The R107 and C107 Mercedes-Benz SL variants have long been revered amongst classic car devotees, being built to exacting engineering standards and with a subtle air of sophistication. These cars were built from 1971 through to 1989, the second longest single series ever produced by Mercedes-Benz after the G-Class. The SLC (C107) or ‘SL Coupé’ derivative, was a two-door hardtop coupé with normal rear seats. It was launched at the Paris Motor Show and signalled a shift in management thinking at Stuttgart about what made a successful luxury coupé. Sporting a longer wheelbase and sufficient interior room for four, the SLC was a sleek two-door car that combined the seating advantages of a four-door saloon with the style of a sporty coupé. With the exception of the SL65 AMG Black Series, the SLC remains the only fixed roof Mercedes-Benz coupe based on a roadster rather than a sedan.
This 380 SLC presents in very good order throughout, the 3.8L V8 engine, producing 215 HP runs smoothly and efficiently. The metallic black coachwork is in good condition except for some small blemishes and the black leather interior is largely unmarked. Originally registered on August 1981, this Mercedes-Benz has only six previous keepers and the current owner bought the car in 2012. Supplied with maintenance documents since 2006 and a valid registration. These attractive SLCs are becoming recognised as an underrated 80’s classic with good examples changing hands at ever increasing prices similar to the equivalent roadster.
The appearance of the sports coupe presented in 1971 was style-defining for the design of Mercedes-Benz in the 70s. The success of the C107 series was not only due to their style, their low weight, and high-performance character has given the Mercedes-Benz C107 SLC numerous international rallies top finishes.
Year: 1981
Body: 2 Doors
Exterior: Black
Interior: Black
Driver's Sider: RHD
Transmission: Automatic
Indicated Mileage: 34,138 Miles (Indicated - non Functional since 2006)
Location: Hong Kong
Registration: First Registered in Hong Kong in August 1981
History: Hong Kong Dealer delivery in August 1981. 7 Previous Owners indicated on Registration. 14 years of service history. Appearance on magazines.
Available Exclusively at Classic Insider. For more info, please contact:
Kenneth Wong
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HIGHLIGHTS:
Original Hong Kong car
Good Condition Throughout
14 years of Service history included
In popular culture
In the television show Hart to Hart, Jennifer Hart, played by Stephanie Powers, drove two different yellow R107s, a 1979 450 SL, replaced by a 1981 380 SL during the five seasons of the show, from 1979 to 1984.
In the television show Magnum PI, Rick Orville Wright, played by Larry Manetti, drives a silver R107 450 SL from mid 1981 to the end of the series in 1988.
In the drama film American Gigolo, Richard Gere drives a triple-black 450SL.
In the Scorcese opus to Las Vegas mob run gambling, "Casino", Ginger (Sharon Stone) drives a powder blue 450SL and trashes her husband's Eldorado Biarritz with the front bumper of the Benz!
Service History
2019 - 2020
- New Battery
- Annual Service
- Refreshed Air Conditioning
2018
- Full car restored, all rust removed, welded and re-painted
- Installed all the new trims and bumper rubber
- Front Brake Service (New Rotors, new line, fluid flush)
2017
- Service and Inspection
- New Antenna, New Fan Motor & Switch, Wiper, Battery, Thermostat, Coolant Flush
- New Belt Set (Alternator, Engine Belts)
2016
- New Distributor and Ignition Coil System
- New Spark Plugs, Injectors, Fuel Accumulator
- Repaint front Fender and door panel
- Oil Service, New Alternator Belt
2015
- Repair Front Brake Caliper and Brake fluid change
2014
- Full Service include fluid change
2012 - 2013
- Rear window, seal, lid handle restored
- Fully re-chromed, resprayed, welded and adjusted
- New Front Suspension (Ball Joint, Bushings, Control Arms, New Shocks)
- New Front Brakes
- New Engine Mount, Belt Set
- New Steering Box, Pump and Oil
2006 - 2012
- Upon Request
MODEL HISTORY
The R107 and C107 took the chassis components of the midsize Mercedes-Benz W114 model and mated them initially to the M116 and M117 V8 engines used in the W108, W109 and W111 series.
