1979 Mercedes 450 SLC
Discussion
CharlesdeGaulle said:
That awful song doesn't help make our cars cool does it?
Nonetheless, it undoubtedly makes them that teeny bit wantier by da kidz, so that's gotta be a good thing.
I was expecting a verse about her damp footwell.Nonetheless, it undoubtedly makes them that teeny bit wantier by da kidz, so that's gotta be a good thing.
This Maren Morris appears to be working with a director that has a thing for old Mercs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouWQ25O-Mcg
Surely a Morris Marina would have been the smart choice. I will drop her agent a line.
Speaking of music, I just ordered a vintage Blaupunkt Mannheim 24 stereo with Bluetooth sneakily soldered inside the unit. Now I can listen to In Our Time whilst sat on the hard shoulder awaiting the KC-10 to refuel me.
Edited by paulyv on Saturday 2nd December 13:32
CharlesdeGaulle said:
My front seats are the same they just push forward to allow access. I think they are supposed to be self-securing when the engine is running to be safe in the event of a crash. I haven't checked mine actually, but suspect it was done for the MOT.
That's good to know - I will test them when I get the chance.I do have the one mirror however a matching passenger-side has been bought and will be going on. I like the single mirror look very much but will be regularly driving in central London and happy as I am to see a mouthy aggressive cyclist come an injury-free cropper in the hope he will learn from the experience it is only that variety that perturb me and I wouldn't want to swipe a nervous Boris biker, regardless of whose fault it might or might not have been. A brazen, loud 4.5 litre Merc sporting a 'brexit' numberplate needs all the goodwill it can get in this town.
Of course the former type of cyclist will probably smash my mirror off within a week anyway, at which point I will simply pop the blanking plate back on and carry on regardless.
Two mirrors may have been extra - I have seen several early-ish SLCs with only one mirror in the UK.
I didn't know the S Class and SL/SLC were also built in South Africa.
I have quite a bit of family over there and visited regularly when I was a kid - from about the time this car was built onwards. An uncle of mine had several of these Mercs over that time. I remember he reckoned the S class SL and SLC were German built - at least his was, and were just fitted with some local content - glass for example, (South Africa had very specific glass standards on tinting IIRC) and tyres etc - rather than coming over as a kit like the W123 class did. A bit of Googling reveals they did build some kits in South Africa - so that is new to me! I'm not the full-Merc beard though.
The SLC is a lovely thing.
I didn't know the S Class and SL/SLC were also built in South Africa.
I have quite a bit of family over there and visited regularly when I was a kid - from about the time this car was built onwards. An uncle of mine had several of these Mercs over that time. I remember he reckoned the S class SL and SLC were German built - at least his was, and were just fitted with some local content - glass for example, (South Africa had very specific glass standards on tinting IIRC) and tyres etc - rather than coming over as a kit like the W123 class did. A bit of Googling reveals they did build some kits in South Africa - so that is new to me! I'm not the full-Merc beard though.
The SLC is a lovely thing.
Rude not to have a radio fitted. The below has been bought into which Bluetooth functionality is being added (soldered inside more accurately). Don't ask me how that works but once I receive it I should be able to stream from my phone rather than having to play 1989's 'En-Tact' by The Shamen which is the only tape I can find in my possession.
<edited to update broken photo link>
<edited to update broken photo link>
Edited by paulyv on Tuesday 4th August 23:55
I paid for a car, but got a car and also a drill bit pushed into a vacuum tube under the bonnet. It's already making me money just like a real classic.
Have a moody shot next to a 7 series.
I always wondered what the car park here at John & Peter's looked like......Marjorie!!!
Have a moody shot next to a 7 series.
I always wondered what the car park here at John & Peter's looked like......Marjorie!!!
Edited by paulyv on Wednesday 26th August 12:29
CharlesdeGaulle said:
My front seats are the same they just push forward to allow access. I think they are supposed to be self-securing when the engine is running to be safe in the event of a crash. I haven't checked mine actually, but suspect it was done for the MOT.
They are vacuum operated (as is the central locking) - never worked on my 280SLC and never failed an MOT but that was 15 years ago...http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?thread...
ilovequo said:
Hope you don't mind me asking but did the car come with that back box?
My SL has the original turn down pipes but i'd love straight tips like your SLC has...
Hello.My SL has the original turn down pipes but i'd love straight tips like your SLC has...
Genuinely sorry for the lack of communication - it's been a busy time, unrelated to the car.
In answer to your question I am under the impression the car has a stainless steel exhaust system fitted. It was in fine condition so must be aftermarket as the rubber hangers were completely rotten.
