This 1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SL shows it’s first service in Bethesda, Maryland by McNey Motors. Subsequent services were performed in Pittsburgh by the dealer through 1984 and again in 1994 in Oak Ridge, TN. The current owner and seller purchased the car in 2025 and has added approximately 200 miles in their ownership. Finished in Astral Silver Metallic (735) over a Black MB-Tex interior, power is provided by a 4.5L V8 engine paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. Features include power windows, a power antenna, a navy soft top, a paint-matched hardtop, and an aftermarket head unit. This SL includes a stamped service booklet through 1984 and extensive service and maintenance work was performed by the seller in 2025 including a wide range of mechanical and cosmetic sorting. Recent work included fuel system and injection service, timing chain components, cooling, brakes, steering, climate control, tires, and interior/accessory items as outlined below. This 450SL shows 112k miles on the odometer and is now offered by the seller with factory literature, a hardtop stand, 2 factory keys, service records, and a clean West Virginia title.
The body is finished in Astral Silver Metallic (735) and wears North American spec bumpers, headlamps, and tail lamps. The brightwork appears to be complete along with glass and trim. Exterior features include a matching removable hardtop, a folding navy soft top, automatic antenna, fog lights, and chrome mirror caps. The car was reportedly repainted under prior ownership. Per the datacard, this SL was finished in Astral Silver when new. Minor blemishes are noted around the exterior with the most notable being an indent at the rear of the left quarter panel. Pictures of the car with the top down and soft top up are provided.
The original OEM 14” bundt wheels have been swapped for OEM 14” Gullideckel wheels. The Hankook tires measure 205/70 at all four corners and show 2025 date codes. The front lower A-arm mounting tabs were inspected and are reported to show no visible cracking. The braking system was serviced with rebuilt calipers, new brake hoses, fresh DOT 4 brake fluid, a new master cylinder, and a replacement brake booster. Steering work included a new steering coupling, fluid and filter change, steering box adjustment, and a new steering damper. The shift linkage bushings were also replaced.
The cabin is finished in Black MB-Tex and accented by Zebrano wood trim on the dash and console. Amenities include an aftermarket head unit featuring bluetooth connectivity, air conditioning, Tempomat Cruise Control, electric front windows, power locks, a heated rear windowpane, and a spare tire in the trunk with an original tool kit included. Interior and accessory work included re-dyeing the inside of the hardtop, cleaning and lubricating the seat tracks, installing new sun visors, replacing windshield wipers, and replacing instrument and control bulbs as needed. The climate control system was extensively refreshed with a rebuilt climate control servo, rebuilt amplifier, rebuilt auxiliary water pump, rebuilt A/C compressor, new receiver-drier, new expansion valve, new hoses and clamps, and conversion to R134a. The condenser and evaporator were flushed, the evaporator exterior was cleaned, the vacuum pods were tested, and the system is reported to function as intended. The warning buzzer has been disconnected to keep it from sounding when the door is open.
The four-spoke steering wheel frames VDO instrumentation with an 85-mph speedometer, a 7k-rpm tachometer, and an analog clock. Additional auxiliary gauges include fuel level, oil pressure, and coolant temperature. The clock was serviced with new capacitors, and the mechanism was cleaned and lubricated. The seller reports that all lights, instruments, and warning systems are working, including the clock, cigar lighter, and ashtray light. The door lock and window mechanisms were also lubricated. The six-digit analog odometer indicates just under 112k miles.
The fuel-injected 4.5L SOHC V8 originally made 180 horsepower for the US market with power routed to the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission. The seller performed a number of mechanical services under their care. The fuel tank was removed and cleaned, and the car received a new tank screen, sending unit, Bosch fuel pump, fuel pump mounts, fuel filter, fuel accumulator, and related fuel lines. The fuel injection system was also serviced, including a rebuilt and tested fuel distributor, cleaned and tested fuel injectors, and a rebuilt, calibrated, and tested warm-up regulator. Vacuum connections were renewed as needed and routed according to the factory diagram. Additional engine work included servicing the cold-start air valve, testing the cold-start injector, cleaning the idle air valve threads, replacing idle-air and PCV hoses, installing a new air filter and gasket, testing the EGR valve, and removing the intake manifold to replace the lower seals and intake gaskets. Cooling system service included a new water bypass hose, intake-to-thermostat housing hose, upper and lower radiator hoses, coolant flush, and four new belts. The engine also received new valve cover gaskets, timing chain, cam sprockets, upper chain guides, and chain tensioner. Timing was checked and confirmed, and compression tested evenly at approximately 170 psi across all cylinders. Ignition service included a new coil, coil wire, distributor cap, rotor, ballast resistors, and non-resistor spark plugs.
This 450SL shows 112k miles on the odometer and is now offered by the seller with factory literature, a hardtop stand, 2 factory keys, service records, and a clean West Virginia title.
