Lot Ended
Description
In the current ownership for 26 years; 106k miles with 18 service
stamps; in need of restoration following a period in storage; engine
running recently; private plate included; nice project for someone
Launched in
1972, the 450SLC was a big bruiser of a car in the finest Mercedes tradition. It
was in its element charging down the fast lane of the autobahn, scaring the wits
out of English tourists by shooting past their weedy Allegros at almost double
their maximum speed.
About the only car ever to be adapted from a
roadster into a tin-top, it was based on the SL convertible but was stretched 14
inches and had better handling thanks to its stiffer structure. Indeed it proved
just how tough it was by its impressive performance in gruelling long distance
rallies, including a win on the South America Rally of 1978 and second place on
the East Africa Safari.
The 450SLC was powered by a bomb-proof 4.5-litre
V8 that produced 225bhp and 278lb/ft of torque and can still more than hold its
own in today’s traffic, with a 0-60 time of just 9 seconds and a top speed of
134mph.
First registered in June 1974, this
450SLC is finished in Blue Metallic with a Parchment hide interior and has the
3-speed automatic transmission plus central locking, electric windows and green
tinted glass.
It has had seven owners from new
and has been in the current lady ownership since January 1999. It has covered
106,287 miles to date and comes with lots of early service history including 18
stamps in the book, the last in August 1989 at 88,255 miles (see
photos).
There are also various invoices for
other maintenance, including what looks like a fairly substantial overhaul in
1993 with new sills, brakes, exhaust etc.
Eight
old MOTs show the mileage rising from 81,145 in October 1982 to 106,259 in July
2003, shortly after which the car was taken off the road.
We are told that the car was still in good running order when parked
up but, as you can see in the photos, it has deteriorated somewhat over the last
20 years of inactivity and is now in need of restoration.
We are further told that shortly before the auction the fuel tank was
flushed out, a new fuel filter and fuel pump were fitted, along with a new
battery, and the car was soon coaxed into life and ran well until the fuel relay
and associated wiring overheated, leading the vendor to suspect that there is a
short circuit somewhere in the wiring loom.
Supplied with its original
handbooks and service book, it also comes with the factory data card, Blaupunkt
radio instruction booklet and a Haynes workshop manual.
On offer here at no reserve, this stately old Merc has a nice private
plate, UJG 54, which is transferable according to the V5C, and now seeks an
enthusiastic new owner with the time and resources to get it back on the road
where it belongs.
Consigned by James Dennison
– 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com