"Don't be a stranger" an ex once told me. I never saw her again, but I am back on here after some time away. Apologies for the silence.
Long and the short of it is I still don't have the Duchess back. I thought it wise to keep in storage over winter and the garage working on it kindly kept it to one side for what must be around 3 months now! During that time lots of new/replacement parts have been fitted including:
New heater controls (and all that gubbins behind sorted out)
Passenger-side mirror
Lots of new interior trim and carpet parts
Plenty of engine bits
New speakers for the new stereo
I collect the car this Saturday at noon so I can run it out to the Goodwood Members Meeting on Sunday, but likely not quite everything will be done by that time. I suspect there will still be a couple of mechanical gearbox-related items to figure out as soon as Goodwood is over so it will possibly head back for a couple of weeks thereafter.
Once the weekend is out the way I'll let people know what spares are in the boot too in case there is anything of interest.
Long and the short of it is I still don't have the Duchess back. I thought it wise to keep in storage over winter and the garage working on it kindly kept it to one side for what must be around 3 months now! During that time lots of new/replacement parts have been fitted including:
New heater controls (and all that gubbins behind sorted out)
Passenger-side mirror
Lots of new interior trim and carpet parts
Plenty of engine bits
New speakers for the new stereo
I collect the car this Saturday at noon so I can run it out to the Goodwood Members Meeting on Sunday, but likely not quite everything will be done by that time. I suspect there will still be a couple of mechanical gearbox-related items to figure out as soon as Goodwood is over so it will possibly head back for a couple of weeks thereafter.
Once the weekend is out the way I'll let people know what spares are in the boot too in case there is anything of interest.
Edited by paulyv on Tuesday 13th March 14:39
Well, it's home. Collected in a good-looking state from the garage late this afternoon. I was planning to do this tomorrow but with the snow forecast I thought I would force their hand a little as I didn't want my first time in the car to involve snow AND the streets of our fair capital city.
Feels good. Plenty of V8 grumble when I put my foot down but I do clearly have to get used to being 'noticed' in town. One chap wanted a chat at the lights and I got several more thumbs up. Very flattering but isn't something I have experienced before.
A couple of gremlins though - I seem to have a heater that starts up when it wants to, and at times there is a squeaking noise from within the dash once the car warms up...I suspect som plastic on the blower is expanding and then rubbing against something. It clearly needs a little more work but for the next week a heater fuse can be removed.
Only decision now - let's see what tomorrow's snow is like for the trip down towards Worthing and then Goodwood...if it's more than 'light' I am likely taking the Puma, which would be a shame.
Feels good. Plenty of V8 grumble when I put my foot down but I do clearly have to get used to being 'noticed' in town. One chap wanted a chat at the lights and I got several more thumbs up. Very flattering but isn't something I have experienced before.
A couple of gremlins though - I seem to have a heater that starts up when it wants to, and at times there is a squeaking noise from within the dash once the car warms up...I suspect som plastic on the blower is expanding and then rubbing against something. It clearly needs a little more work but for the next week a heater fuse can be removed.
Only decision now - let's see what tomorrow's snow is like for the trip down towards Worthing and then Goodwood...if it's more than 'light' I am likely taking the Puma, which would be a shame.
Edited by paulyv on Wednesday 5th August 00:13
You're too kind. Thank you.
On our journey down to Goodwood today I found my air con is working, which is great. On the other hand because the only knob missing from my dash is the air con switch that meant it was on all the way from London to Worthing during the snow-bound journey. Jesus wept it got cold! I balanced the blasts of fresh air from the dash nossles with a full-on attack from the warm windscreen demisting which gave us some balance. In short I don't yet know how to turn my air con off.
So yes, it is very 'cool' to have an SL...All fun and games.
On the plus side a little reading revealed that I need a new blower motor to get rid of the squeaky heater. My bearings have gone. Such is old age.
On our journey down to Goodwood today I found my air con is working, which is great. On the other hand because the only knob missing from my dash is the air con switch that meant it was on all the way from London to Worthing during the snow-bound journey. Jesus wept it got cold! I balanced the blasts of fresh air from the dash nossles with a full-on attack from the warm windscreen demisting which gave us some balance. In short I don't yet know how to turn my air con off.
So yes, it is very 'cool' to have an SL...All fun and games.
On the plus side a little reading revealed that I need a new blower motor to get rid of the squeaky heater. My bearings have gone. Such is old age.
Edited by paulyv on Sunday 18th March 00:32
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