The seller has included the following videos:
The R107 SL remains one of Mercedes-Benz’s most recognizable designs, and this 1978 450SL presents with the kind of classic, tailored look that suits the chassis so well. Finished in Astral Silver over black, with a blue pinstripe and navy soft top, the car has a handsome period-correct presence that feels more thoughtful than ordinary. The full repaint gives the exterior a refreshed appearance, while the tidy cabin helps reinforce the impression of a well-kept driver rather than a neglected example. Power comes from the 4.5-liter V8, giving the 450SL the relaxed, confident character that made these cars such enduring grand tourers. Showing 112k miles, this SL has clearly been used and enjoyed, but its presentation suggests continued care along the way. For buyers seeking a classic R107 with attractive colors, open-air usability, and proper late-1970s Mercedes charm, this Astral Silver 450SL offers a compelling mix of style and drivability.
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24 Comments
$13,750 bid placed by @Zk74zk74
$13,500 bid placed by @kurtglen
Reserve is off!$13,250 bid placed by @Zk74zk74
$13,000 bid placed by @kurtglen
$12,750 bid placed by @Zk74zk74
$12,500 bid placed by @kurtglen
$12,000 bid placed by @Zk74zk74
$11,500 bid placed by @kurtglen
$10,000 bid placed by @Zk74zk74
$9,500 bid placed by @classicfun
$8,750 bid placed by @TCSFrankfurt
$8,500 bid placed by @classicfun
$7,750 bid placed by @MBDQW99
$7,500 bid placed by @classicfun
$5,000 bid placed by @kurtglen
@mg69bob Bob, I won’t have access to that information for a few days, but I believe it was cp-7wa. Together with the speakers, and the wind blocker, it produced enough volume, and a clean sound for cruising around town with the top down.Can you list the model of the Power Accoustics head unit?$4,000 bid placed by @SellCLE
$3,750 bid placed by @kurtglen
$3,500 bid placed by @rideair
$3,250 bid placed by @Smokiedog1
$3,000 bid placed by @mikesford
$2,750 bid placed by @Smokiedog1
I got this from chat gto: The 48-Hour WV State Police "One Trip Permit"The most practical method for a private sale is the One Trip Permit issued directly by the West Virginia State Police.What it does: It grants the buyer a 48-hour window to legally drive the unregistered vehicle from the point of purchase to their final destination (even if that destination is across state lines).Cost: $5.00 (must be paid in cash).Where to get it: The buyer must visit a local West Virginia State Police detachment office in person. Note: They should call the detachment ahead of time to ensure an officer is available to write the permit.What the Buyer Needs to Bring to the State PoliceTo be issued the 48-hour permit, your buyer must present:Proof of active auto insurance specifically covering the vehicle they are buying.Their valid driver's license.The signed-over vehicle title or a notarized Bill of Sale from you.Alternative: West Virginia DMV License ServicesIf the buyer prefers a standard temporary cardboard tag rather than a paper police permit, they can visit a physical West Virginia DMV regional office or a licensed WV DMV closing service agent. By bringing the signed title, bill of sale, and proof of insurance, they can purchase a temporary registration plate meant for transporting a vehicle out of state.A Quick Reminder for You (The Seller)Make sure you take your physical license plates off the car before the buyer drives away. In West Virginia, license plates belong to the driver, not the vehicle. Leaving them on the car makes you liable for any electronic toll violations, speeding cameras, or accidents the buyer might cause on their trip home.Are you or the buyer trying to calculate West Virginia road tolls for their route home, or do you need help locating the nearest WV State Police detachment?@mg69bob TV Sorry I didn’t mean to overlook that question. It’s been a while, but I believe the WV state police still do a temp tag for out of state sake. Let look on their web site and see what I can find.@83TDT Can temporary tags be arranged?Thanks for that question. Yes, indeed: Fresh oil and filter, New tires, All fluids topped up, Including windshield squirters, Cooling, Transmission, Differential, and Power steering. Hard top installed. Ready to go. What else can you think of?Is this car ready for an 1,100 mike drive if I win the bid? Fresh oil change, tire pressure, etc. Can temporary tags be arranged?$2,500 bid placed by @SellCLE
$2,250 bid placed by @kurtglen
$2,000 bid placed by @alukata1
