1979 Mercedes-Benz 450SL

The legacy of the Mercedes-Benz SL is one of groundbreaking engineering and refined luxury. The first production Sportlich Leight (or 'Sport Lightweight') cars were only slightly altered from the 300 SLR racecars that secured the company's performance image by dominating the 1950s racing circuit. The first SLs were technical triumphs and were among the first direct fuel injection systems and space-age 'birdcage' design, which necessitated the 'gullwing' doors.

Although exotic, the gullwing doors resulted in high sills making entering and exiting a chore, plus confined quarters. The 300 SL roadster that followed remedied these shortcomings, and over the years, the SL line became progressively more luxurious and continued to be a paragon of performance.

The third generation of the SL-Class, the R107, was introduced in 1971 and would become one of Mercedes-Benz's longest-running production series. Remaining on the company's roster through 1980, just under 66,300 units were produced. Luxurious accouterments included real wood accents, cruise control, and automatic climate control. Beneath the graceful hood was the model's first V-8 engine - a 4.5-liter unit with aluminum cylinder heads and a Bosch fuel injection system.

Mechancial Specification
The 1979 Mercedes-Benz 450SL rested on a short 96.9-inch wheelbase and was 182.3 inches long, stood 50.8 inches tall, and 70.5 inches wide. Its steel unibody chassis was suspended by coil springs at the front and a swing axle independent setup at the rear with coil springs. Four-wheel hydraulic power disc brakes provided the stopping power. The 90-degree, overhead cam, eight-cylinder engine had a cast iron block and aluminum heads, 8.0:1 compression, a Bosch fuel injection system, five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, and delivered 180 horsepower at 4,750 RPM and 220 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 RPM. The transmission was a three-speed automatic.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2023