1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SL

The Mercedes-Benz 230/250/280SL series replaced the legendary 300SL and its four-cylinder sibling, the 190SL, in 1963. The next 'Pagoda' top
SL Mercedes-Benz was the R107 SL series of 1971. Beginning with the chassis of the mid-size 'W114/115' model, Mercedes installed the 'W116' S-Class engine under the bonnet resulting in a luxurious and sleek V8 Convertible that remained in production through 1989.

The R107 SL 2-seater convertible/roadster came standard with a soft-top and optionally with a winter hardtop and the rarely ordered bench for the rear cabin. The North American market remained the primary destination for many of these Personal luxury cars, with over two-thirds of the R107 (and its sibling, the C107) being sent stateside. When sales began in 1972 in the U.S., the cars wore the 350SL badge even though they were equipped with the larger 4.5-liter V8 engine backed by a three-speed automatic. The badges were renamed '450 SL' beginning in 1973. The European markets received the 3.5-liter V8 for the 350SL and 350SLC. From July 1974 both SL and SLC could also be ordered (in Europe) with a fuel-injected 2.8L straight-6 as 280 SL and SLC. U.S.-market cars, sold from 1972 through 1975, used the Bosch D Jetronic fuel injection system, switching to the Bosch K Jetronic system from 1976 through 1979.

In compliance with U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regulations, the bumpers grew by 8 inches on each for 1974.

The 1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SL
For the U.S. market, the 450SL had a base price of $22,000 and was powered by an overhead-cam V8 engine with a cast-iron block and aluminum heads. It displaced 275.8 cubic inches (4520cc) and had five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, an 8.0:1 compression ratio, and developed 180 horsepower at 4,750 RPM and 220 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 RPM. The engine was aligned with a three-speed automatic transmission, the steering was by a recirculating ball, and disc brakes provided the stopping power. The steel unibody chassis had a wheelbase size of 96.9-inches and an overall length of 182.3-inches. The front suspension used unequal-length A-arms, coil springs, and a stabilizer bar. The rear received diagonal swing axles with a stabilizer bar, semi-trailing arms, and coil springs.

Among the Mercedes-Benz models offered in the U.S., the 450SL was priced in the middle, above the $12,500 230 Sedan but below the range-topping 450 Series 6.9 Sedan which was priced at $40,000.

The R107 was replaced in 1989 by the R129 SL roadster which would remain in production through 2001. The two-door roadster had an electro-hydraulic, fabric convertible roof and was based on the shortened floorpan of the Mercedes-Benz W124.

by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2022