in good condition, but the chrome handle on the tailgate is pitted in the chrome. The mounted rims were purchased in 2021 and the tires have since rolled just under 1200km. The spare tire has also been replaced with a new one.

The general condition of the interior is described as OK. The chairs have received new covers a while ago and look good in both color and surface. Door sides have survived worse wear but marks are present and are perceived by the owner as a little loose. The dashboard has typical dry cracks and barely visible drill holes from mobile phone holders or the like. Some small details are missing in the cabin. The chrome piece inside the rearview mirror on the driver's side is broken. Buttons, steering wheel and controls are described as being in original condition from the 70s. Fan knob has been replaced with an aftermarket version. Buttons and controls work as they should but the turn signal lever does not always return. A small piece is missing above the fan knob. Current owner plcoked off the belt to the A/C compressor when buying the car and has therefore not tested the function. Heat and fans work though. Some comfort lights, including the footlight when you open the door, have not been switched on. The tachometer is not working at the moment and is believed to have stopped working after it was switched to a switchless ignition system. Should be able to be fixed with a resistor. Central locking is not engaged. The car has had a radio/cassette player installed.

The current owner, who is an engineer, has put a lot of focus on making sure the car is reliable to use. Approx. SEK 90,000 has been spent on parts to get the car in good mechanical condition. This has been the focus instead of e.g. previously mentioned details on the body. As previously mentioned, it has also been changed to a switchless system. All ignition cables and ignition coil were replaced. New timing chain, tensioner and slides have been replaced at the workshop. New lubrication device for the camshaft is in place. New fuel pump, hoses and more have also been replaced. The diffusers were in good condition and were not replaced by the workshop. A new water pump, thermostat and hoses have also been installed in the workshop. All belts have been replaced by the current owner. Drive coil and box are described as working exactly as they should. All brake pipes have been replaced and the entire system has been checked by the workshop. All suspension bushings have been replaced by the owner. At the same time, new shock absorbers have also been installed all around and the front carriage also received new springs. The car has thus had a large amount of mechanical parts checked and replaced.

This is a perfect example for those who are looking for a reliable car and would rather enjoy it as it is, or continue to have as a rolling project!

The current owner has always changed the oil and filter in the fall so that the engine can run with fresh oil over the winter. In the last two years, the car has had fluid levels, belts and the like overhauled. Unfortunately, there is no history on the vehicle, and therefore the owner chose to go through the mechanics of the car. There are some inspection records and the last inspection the car had to go through was in May 2021.

A mechanically solid and reliable 450 SL that with a little bodywork love could become a really good example! If you don't want to go do mechanical work, this car is perfect for you who just want to get out and enjoy spring time along our roads!