1973 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

450SL Convertible

8 - Cyl.

Automatic

10704412014458

Gasoline

I am offering for sale, my 1973 Mercedes Benz 450SL, with less than 34,000 original miles. If you're serious about finding an early small-bumper 107 mercedes in exceptional original, unrestored condition, you want to read my long write up.... I know that true Mercedes enthusiasts will appreciate this car, and will want a thourough description and pictures. So let me start with some basics. This is a U.S car, not a grey market car. This car is an uncommon color (Stonepine green) with Parchment leather interior. This car was purchased new in San Francisco, and the car remained in Lafayette/Walnut Creek area (East Bay of San Francisco) until I purchased the car, from the son of the deceased original owner. Always a California car. This car had a single owner, from new until the spring of 2008 when I purchased the car. The proof of that ownership is documented as follows: I have a photo copy of the original California pinkslip with the original owners name and address...that name matches the service plate that the dealer provided (the metal card ) that I have as well....That name also matches the name on the California registration for 2008. So, one registered owner from new to 2008....and of course, the original California blue license plates. The car is now registered to me, and title is clear. There is really no other documentation about the car's history prior to 2008, other than what I just described. When I purchased the car, the original owner had been deceased a couple years, and the son didn't have any service history...but you should read on and I'll discuss the mileage on the car in a minute. When I bought this car, I was searching for an earlier 280sl, Pagoda roof, but when I found this car I knew it was a gem. It is a much better value than Pagoda cars, which start at $20k for cars that need a lot of work. Even when a 280sl is perfect and costs $50k+, they don't drive as nice as this car.... This is flat out a better car, and this true 450SL, with small bumpers, was only available in the U.S. in 1973..... the '72 cars were badged as 350sl, and the '74 and later cars have the bulky 'impact bumpers'. This car is rarer than a Pagoda car, and values are increasing. The original owner was a doctor. The name embossed on the service plate (metal card) indicates "Dr. Crane". Afterall, it was only doctors who bought these cars back in 1973. The car was so original when I got it, that it still had the original tires, but since they had flat spots from sitting, I replaced them. Plug wires were even original...I replaced them also, but saved the originals. The car's body: No rust. These cars can get rust in the trunk when water collects and the drain is plugged, but this trunk is perfect..check my photos, the trunk is like new... no rust. There are a couple of very small dents on the car. (I'll include photos, but they are hard to capture on film) One dent is on the top of the driver's rear quarter, about 1" long. The second dent is about 1" as well, and is on the hard-cover that closes over the convertible top. There is also paint discoloration on top of the right front fender..like a couple drops of something landed there and stained the paint. I'll let the photos of the body of the car speak for themselves...the front bumper is straight, and not tilted up like many early SLs. Chrome looks great, with only minor pitting...what you'd expect from an original 1973 car...again, check the photos. Convertible tops: yes, it has both the ORIGINAL soft top and hard top. I was told by multiple Mercedes enthusiasts, (who know more than me about these cars) that based on the markings in the soft-top, it is original, and it is without rips. The mechanicals in the soft-top are so clean, I believe the original owner never took the hard top off. ...look at the little sponge protectors on the inside of the lid, you never see that!!! There are, however, 3 drops of glue on the back of the soft-top below the rear window...this is my doing (dang!). The leather on the boot was loose in a corner, so I re-glued it in a small area, and the drops dripped down into the area where the softtop was folded down. I'm sure someone could get the glue off, but I haven't gotten to it. Hard top: The hard top has been off since I got the car. As you can see from the pictures, I keep it indoors, and covered...again, the mechanicals on it are amazingly clean.. Only a couple small scratches on the painted surfaces of the top. The interior: All original parchment leather without any rips. Only interior flaws: one of the pleats on the driver's seat is undone and could use attention if you want perfection, and there is some minor wear on the edge of the driver's seat...very minor..you have to look for it. There is a small stain in the shape of a penny on the coin-holder area between the seats. The radio is a Becker that I purchased and had installed...it has an ipod jack. The interior is in very good shape, and even more so when you consider it is 37 years old and original...it's got that great old-leather smell. Again, check the photos. Mechanical Condition: Car runs and drives great...that's not B.S...I just had it serviced with the new plug-wires and subframe mounts, and the mechanic told me it doesn't need anything else...just drive it. I have receipts for over $6000 spent on the car to bring it back to life over the past 2 1/2 years. I can dig through the receipts to answer any specific questions you may have, but here is what I know I have had done to the car...