USSUN, It's a great looking 450 SLC, and I love the original bumpers, but it does not look like a completely original AMG modified car from Germany. The bumper guards on your car were not on the european 107 models, so those would have either been added when it was imported to the USA or it was purchased in the USA and modified here in the USA (perhaps at the AMG showroom in Los Angeles that opened in the late 70s-80s; they had a store/modification garage on Robertson Blvd. that was run by BHMA that closed in the early 90s). Or was it sent back to Germany for modification? Or was an AMG engine was put into a stock US model 450SLC?
The only thing that looks correct for 1970s-80s AMG from the photos is the spoiler package. I don't mean to cast any doubt on your post, but do you know exactly what was modified on the car by AMG? How was the engine modified? Was it bored out and the displacement made larger by AMG? Was the suspension modified by AMG?
Granted, you could do almost whatever you wanted in the late 1970s-80s with AMG as it was a special order tuning company with no fixed models like today, but usually cars that had engines modified there did not come out without new suspensions, AMG Penta (and after 1985 the Aero 1/pre-HAMMER) rims and the
AMG badge. Many had specially fitted leather RECARO sport seats put in by AMG, and the distinct AMG steering wheel. The MB speedo was relaced with an AMG labeled one. That was the "package" that I see on most modified 107 AMG cars from the late 70s-early 80s. Later as the factory list of modifications grew, in the 1980s, some 107s modified by AMG also had the interiors completely redone in non factory specifications (crazy mods like white leather.)
It could be that whoever had the car modified wanted it entirely "stealth" and only modified the engine and added the ground effects package and an exhaust, and the new ///AMG badge was put on recently. Still, the engine should be labeled with the AMG modifications that were done.
Here is a pre-1982 AMG factory catalog photo. An AMG modified 500SLC 107 with the Penta rims, lowered suspension, blacked out chrome and AMG body kit is on the bottom of the page.
I have an AMG modified 500SL from 1985 that I have had since new, purchased in Switzerland in 1985, and it was very rare that AMG would modify a car in Germany with just a body kit and motor modification without larger rims and suspension to compensate for the increase in HP and torque. The standard MB suspension and the 14" rims were not recommended with the increased displacement. Usually an upgrade to a 15" or 16" AMG PENTA rim was given, along with an AMG steering wheel up until air bags appeared as an MB option in 1984-85.
Even though modifications were selective, if an engine was modified they usually would add an
AMG badge, AMG suspension and perhaps the original AMG Penta rims.
Since your car does not have the period AMG Penta rims, does it have the (very rare) 15" Bundt (Turbine/baroque) stock MB rims? 107s before 1986 and all SLCs (except the rally cars) came with a 14" "bundt" (baroque) rim as stock.
I agree with a previous post; The AMG logo is wrong for the car. Before 1990, the AMG logo/ badge was
AMG, not ///AMG as the MB owned company is badged now. You can find the right one used; they come up on eBay and on sales boards here occassionaly.
The spoiler package is perfect and correct. I have the same one. The front spoiler is really tough and has lasted 22 years. I love it.
AMG also frequently "blacked out" or made body color all the chrome on the cars. Since they were meant to be higher perfomance, chrome was usually kept to a minimum (no wheel arch chrome trims, etc.)
Is the exhaust an AMG type exhaust (they did not have the exhausts labeled ///AMG back then) that was put on when the motor was modified?
The
AMG badge was given normally to cars with at least 2 modifications by AMG, usually rims and a spoiler kit and/or suspension. AMG Motors on 107 SLCs were very expensive and reasonably rare to come by in the USA because of the conversions and since production ceased in 1981 ; there are many more SEC models with AMG conversions imported, especially with the "gray market" imported 500SEC craze due to the underpowered 380SEC in the USA from 1982-1985.
Can you post photos of the motor? Most of them were labeled or badged with an AMG tag showing the modification done.
Good luck and have fun with your classic. If you check
www.ebay.de and
www.ebay.co.uk you can find lots of original AMG parts that come up. Sometimes enticing the seller can get them to sell overseas. There are lots of vintage AMG parts in europe. It's getting very hard to find them in the USA, but searching google seems to help me.
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