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1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SL Offered with Recent Mechanical Overhaul
A 1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SL finished in Astral Silver Metallic over black MB-Tex is offered by a selling dealer with 77k miles, service records, and a clean Texas title, following extensive mechanical and cosmetic work.
By Edward Beaumont · 3 min read
A 1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SL finished in Astral Silver Metallic over black MB-Tex is being offered by a selling dealer with service records and a clean Texas title. The R107-generation roadster shows 77,000 miles on its six-digit odometer and has benefited from a series of repairs and replacements in recent years, including work on its climate control, ignition, suspension, steering, and fuel systems.
The car is powered by a 4.5-litre V8 engine featuring Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, factory rated at 180 horsepower and 220 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic transmission and a limited-slip differential. The car left the factory in Astral Silver Metallic and is said to have been repainted under previous ownership. It retains a black convertible soft top and a body-colour removable hardtop, though the soft top shows wear in the headliner and a tear near the rear window.
Recent maintenance has been extensive. In 2022, the brake pads, brake hoses, and rear calipers were replaced, along with the rear sway bar link and a power steering hose. The muffler and in-tank fuel pump assembly were also replaced that year, and the fuel distributor was rebuilt. Work performed in 2025 included flushing and resealing the differential, installing a digital warm-up regulator, and replacing the transmission pan gasket, windshield washer pump and hoses, fuel accumulator, fuel pressure regulator, drive belts, spark plugs, ignition wires, and distributor rotor. The steering box, steering coupling, tie rod ends, front shocks, and front wheel seals were also replaced in 2025.
The climate control system was serviced in 2025 with a replacement heater servo unit. The car rides on 14-inch Bundt alloy wheels mounted with Hankook tyres. Factory equipment includes power steering and power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes. The front subframe was reportedly replaced under previous ownership. Inside, the seats are upholstered in black MB-Tex, and additional equipment includes a Becker Mexico cassette stereo, electric windows, central locking, and automatic climate control. The four-spoke steering wheel frames VDO instrumentation comprising a 160-mph speedometer, a 7,000-rpm tachometer, a clock, and gauges for coolant temperature, oil pressure, and fuel level.
The car was listed on Bring a Trailer in December 2024, and subsequent work has included repairing the climate control system and installing a digital warm-up regulator. It is now offered by the selling dealer with service records and a clean Texas title. The odometer shows 77k miles, a handful of which have been added by the selling dealer. Close-up photos of the exterior, paint meter readings, and underside images are provided in the gallery.