(and by the way, work was done only by Mercedes mechanics who know these older cars): new Firestone tires, new shocks, fuel pump, cleaned fuel tank, replaced injection trigger points, new plugs and plug wires. New sub-frame mounts, new heater control valve (a/c works), brake pads, hoses, transcooler lines, motor mounts, transmission mounts, exhaust hangers....and I'm sure there is more. The car is incredibly original. I believe 95+% of the car is original, including most paint. I believe it had a small front fender bender (drivers side) at some point in it's life, and that fender was replaced. When the fender was painted, the driver door and A-pillar were blended to match...not a perfect job, but still good enough that you have to be within inches of the area to see any variation in appearance....don't let that fender-bender scare you...this car is in amazing original condition, and I won 1st Place at a national Mercedes Only concourse, in the "street division". The rest of the paint on the car appears to be original...there is some clear-coat failing on the trunk and other variations here and there that you'd expect after 37 years....but as Roy Spencer ( a Mercedes expert, and founder of OURSL.com and MercedesHeritage.com) told me, "it's the perfect patina, don't change a thing. Keep it original." I took the car to Roy shortly after I bought it, and he also said, "I restore cars in an effort to get them to drive this nice"...that's his direct quote, as he drove the car down the 101 freeway, right before he said to me, "even the cruise control works! This car is a great find". I recommend Roy's site to anyone who wants to learn about any Mercedes SL cars. He has restored hundreds, including Gullwings. Let me add here, that since there is no documentation on maintenance prior to 2008, I can't "prove" the mileage beyond a shadow of a doubt...I did find a German service shop in Walnut Creek who remembers the car, but they too had no documentation....but I'll refer back to Roy Spencer (and anyone else who has seen the car) when he told me there is no doubt the mileage is original.... Just full disclosure: I can't actually "prove" it, but given the proof of single ownership, always in California, and the condition of the car, there is no doubt to me and anyone else who has looked at the car....once again, check the photos...or have the car inspected. What else: It needs wiper blades...I have never taken the car in the rain, and haven't put in the effort to find blades that will allow me to keep the original silver Bosch cartridges which are still on the car.... The clock doesn't work....I don't have the original pink Cardex (or whatever it is called) for the car, that outlines the options, but I did send away for a photocopy and I have it.... Speaking of photos, I'll also include one of the California Highway Patrol inspection sticker from 1974 that is still in the windshield...how cool is that? - And, going back to Roy Spencer for a minute, one day he called me (while I was living in the bay area) and asked me to bring the car to his shop in Burlingame so that he could take pictures of the decals in the engine bay and elsewhere. He said that these cars will become more collectible, and people will want to restore them to original, and he hadn't seen a car that still had original decals like mine, and he wanted pictures for future reference and reproduction...very cool. For you true 107 body fans, who know these cars well, let me add: The carpet is original, as evidenced by the part number embossed on rubber mat under the gas pedal. You'll also notice that the plastic grommets on the top of the windsheild frame (where the tops connect) are still there, and not broken into pieces...(you never see that). Original gas cap, with Mercedes logo. Factory labels on the core support, radiator, inside gas door, door jamb, inside trunk, etc.. The little flashlight is inside the glove box, but not working..probably repairable. Slight discoloring on the rear window of the soft-top, but nothing worth replacing. The connection on the hard-top for the rear defrost is in place, and the little flap behind the seat that covers the connection is in place. Show winner: A couple months after I got this car, was the Mercedes Benz National Starfest Concours de Elegance on Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay... I entered the car in the "street division" for the 107 body style...competing against 10+ cars, all newer years, and I took 1st Place, and I'll include the trophy and certificate with the