1972 Mercedes 350 SL Roadster - NO RESERVE!!!
1972 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
NorCal Motor Cars is proud to present this diamond in the rough 1972 Mercedes Benz 350SL! 1972 is the first year for the R107 body style, and this car has the desirable small bumpers. This is a good running and driving example of the R107 350SL. The car needs cosmetic attention, but would make a great car to restore while driving, or enjoy as-is with minor issues to be addressed. We have driven this car locally and have recently had it serviced with complete oil change and safety inspection. We have not removed the hardtop and cannot confirm the condition or presence of the soft-top. The car has no issues with cold start and runs smooth when at full operating temp. There is an intermittent squealing sound coming from the rear of the engine, but does not seem to affect drivability. This car came to us from Washington State and there does not appear to be anything more than some slight surface rust on the front fenders. From what we can tell the car has been in the font, but has been repaired. The car does track straight and we don't see any uneven wear on the tires. The car was also originally beige and had a color change to black at some point, as can be seen in the pictures. Please don't hesitate to contact us if there are any particular pictures you would like, or if you would like to ask some specific questions.Please find some info below on the R107 series, taken from Wikipedia:
The Mercedes-Benz R107 and C107 are automobiles which were produced by Mercedes-Benz from 1971 through 1989, being the second longest single series ever produced by the automaker, after the G-Class. They were sold under the SL (R107) and SLC (C107) model names as the 280 SL, 280 SLC, 300 SL, 350SL, 420SL, 450SL, 500SL and 560 SL.
The R107/SL was a 2-seat car with a detachable roof. It replaced the W113 SL-Class in 1971 and was replaced by the R129 SL-Class in 1989.
Model history[edit]
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.
North America was the key market for this Personal luxury car, and 2/3 of R107 and C107 production was sold there.[2]
The R107/C107 for the North American market sported four round low-output sealed beam headlights, due to unique U.S. regulations.
From 1974, the front and rear bumpers were dramatically lengthened, by 8 inches (203mm) on each end, to comply with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regulations, that mandated no damage at an impact of 5-mile-per-hour (8km/h).
R107 and C107 cars were exported to the US with low compression 4.5 liter V8 engines to meet stringent US emissions requirements, yet still provide adequate power. The faster 450SLC 5.0, 500SL, and 500SLC were never sold.
The 450 SL was produced until 1980. Starting in 1980, US cars were equipped with lambda control, which varied the air/fuel mixture based on feedback from an oxygen sensor.
The smaller engined 380 SL replaced the 450SL from 1981 to 1985. The 380 SL was the least powerful of the US imported R107 roadsters.
The more powerful 500 SL with 5.0 liter engine, produced from 1980-1989, was not available in the US. This drove many customers to obtain the car in the "gray market."
Finally, a more powerful version was available from the factory, from 1986 to 1989, the 560 SL. It was exclusive to the USA, Japanese and Australian markets.
Despite the larger 5.6 liter engine of the U.S. 560 SL, the forbidden Euro-spec 500 SL is the fastest production 107 produced (mostly because of the lack of emission restraints). The 500 SL was published by Mercedes-Benz as having 0-60mph times of 7.4 seconds for a top speed of 225km/h (140mph). Torque for the 500 SL is 296lb·ft (401N·m) at 3200 rpm and for the 560 SL 287lb·ft (389N·m) at 3500 rpm.
Technical data Mercedes-Benz R107/C107 (North American models)[11] (Manufacturer's figures except where stated) [hide]
| Produced: | MY 1972-1980 | MY 1981-1985 (SL) MY 1981 (SLC) | MY 1986-1989 |
| Engine: | 90° 8-cylinder-V engine (four-stroke), front-mounted | ||
| Bore x Stroke: | 92mm (3.6in) x 85mm (3.3in) | 88mm (3.5in) x 79mm (3.1in) | 96.5mm (3.8in) x 94.7mm (3.7in) |
| Displacement: | 4520 cc | 3839 cc | 5549 cc |
| Max. Power @ rpm: | 190hp (142kW) @ 4750 later 180hp (134kW) @ 4750 | 155hp (116kW) @ 4750 | 227hp (169kW) @ 5200 |
| Max. Torque @ rpm: | 240lb·ft (325N·m) @ 3000 later 220lb·ft (298N·m) @ 3000 | 196lb·ft (266N·m) @ 2750 | 287lb·ft (389N·m) @ 3500 |
| Compression Ratio: | 8.0: 1 | 8.3: 1 | 9.0: 1 |
| Fuel feed: | Bosch fuel injection | ||
| Fuel tank capacity: | 90L (23.8USgal; 19.8impgal), from 1985: 85L (22.5USgal; 18.7impgal) | ||
| Valvetrain: | SOHC, 1981-1983: single chain, all others: duplex chain | ||
| Cooling: | Water | ||
| Gearbox: | 3-speed automatic, from 1981: 4-speed automatic rear wheel drive | ||
| Electrical system: | 12 volt | ||
| Front suspension: | Double wishbones, coil springs, additional rubber springs, stabilising bar | ||
| Rear suspension:: | Diagonal swing axle, coil springs, stabilising bar | ||
| Brakes: | Disc brakes (Ø 278mm (10.9in) front, 279mm (11.0in) rear; from 1985: 284/279mm), power assisted | ||
| Steering: | Recirculating ball steering | ||
| Body structure: | Sheet steel, unibody construction | ||
| Dry weight: | SL: 3,597lb (1,632kg) SLC: 3,625lb (1,644kg) | SL: 3,460lb (1,570kg) SLC: 3,440lb (1,560kg) | 3,650lb (1,660kg) |
| Track front/ rear: | 57.2in (1,453mm) 56.7in (1,440mm) | 57.6in (1,463mm) 57.7in (1,466mm) | |
| Wheelbase: | SL: 96.9in (2,461mm) SLC: 111.0in (2,819mm) | ||
| Length: | SL: 172.5in (4,382mm) SLC: 186.6in (4,740mm) | SL: 182.3in (4,630mm) SLC: 196.4in (4,989mm) | 180.3in (4,580mm) |
| Width: | 70.5in (1,791mm) | ||
| Height: | SL: 50.8in (1,290mm) SLC: 52.4in (1,331mm) |
- Make: Mercedes-Benz
- Model: SL-Class
- SubModel: SL
- Type: Convertible
- Doors: 2
- Year: 1972
- Mileage: 188,513
- VIN: 00010704412001497
- Color: Black
- Engine size: 4.5 Liter V8
- Number of cylinders: 8
- Fuel: Gasoline
- Transmission: Automatic
- Drive type: RWD
- Interior color: Black
- Drive side: Left-hand drive
- Options: Convertible
- Vehicle Title: Clear Want to buy? Contact seller!
