1973 Mercedes-Benz 450SLC Coupé

‘YNE 883L’ is a left-hand-drive Mercedes-Benz 450SLC that was built in Germany and immediately exported to the United States where it lived for almost three decades before moving to Lebanon in 2000. The seller bought it there in 2019 and imported it to the UK in 2020. 

He’s since fitted European-style bumpers to replace the ugly Federal-sec items it was fitted with in the States, and treated it to fresh paint, so presents very well indeed.

He, like so many of us, finds himself with a somewhat larger collection of classic cars than he intended, so he’s set about the task of rationalising it. 

We’re also selling his Mercedes-Benz 'Adenauer', so if you fancy starting your very own M-B collection, read on…

The repainted coachwork looks terrific, doesn’t it? Bright and vibrant, it was clearly applied by someone who knew what they were doing but then the canvas it was applied to is equally impressive. 

With tight and consistent shutlines, the legendary M-B build quality shines through, even after all these years.

As you’d expect following a top-quality respray that’s seen little use since, there are no dents, dinks, or other damage to ruin the finish.

The 450SLC wasn’t finished with a lot of chrome but what there is is straight and free of rust and pitting.  

The sunroof fits the aperture well and seals tightly, and there are two good foglamps and a set of new numberplates.

The original equipment 14-inch alloy wheels are in fine fettle, too. Shiny and unblemished, they are fitted with a matching set of Bridgestone Turanza GR-80 tyres.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

As for work to do, the rubber trim on the bumpers is scuffed and wonky, there’s a bubble in the paint on the sunroof, some of the sealing rubbers have perished, there’s a small chip at the top of the driver’s door window glass, some of the other side glass is scratched, the offside rear lamp lens is scuffed, and there are some blemishes in the paint finish on the nearside front wing, bonnet, and below the rear window.

The black interior is generally very good, with the seats being a real high point. Still beautifully presented, they’ve retained that yielding springiness that’s unique to Mercedes-Benz cars of the period.

The matching door cards are excellent too, as are the rear quarter trims and central front armrest. The rear seats are even better, being virtually unmarked. 

And there’s more good news in the shape of a Becker Europa radio in the centre of the dashboard.

Lifting out the jack and full-size alloy spare wheel from the boot shows nothing but solid metal underneath, which is good to see.

As for flaws, some of the wooden veneer is cracked and the lacquer is damaged, the top of the dashboard is cracked, the cabin carpet is faded and  there are some holes to that in the boot, the headlining is stained and damaged, the plastic cover on the clock is damaged, and there is a small hole on the outer edge of the nearside front seat plus another two small holes in the fabric of the offside front seat.

This might sound like a lot but most of it is a corollary of a life in the sun, where the same climate that preserved the bodywork and underside also wreaked havoc with some of the interior fittings. 

Annoying, but we know which problem we’d rather fix...

The car currently will not start, and we are told that it hasn’t run properly for a few years so would benefit from being serviced and tuned.

The engine and engine bay are a bit grubby but otherwise well presented. However, we note there is some rust on the bulkhead behind the battery, and we can see the new owner will probably want to address this as a priority.

The underside too shows some older rust and corrosion. There is also evidence of historical repairs and fresh underseal.

The Mercedes doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies… 

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for being an imported vehicle.

The Mercedes-Benz 107 SL and SLC are firm favourites for a reason: they’re pretty, ridiculously well engineered, simple and straightforward to maintain, serviced by a huge network of specialists - and great fun to drive.

And many believe the SLC coupé is even nicer to drive than the convertible. It doesn’t, of course, offer the same full wind-in-the-hair experience but the pillarless and frameless design offers a close second and it drives so much better than the soft-top that only diehard Morgan owners would choose an SL over an SLC.

And yet, despite being widely lauded as the better car of the two, prices for the SLC have yet to catch up with its convertible cousin. 

This one, for example, which is nicely fettled and looks terrific, is likely to sell for only £14,000 to £18,000, which should leave you with plenty of headroom to get it serviced and make a start on the other few jobs that need doing.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.