I have much better ways of demonstrating quality of repairs than receipts from places you have no experience with.You have shared an impressive list of repairs. The credibility of the shop would improve the bidder’s view of things. I would like to see the car personally, but I am in Denver now and traveling for the next few weeks - long after the auction ends. I am happy to arrange a time to see it later if it isn’t sold at auction.@Wdspurgeon Why are so interested in the receipts? Come look the car. The work I describe is easy to verify. On the other hand, nothing could be easier these days than to make fake paperwork. If you want to know what it would cost to buy one of the sub-$10k cars on the market, and bring it to this level. The answer is $20k to $30k. Who ever buys this car will be getting the car for free and a substantial discount on the work done..Oh. Ok. Is there another way I can review them?Regarding receipts: Yes I have receipts. No I’m not going to post them.You have provided a very comprehensive history. Thank you very much! Do you have receipts for the work in 2025, and if yes, would you post pictures of them?Did it again R107!I apologize for the typo: R1207, not R109. OOps.Overall: This is a very nice, solid vehicle, with extensive, recent maintenance, ready to enjoy R109. Overall impressions: It has excellent mechanicals, body, paint, glass, tops, interior, instruments, lighting, climate control, and stereo. It drives, and presents like a several year-old car. That is to say: steering, acieration, shifting, braking, emission controls, climate control, windows, stereo, parking brake, locks., and maintenance. Not to say it’s perfect, but it is, overall, an extremely nice car. Interested buyers are welcome to inspect it in person. Short version of the history: (see below for more details) 1978 to 1981: 0 to 40k mi. - Used 14k mi. / yr. 1981 to 1992: 40k to 104k mi, - (Average: 5k mi. / yr.) 1992 to 2009: 104k to 112k mi. - Avg 500 mi. /yr. - Paint and interior redone. 2009 to 2025: - Stored, - (Less than 200 mi. total) 2025 to current: Mechanical systems maintenance brought up to date. In terms of rust: I have been under the car on a lift, stripped the interior, and trunk, removed the gas tank, removed the blower motor, and been under the dash. I did not see rot in the floors, trunk, rockers, wheel wells, or the bulkhead/firewall. Some minor surface rust here and there, but nothing close to the significant rot that can occur in these cars. I have also inspected the front lower a-arm mounting tabs, and can see no sign of cracking. It’s a very sound original car. All the sheet metal clearly looks to be original. History Details: I have owned this vehicle for more than a year. Based on documentation, an examination of the car, and conversations with people familiar with the history, I believe this is an accurate history of the car: It was built 9/29/77, and delivered 12/21/78, with these options: 755G: Silver top, 040G: Black bottom. 401: single seats, 416: Hard top, 441: cruse, 467: central locking, 491: US, 502: right side mirror, 518: Becker Mexico radio, 524: clear coat, 531: power antenna, 570: arm rest, 587: climate control and power windows, 592: insulated grass with heated rear window, 639: delete first aid kit and triangle, 640: Aluminum disk wheels, 740 black convertible top, 201: black interior (not sure if vinyl, or leather), 740: black top, and 808: ? It still has all of those parts, working as they should, with these exceptions: - Repainted (1992, and still looks fresh) - replaced interior with black vinyl (1992, like new condition, original floor mats are excellent under like new mats. Other carpet was replaced as well, including trunk), - blue top (1992, like new condition), - updated single DIN stereo: (2025) (touch screen blue tooth, with apple car play) with new speakers. - Mercedes brand draft stop (like new) no documentation regarding when it was installed. - Front chin spoiler added prior to repaint. (Original under bumper sheet metal, and plastic grill still there, and undamaged. - 4 wheels are 14” flat faced (apparently from the later W126 S-Class), the spare is a 14” bunt style. All 5 have new tires. 1978 -1981: It was purchased new in late 1978 of driven 40k mi in the first 3 years, service records in maintenance book. 1981 – 1992: I have no information for the next 12 years. 1992 -2010: Then in June of 1992, it was purchased by the previous owner (to me) at the local MB dealer with 104k mi. on the odometer. Very soon thereafter the new owner: - had it repainted in silver base coat, clear coat (most likely PPG Deltron). - installed a new interior, and top. The documentation that I have: - December of 1992 Title issued. - June of 1995: New disabled license plate issued, and new proof of insurance. - No documentation on when the tires had been replaced previous to 1992. o Date codes on tires were: 379, 379, 256, 216. (9/89, 9/89, 6/86. and 5/86). - June of 2009: o New regular license plate issued, o new proof of insurance. o State inspection sticker issued with 112,018 mi. on 6-25-09. 2025-26: It had been stored in a dry heated space with a cover over it for many years. I purchased it in April of 2025 with 112,173 mi., and have since done the following: Fuel supply: - Removed gas tank and cleaned - New screen in tank - New sending unit in tank - New Bosch fuel pump - New fuel pump mounts - New fuel filter - New fuel accumulator - New fuel lines connecting the above items. Fuel Injection: - Fuel distributor rebuilt with new outlet screens. - Fuel distributor tested, good even fuel distribution. - New fuel injectors (cleaned and tested prior to installation), all spray fine pattern. - WUR rebuilt, calibrated, and tested. - All vacuum connections as per factory diagram. Exhaust: - New high flow, EPA compliant Catalytic Converter (may not meet CA requirements) - New rear muffler - As a result of the slight difference of the cat internals, the exhaust is just