Built between 1971 and 1989, the R107/C107 generation of Mercedes-Benz SL was a luxuriously equipped car that was aimed squarely at the North American market. It seems an unlikely choice of rally weapon, but during the late 1970s the German marque enjoyed a great deal of competition success with the 450SLC.

The coupé was chosen because it was not only more rigid than its roadster sibling, it featured a longer wheelbase that gave it more secure handling. Mercedes embarked on a programme of weight loss and set about turning its boulevard cruiser into a highly effective long-distance endurance rally car.

In 1978, factory-entered 450SLCs finished first and second on the 30,000km Vuelta a la América del Sud, which ran through August and September and went through 10 countries in South America. The car of Andrew Cowan and Colin Malkin beat that of Sobieslaw Zasada and Andrzej Zembrzuski, while a third car driven by Finnish ace Timo Mäkinen and future Ferrari Formula 1 team principal Jean Todt finished fourth. 

The following year, Mercedes invested heavily in an assault on the Ivory Coast Rally, with the team reportedly having 35 back-up vehicles, including planes and helicopters. It was rewarded with a dominant one-two-three-four result, the crew of Hannu Mikkola/Arne Hertz leading home Björn Waldegaard/Hans Thorszelius in second place, Andrew Cowan/Rolf Kaiser taking the third podium step and then Vic Preston Jr/Mike Doughty completing the line up in fourth.

By that time, Mercedes had fitted the works cars with a new 5-litre, all-aluminium version of the M117 V8 engine, in place of the standard 450SLC’s 4520cc unit. In 1980, they were badged as 500SLCs and took a one-two on the Ivory Coast Rally, with Waldegaard winning on that occasion.

This particular Mercedes-Benz R107 450SLC was first registered on 12 March 1974 as a German-built left-hand-drive model. In more recent years, it was owned by an enthusiast in the Netherlands who campaigned the car in Europe. In 2013, two QSP rally seats and matching full harness belts were fitted and a Brantz Tripmeter was installed.

The Mercedes was then exported to the UK in late 2015. Once in the UK the new owner had it serviced and made ready for him to use with a fitment of RHD headlamps, a brace of Cibie Oscar spotlights, a Lifeline fire-extinguisher system and a Moto-Lita three-spoke steering wheel. Whilst in the workshop the owner requested that all the important suspension, engine, gearbox and subframe mounts, were replaced as soon as it arrived. The following year, it received new injector kits, front discs and pads, and dampers all round.

With all the works done the car’s first competitive outing in the UK was the Hughes rally in 2015 before the vendor then reached out a bit further tackling some European events the following year. In 2017, it competed in the 11th of November Sun Run – an event that started in Bar-sur-Aube in France and went through Alsace-Lorraine, Champagne and the Ardennes. This was followed the next year by the 2018 Beaujolais rally. Since then, the car has been fully maintained and laid up.

With its bulletproof build quality plus creature comforts such as an automatic gearbox and power steering, this Mercedes-Benz 450SLC is being offered for sale as a quick, reliable and practical historic rally car – as well as evoking the famous works cars of the late 1970s that enjoyed so much success in the hands of great names such as Mikkola and Waldegaard.

The car is currently with RPS’ sister company, the SASCo storage facility and available for inspection.

All viewings and test drives welcomed by appointment at Rally Preparation Services.

All enquiries please contact us on mail@rpsrally.com or telephone +44(0)1993 358009

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