I'm going to look at a 1975 450 SL tomorrow. I've never owned a Mercedes, never owned a car this old before, and I'm not really very mechanically inclined. The car would be for my son, and from the web site appears to be in great shape cosmetically.
Anything to look out for? Any advice on this model or year? Any ideas what kind of mileage it might get? I want to get him an interesting car (his first) but not a money pit.
Gas mileage will most likely reek. There' a thread in this forum that addresses that - expect mid-teens on the highway.
Best advice is to take it to a vintage MB mechanic for a checkup - money well spent. These cars can be money pits if they have not been taken care of properly. Depending on the miles, you have the standard things like tie rod ends and idler arms, etc...
That being said, check under the car if it has been sitting in the same spot for a while. Oil leaks in the front are not too bad, leaks in the middle or back are a different story.
Check the rocker panels closely as these cars can have rust issues.
Also be sure to drive the car long enough to get it really warmed up. Watch the temperature gauge as these cars really don't like to get too hot.
It also wouldn't hurt to check with your insurance company on the premiums if you haven't already.
So how'd it go? I agree that the car itself is a good one, but my personal opinion tends to think that there are better choices than the 450. Gas mileage is definitely an issue, and with gas prices the way they are, I wouldn't enjoy a 450 if it were my first car.
Also, while some of the smaller engines like the 280 or the 350 have better gas mileage if well maintained, there is also not too much extra horsepower to play with.
The vehicle in question is also a 1975 which means it has the electronic fuel injection. While it may be just as troublesome as the K-Jetronic system, I feel that the electronic system is even more obselete and that may mean it would be harder to have serviced properly.
For an occasional vehicle yes, but for an every day vehicle, it could become a money pit. Just my two cents worth...
Yeah, I'd seriously reconsider if you're getting this car for your son. I have this as my other car and it's just horrible in terms of braking, steering response, acceleration, and gas mileage. I probably average about 9-10 mpg. Sucks.
Any particular reason why you're choosing this car? What's your budget?
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It was a beauty -- cosmetically gorgeous. The interior was in excellent condition. I loved it. But it wasn't one of my son's favorties, so we didn't even turn the key.
I think the price was about $3,995. We were looking at it because it tuned up in an internet search for European cars in our area and was in the price range we wanted to pay. As it turns out, we're probably going to go with a '95 Saab we found.
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