The SL variant was a 2-seat convertible/roadster with standard soft top and optional hardtop and optional folding seats for the rear bench. The SLC (C107) derivative was a 2-door hardtop coupe with normal rear seats. The SLC is commonly referred to as an 'SL coupe', and this was the first time that Mercedes-Benz had based a coupe on an SL roadster platform rather than on a saloon, replacing the former saloon-based 280/300 SE coupé in Mercedes lineup. The SLC was replaced earlier than the SL, with the model run ending in 1981, with a much larger model, the 380 SEC and 500SEC based on the new S class.
Volume production of the first R107 car, the 350 SL, started in April 1971 alongside the last of the W113 cars; the 350 SLC followed in October. The early 1971 350SL are very rare and were available with an optional 4 speed fluid coupling automatic gearbox. In addition, the rare 1971 cars were fitted with Bosch electronic fuel injection. Sales in North America began in 1972, and cars wore the name 350 SL, but had a larger 4.5L V8 with 3 speed auto (and were renamed 450 SL for model year 1973); the big V8 became available on other markets with the official introduction of the 450 SL/SLC on non-North American markets in March 1973. US cars sold from 1972 through 1975 used the Bosch D Jetronic fuel injection system, an early electronic engine management system.
From July 1974 both SL and SLC could also be ordered with a fuel-injected 2.8L straight-6 as 280 SL and SLC. US models sold from 1976 through 1979 used the Bosch K Jetronic system, an entirely mechanical fuel injection system. All US models used the 4.5 liter engine, and were called 450 SL/SLC.
In September 1977 the 450 SLC 5.0 joined the line. This was a homologation version of the big coupé, featuring a new all-aluminum five-liter V8, aluminum alloy bonnet and boot-lid, and a black rubber rear spoiler, along with a small front-lip spoiler. The 450SLC 5.0 was produced in order to homologate the SLC for the 1978 World Rally Championship.
Starting in 1980, the 350, 450 and 450 SLC 5.0 models (like the 350 and 450 SL) were discontinued in 1980 with the introduction of the 380 and 500 SLC in March 1980. At the same time, the cars received a very mild makeover; the 3-speed automatic was replaced by a four-speed unit, returning to where the R107 started in 1971 with the optional 4 speed automatic 350SL (3.5lt).
The 280, 380 and 500 SLC were discontinued in 1981 with the introduction of the W126 series 380 and 500 SEC coupes. A total of 62,888 SLCs had been manufactured over a ten-year period of which just 1,636 were the 450 SLC-5.0 and 1,133 were the 500 SLC. Both these models are sought by collectors today. With the exception of the SL65 AMG Black Series, the SLC remains the only fixed roof Mercedes-Benz coupe based on a roadster rather than a sedan.
Following the discontinuation of the SLC in September 1981, the 107 series continued initially as the 280, 380 and 500 SL. At this time, the V8 engines were re-tuned for greater efficiency, lost a few hp and consumed less fuel- this largely due to substantially higher (numerically lower) axle ratios that went from 3.27:1 to 2.47:1 for the 380 SL and from 2.72:1 to 2.27:1 for the 500 SL.
From September 1985 the 280 SL was replaced by a new 300 SL, and the 380 SL by a 420 SL; the 500 SL continued and a 560 SL was introduced for certain extra-European markets, notably the USA, Australia and Japan.
Also in 1985, the Bosch KE Jetronic was fitted. The KE Jetronic system varied from the earlier, all mechanical system by the introduction of a more modern engine management "computer", which controlled idle speed, fuel rate, and air/fuel mixture. The final car of the 18 years running 107 series was a 500 SL painted Signal red, built on August 4, 1989; it currently resides in the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart, Germany.
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