1974 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

450 SL 2-door Coupe Convertible/Hardtop Roadster

4.5 liter V-8 Gas Engine

Automatic

Clear

Gasoline

Selling the car: I had visions of fully restoring this car long ago. However, family deaths left me with several alternate vehicles to drive and sell, in addition to my six including a Goldwing and SeaRay. Further, my health is not good. I have had several back surgeries and two knee replacements in the last 11 years. Too many metal rods and screws fusing my back prevent work below waist high of any kind on a vehicle. Therefore, the car as is must go before me. Mechanical: Before I stored the car it always ran well, used no oil, oil changed every 5,000 miles, oil pressure excellent, compression 155-160 across all 8 cylinders. The leaky exhaust manifold gasket must be replaced to eliminate the exhaust leak and noise. As I recall the brakes are new, any replacement parts always OEM; transmission seems sluggish which I attribute to sitting and old fluid. I am old too (75) but I am no expert so just guessing. Body: The car has never been in an accident. There is a very small dent in the left front fender.(See in picture, I backed into it in my driveway) and a small dent in one of the bumpers. There is a crack in the passenger side of the windshield - see last picture. Very good Michelin tires are shown in the pictures. There is a new Megatron Plus battery The entire car was sanded to the bare metal and repainted in about 2006-7 including new window rubber seals. The new seals may be the cause of a leaky hardtop. I had a sticky accelerator pedal and I learned the other day it was rusted so I presume there may be some rust in the floor pan. The carpets were musty and I had new carpets installed. The soft top needs to be replaced. I have a new German made Blue soft top to be listed in a separate auction. The mileage is perhaps 3000 more than the broken odometer shows in the picture. I have several pictures that show additional details of the car. I bought the car in 1982. It was my primary vehicle until 1987 when I added a Blazer for winter driving, using the Mercedes as a summer car. In 1994 I added Lexus SC400 to my vehicle count which dramatically reduced my use of the Mercedes. I added a fourth vehicle (Honda Goldwing Motorcycle) virtually dropping the SL mileage to less than 1,000/year. the last 10 years the Mercedes has not been used and has not been licensed or insured since 2010, although started frequently. The odometer reads about 130,099 miles, which is slightly lower than actual. I bought the car in 1982. It was my primary vehicle until 1987 when I added a Blazer for winter driving, using the Mercedes as a summer car. In 1994 I added Lexus SC400 to my vehicle count which dramatically reduced my use of the Mercedes. I added a fourth vehicle (Honda Goldwing Motorcycle) virtually dropping the SL mileage to less than 1,000/year. the last 10 years the Mercedes has not been used and has not been licensed or insured since 2010, although started frequently. The odometer reads about 134,000 miles, which is slightly lower than actual. I will be downsizing and will be selling tools, woodworking equipment, antique survey instruments, cameras and photography items, furnishings and more.