1973 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

Description

1973 Mercedes-Benz 450SL
21,000 2 Owner Miles
DB-861 Silver Green over Green Interior
One of the most original, well preserved, documented SL's ever offered for sale.
Hi, if you are considering a R107 SL, but skip the 450SL's because they are not a 560...well then you are forgetting the 1972-1973 450SL's. These cars had 225hp...vs the later 450SL's with 180hp. The reason for this is that these early cars were pre-emission, had no catalytic convertors, a unique Bosch fuel injection system, etc. Add to that, the 72-73 cars had the slim "euro" bumpers...which really make all the difference on these cars.
This particular 1973 450SL has such a interesting past...it really makes the car. The car was purchased new by
Carl Kiekhaefer, the founder of Mercury Marine. The car was originally registered to Lake X Corporation. Lake X was a secret lake in FL owned by Mercury Marine for performance and military testing. Carl also owned a Nascar race team that won the 1955 Nascar Championship. If that wasn't enough, Carl bought aluminum body Mercedes 300SL
gull wings...just to race them against each other...to see which one was the fastest. Needless to say, Mr. Kiekhaefer was a very unique entrepreneur.
In the summer of 1973, Mr. Kiekhaefer...who was quite the Mercedes enthusiast...ordered this car in his home State of Wisconsin...to exacting specifications. He ordered the colors specific (green) to blend in with the foliage at his secret Lake X in Florida. The car was shipped to Lake X in the fall of 1973. It was used for its intended purpose...to drive in circles around the lake and go "unnoticed". In 1974...Carl Kiekhaefer moved onto other things and parked the car in his Mercury Marine/Kiekhaefer Aeromarine warehouse. Carl had so much money he forgot he owned the car. The car was discovered when Kiekhaefer died in October 1983. The car had some 4,000 miles on it in 1983. The car sat parked in the warehouse until his billion dollar Estate was settled in 1989 when it was awarded to his son Fred. A industry staple in his own right...Fred kept the car in serviceable condition until he retired as President of Mercury Racing in 2013. The car was then acquired by us with some 16,000 miles on the clock.
When we got the car it was largely as it is today, and largely as it was in 1973. The paint is "almost perfect"...and does not have a hint of sun fade, despite being nearly 50 years old. The car does not nor did it ever have a dent or a ding in it. The chrome is shiny and vibrant. The hard top is impeccable. The soft top does not show barely any shrinkage...incredible for being almost 50 years old. The interior is 100% original, sans for the Enrico Nardi Prototype steering wheel that was originally designed for Carls' 300SL Gullwing. This wheel became so popular that this particular prototype went on to be the production model, and you'll commonly see it on R107's today. I have the original steering wheel as well, it was taken off in 1974, and looks new. The dash has no cracks. The leather seats are excellent and commensurate with the mileage. All in all, the car shows as a year old car.
Now, the issue with a car with this low mileage is that obviously...it wasn't utilized. I personally spent hundreds of hours making sure this car was as reliable as it looked, and it surely is. Everything that aged with the car was gone through. This car does not leak, smoke...make any odd noises, etc. It starts, runs, and stops as it did when it was new, and absolutely everything works, the The oilers have been done, the valves have been adjusted...the upper guides have been done...the brake system (4 wheel disc) was completely rebuilt. This car is ready to drive anywhere, on demand. It is truly a gem.
The tires are brand new, the spare is original. I have EVERY single piece of paperwork on this car, from manuals, to maintenance books, to the Protect-o-Plate, to the original order form, the original hang tags... to a mileage log for every time gas was put in the car. I have it all.
This car needs nothing to be driven and enjoyed. It has been freshly serviced and is ready to go.
Attached are several videos. If you notice I got the paint code wrong..(don't try to recite paint codes from memory) it is correct in this listing, Code 861 (Silver Green)
Check out these videos on Carl Kiekhaefer and this particular car.
NASA Lake X
Video will open in a new window
Using the eBay App? Paste link into a browser window:
[isdntekvideo]
NASA Lake X
Video will open in a new window
Using the eBay App? Paste link into a browser window:
[isdntekvideo]
NASA Lake X
Video will open in a new window
Using the eBay App? Paste link into a browser window:
[isdntekvideo]