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April 24th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
what was the total production run of US version 450 SLC ?
April 24th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Hello Bobateck,
Production: 15,359 450 SLC Mercedes-Benz were sold through USA dealers from 1972 through 1981. SLC production began in June 1971 with the 3.5 liter V8. Modifications made for USA delivered cars included a 4.5 liter V8, to cope with anticipated emissions restrictions. The first American versions were built in February 1972 and North American dealers only received 333 SLCs that year. Initial price was $15,094 (east coast). Pristine examples of these cars have experienced zero depreciation, ever, due to the rapid 1970s climb of the Deutsche Mark in relation to the US dollar. By 1976 suggested list price was $18,330. By late 1978 that price broke $30,000 and in 1980 “window sticker” was $42,800. Another 16,380 450 SLC were sold during these years to non-US markets.
It didn’t stop there as three other engines were offered, a 2.8 liter six (10,66 built) and the 3.8 liter V8 (5,626 of which 1,489 were sold through US dealers in 1981 before arrival of the successor SEC Coupés of the 1980s.
Collector Potential: The “flagship” of the SLC Coupés is the very rare 5.0 liter V8. Launched at the 1977 Frankfurt Auto Show (taking some of the thunder away from the Porsche 928 debuting at the same show. This is the SLC variant with the most collector potential, regardless of mileage or condition. Only 2,769 were built and there are less than 100 have been found in the USA. The standard 450 SLC has collector-potential if it is aggressively preserved as original. As a car of the 1970s it has one more decade to go to be taken seriously by collectors. They are currently preoccupied by cars of the 1960s.
Reputation: The 450 SLC has a generally excellent track record… strong, reliable cars with very few chronic issues. There still is a free front suspension recall (M-B called it a “Bulletin”) in effect, and the A/C climate controls of the late 1970s were troublesome but there are “fixes” and today the SLC one of the safer “old cars” you could be in if a bad accident occurred.
Recommendations: Do not try to restore a tired, poorly maintained SLC as you can’t fix it for the price difference of $10,000 to get an outstanding example with known history that probably never saw winter and may still have it’s original paint (highly desirable on older cars.