a tick louder than stock, not load by any means, just a bit. Engine Air and EGR: - Cold start air valve rebuilt, and tested - Cold start fuel valve/injector also tested, passed. - Idle air valve threads cleaned, valve now has full travel. - New rubber hoses for idle air, and PCV (all of them) - New air cleaner filter, and gasket. - EGR valve tested, it works as it should - Intake manifold removed: - New set of 8 lower seals, and new intake to head gaskets. - Vacuum lines, and connectors in engine compartment renewed as needed. Cooling: - New water “by-pass hose” (it’s under the intake) - New large hose between intake and thermostat housing - New radiator hoses (upper and lower) - Coolant flush - All new belts (4) Brakes: - All calipers rebuilt with new o-rings, and dust seals - All new brake hoses. - All new brake fluid (Dot 4). - Brake pads have plenty of material remaining. (more than half) - New master cylinder - Brake booster replaced with good used on showing no signs of brake fluid having leaked in from master (very common problem) Steering: - New coupling unit installed. - System drained, and refilled - New filter - Steering box lash adjusted. - Ball joints, and all steering joints and idler arm checked for play, and torn boots, all tested good. - New steering dampener installed. Engine: - New valve cover gaskets - New timing chain - New cam sprockets - New upper chain guides (4) - New chain tensioner - Crank dampener mark confirmed as TDC No. 1. - Cam timing marks confirms to be +/- 1 deg of actual No. 1 TDC. - All cylinder’s compression tested at 170 psi +/- 2 psi. Ignition: - New Coil, and new coil wire installed - New: Rotor, cap, - Plug wires, and plug ends tested. - New ballast resistors - New non resistor plugs. Climate control: - Rebuilt climate control servo installed - Rebuilt climate control amplifier installed - Rebuilt aux water pump installed - New hoses as needed. - All new clamps - Rebuilt A/C compressor instaled, - System converted to R134a - New receiver dryer - New Expansion valve. - Temperature switch on accumulator replaced with relay driven by compressor run signal. So Aux fan runs when compressor runs, (or engine > 212 deg F.) - All vacuum pods tested, they function, and hold vacuum. - Evaporator temperature control switch calibrated. - tube for dash temperature sensor air sweep replaced. - Upper and lower gaskets replace on blower motor, and cover. - Evaporator coil cleaned on the outside, and flushed for conversation on the inside. - Condenser flushed for conversion. - Complete system has been tested, and works as it should Tires: - Date codes: were: 379,279,256,256 (I assume 1986, and 1989, as there were no receipts for a post 1992 purchase. ) - New tires now. Interior and accessories: - Inside of hard top re-died. - Stereo upgraded to single DIN unit with touch screen, and Apple Car Play. - Original antenna works as it should (with radio and dash switch) - New 2-way dash speakers, and rear shelf 3 driver surface mount speakers installed. o Stereo has enough volume that the music is clear while cruising with the top down. - Cleaned and lubricated seat tracks. - Installed new sun visors. - New windshield wipers - Instrument and controls light bulbs replaced as needed. - Clock capacitors replaced, mechanism cleaned and lubricated. - All lights, instruments, and warning systems are working, including the clock, cigar lighter, and the ash tray light. - Lock, and window mechanisms inside of doors were lubricated (see video). - New shift linkage bushings. Chassis: - Mounting tabs for front lower A-arms inspected, and show no cracking (see pics)I will post a detailed description of the history that I have been able to put together. From that, and from talking to local folks that know. the history of the car, I'm sure the car was painted in 1992. In any case it was before 2009, as that is the date on the inspection sticker (see pictures of that and the recent odometer readings). In addition I have been in every nook and cranny. I'm am certain that all the body panels are original, never been recked or rusted. The repaint was done over the original paint, and not stripped to bare metal, so that is why you see a lot of thick paint areas. It is a very nice solid car. I am trying to present an accurate picture of the car as I can.Do you have receipts for all the recent mechanical repairs?Could you please explain the big variation in paint readings? Has there been damage repair? Any other comments about blemishes or body repair would be helpful.Also regarding pictures, don’t hesitate to ask why I toll any particular picture. Some of the pictures have a very specific reason, that may not be obvious. I have additional information on the history of the car if anyone is interested.Regarding top color. That is the way it was when I purchased it. It was the personal preference of the owner. Also note it has a matching blue pin stripe. Regarding pictures: Thank you, happy to take requests, although hard top is currently on, so please keto they in mind. Having said that, I’m happy to take the top off, and put it a lift, someone wants to come and inspect it.Impressive pictures.$1,333 bid placed by @SellCLE
Question....why is the soft top blue if the interior color is black...thx