car. I'm not representing this as a concours car. I do consider this car an amazing time-capsule of a car. Yes, some faded paint in places, and other little imperfections...but still in amazing original condition. As I finish this description, I think I rambled a bit, so if I missed something you want to know, just use the "ask a question" feature and ask me. Let me close by saying, I'm not really in a big hurry to sell this car, and if it doesn't sell in this auction, it won't bother me. As I typed all this, I realize how much I like this car...I'm just not driving it much, and my interests are more towards older Porsche 911 and 356 cars, and that's the direction I'm heading. - I have the reserve set well below $20k, so I expect it to sell and I think this is a $20k+ car all day long because of the rarity, color combo, and preserved unrestored originality..even for $25k, you know that the car will be up to that level soon. I've probably invested over $25k between what I paid for the car, and all the work I've had done to get the mechanicals right. I don't hesitate to take this car on a 100 mile drive. I live near LAX and have driven the car to San Diego before, and have takend to Irvine's Cars & Coffee a few times. The classic car market is really starting to appreciate cars that are in their original condition. Anyone can spend money to repaint, re-chrome, replace glass, etc.... but, as the saying goes, "a car is only original once." This car is very original, and I doubt you will find another unrestored, original 450SL, as good as this one....and on the odd chance you do...it won't be the very cool color combo of Stonepine Green over Parchment leather and have 33,000 miles. Inspections: Inspections are encouraged. If you are in the area, are a serious bidder, and want to see the car, I can accommodate that....but I hate making appointments only to have people not show up or cancel..so please understand that prior to scheduling an inspection. Shipping: Shipping arrangements are yours to make, but of course, I'll make myself available to open the garage and pull the car out for you, or your shipper. However, the car will not leave my sight until funds are in my account, and my bank says the money is 100% clear. A $1000 deposit must be received with 7 days, and the full balance received within 20-days. Lastly, I reserve the right to cancel this auction for any reason, up until the point the reserve is met. Ok...I think I'm done. Ask questions if I missed something, or if you want a picture of something. The car is being sold "as is" without warranty. Also, I do have the little blue/white owners manual. In going through my paperwork, I found and eamil from the Mercedes Benz Classic Center that decodes the Option Codes...so here they are: 401=single seats; 416=hard top; 466=central locking; 491=U.S. version; 502=right side outside mirror; 513=Becker Europa radio; 524=paintcoat preservation; 585=air conditioning & electric windows; 593=heat insulated glass; 669=mode of packing VE I (I don't know what that one is); 740=black fabric soft top; 862=Stonepine Green body and hard top; 265= parchment leather interior. After I bought the car in 2008, I went to a couple bay area Mercedes dealers to see if they had records on the car, and I did find out that the car was taken in for a recall in 1977 for a cruise control actuator, and that's when I discovered that the car was originally sold by dealer #05612, which was Mercedes of San Francisco on Van Ness... They moved long ago to south of Market and of course they didn't keep any old records from the Van Ness operation.... The car was sold late in 1973...must have been one of the last ones as the '74 cars were coming in... Records appear to indicate it was sold on either 8/1/73 or 11/16/73...hard to know for sure. A document the dealer gave me from "netstar" indicates "Retail Date 8/1/73"..and "Warranty Start 11/16/73". I know people want to see more photos of specific areas, so here is my attempt to get a link to a photobucket page. If the link doesn't take you there, then just try typing the address of the link into your address bar. I just opened a photobucket page today just to see if I could get you all more pictures. http://s913.photobucket.com/albums/ac335/retail_dave/1973%20450SL/ I received a question about the the weatherstripping/seals on the car. I believe they are all original. Some a are absolutely fine, and some are cracking and could use replacement if you want a concours car. The seals on the doors are the ones I've noticed as cracked and flaking in places...and the felt that the power windows slide past could probably use replacement....but that's what happens to rubber and felt after 37 years. To me, they are not something I really ever think about...and the car doesn't leak when I wash it.. Originality to me is important, and I like the patina that comes with age... I do know the tops are both good, and the windshield is tight and fine. The car was never meant to be my daily driver. I've put about 2000 or less miles on the car since I bought it 2 1/2 years ago.