Description

1972 Mercedes-Benz 350SLC

Current owner 25 years; always in regular use; well-maintained with a large history file; would benefit from cosmetic TLC

Perhaps the only car ever to be adapted from a roadster into a tin-top, the SLC was essentially a W107 Series convertible stretched by ten inches to give room for two rear seats and given a fixed steel roof.

Launched in 1972 and remaining in production until 1980, it came in four engine sizes, the car you see here being the mid-range 3.5-litre V8. With 200bhp and 211lb/ft of torque on tap, it was a superb grand tourer and was good for a top speed of 128mph.

Fantastically strong and stable at speed, the SLC made a surprisingly good long distance rally car, winning the South America Rally in 1978 and coming second on the East Africa Safari.

First registered in October 1972, this 350SLC has been in the current ownership since 1997, our vendor buying it as a 60th birthday present to himself from an old school friend whose family had owned it since 1982 during which time it was registered as 1 EPP. Always in light regular use, the vendor has done 40,000 miles in the car during his 25-year ownership, the odometer currently showing 163,785 miles.

Shortly after buying the car, he had the bodywork restored by Ady Godwin Specialist Car Repairs of Hungerford, taking the opportunity to have it repainted at the same time from the original red to the current metallic brown which we are told is a Rolls-Royce colour and most attractive it is too.

A large file of invoices show regular upkeep over the years, the car being last serviced in May 2021 since when it has only done 1,400 miles. In November 2020 the transistorised ignition module failed so it was converted to Pertronix electronic ignition at a cost of £637. The vendor has also kept a detailed log of every drop of fuel put into the car over the last six years, during which time it has averaged between 14mpg and 22mpg although it can do up to 31mpg if driven steadily. Not much chance of that though: the vendor says it drives better the faster you go and feels most planted at 100mph+! 

As you can see in the photos, the car looks generally presentable although the body is now beginning to show signs of corrosion to the lower bodywork here and there. The front seats were retrimmed in cream leather in 2008 but the driver’s seat squab has rather lost its firmness and there is minor damage to other bits of trim here and there. A Haynes workshop manual is included along with a fitted indoor car cover and two sets of keys.

The vendor was planning to drive the car up to the sale from Somerset, a distance of 130 miles, but a medical issue ultimately precluded this so we had it collected instead although we are assured that it would have made the journey with ease. Starting promptly and running nicely as we have moved it around on site, with very healthy oil pressure, this stylish old Merc is eminently usable as it is but could be smartened up over time as desired.

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com