Project Gallery

1979 Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC.

VIN 10702412027672

Astral Silver metallic 1979 450 SLC with a blue interior. The car was found in Omaha Nebraska and transported to East Moline. It has undergone engine, transmission, and front sub-frame mounts. New flex discs, ACC bypass for the moment, new injectors and seats. New fuel filter, pump, and pressure accumulator. Replaced passenger window motor, new front struts, rear struts, new engine struts. new coolant bottle, new windshield washer fluid pump. The water pump was replaced prior to purchase, but seems to weep and will need replacing too. The power steering pump leaks, and the A/C compressor is disconnected. New stainless steel exhaust, various vacuum hoses replaced, spark plugs, distributor cap, and spark plug wires.

It is a great hands-on project car with lots of potential. A Euro 1979 parts car without delaminated rear glass, and uncracked windscreen was purchased to complete the project. The engine of the Euro car has a hole the size of a baseball glove.

Options:

518

BECKER RADIO MEXICO CASSETTE FULL STEREO (AM/FM U.S.A.)

531

AUTOMATIC ANTENNA

588

AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL AND ELECTRIC WINDOW LIFTERS (FRONT AND REAR DOORS)

592

GREEN HEAT INSULATING GLASS ALL ROUND, HEATED REAR WINDOW, LAMINATED SAFETY GLASS TINTED STRIP

639

ELIMINATION OF FIRST AID BOX AND WARNING TRIANGLE

410

ELECTRIC SLIDING ROOF

440

TEMPOMAT (CRUISE CONTROL)

467

CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM AND INSTRUMENTS WITH ENGLISH LETTERING

491

U.S. VERSION

Euro 1979 450 SLC

Located in Wisconsin, this SLC was found with a blown engine, but it did have a complete rear windscreen chrome trim and correctly laminated glass! The front windscreen is also intact and will be harvested along with some interior trim pieces.

The bumpers are also complete and will be removed along with the lower lip spoiler.

Options:

260

ELIMINATION OF MODEL DESIGNATION ON REAR LID

410

ELECTRIC SLIDING ROOF

466

CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM

590

GREEN HEAT INSULATING GLASS ALL ROUND, HEATED REAR WINDOW, LAMINATED SAFETY GLASS GERMANY

812

REAR MOUNTED LOUDSPEAKER

To show scale, a US quarter was placed next to the hole in the engine block of the Euro SLC.

Repair work for the surface rust in the trunk. We are preparing the rear for new glass, and subsequently, rust that hangs out in the battery tray, the spare well, and the floor of the trunk. When the rear windscreen comes out, repair rust on the trunk lip and the window seal will happen.

Battery tray compartment, be sure to take that plastic box out and inspect the trunk floor! Much surface rust to be scraped off and treated.

Parts exchange: Euro Bumper conversion.

Rear bumper removal of the Euro parts car was almost easy. There was some difficulty getting the left-most bolt undone. A reciprocating saw was used to cut out the gusset weld that held the bumper to the frame, then was able to sneak a wrench into the bumper and hold on to the spinning nut for final bolt removal. A nut insert tool was used to insert a nut into the Euro bumper on that top left corner, and now an M20 bolts goes right in and snugs well with the body washers to keep everything together. This will also aid in ease of removal for further restoration.

Front bumper conversion notes: Brackets to hold Euro bumper to US frame was sourced from MACarbon. They were helpful in supplying just the brackets and hardware from their own Euro bumper conversion kit. A Nut insert tool was used to make holes that the front bumper could accommodate as the US bumper spec does not have the corresponding holes. There was a body gap that needed filling once the Euro bumper was installed. The US spec bumper system has a piece of rubber that stretched across the top of the bumper to cover the gap and shocks of the US 5mph bumper. A jigsaw was used to trim the rubber and was reinstalled with great results. This covered the small gap that resulted from the conversion and makes a clean look.

Here is a photo of the car with just the front bumper installed.