I like seeing different cars doing things you’d never expect them to be at. Oddly enough, the Mercedes R107-platform SL coupes fit two roles…the 500SL rally prototypes that may or may not have been snuck out of the back door after a fight between an engineer who wanted Mercedes to go play in the dirt and corporate types who wouldn’t bother with funding if they couldn’t be guaranteed a win, and now, this back-halved 1981 450SLC. The Merc was originally set up for a big-block Chevy and a Powerglide, but unless you’re willing to drop another $12,000 on top of the $13,000 cost for the car itself, we’d avoid. For that kind of coin, we’d be hunting an M159 V8…the 6.2L out of an AMG Black Series…and a flat hood. With at least 563 horsepower and as much as 622 horsepower on tap in stock form, that’d be plenty enough to have fun with on a strip. That’s just us though…what would you jam in between the fender wells?
Craigslist Link: 1981 Mercedes-Benz 450SLC
Spot on!
Dare to be different with a stonking huge AMG V8 – but with twin turbos, No other motors would be better and as for an LS – well there’s always a handy crusher in the neighborhood!
Big inch Kaase Boss 9 , C6 w/ Gear Venders , deep gears , vintage air , license plate Drag Week 2017. Now I just need that winning lottery ticket……
BAE Hemi with twin turbos.
hmmmmm……I’m wondering if this might be the old Henderson & Jawad (spelling??) car that was also out of Washington state??
Can’t be a ton of MB 450 drag cars out there??
Yes, this car is for sale in Washington.
An LS with twin turbos would be my preference, but any American iron or aluminum V-8 works for me. Be a shame to dump an under-powered Euro junk motor in there after so much work was done to handle some real horsepower. Agree, a Boss 9 would be really cool.
This car used to be a regular at PIR and Woodburn. I raced it a few times, the last guy that drove it was pretty cool guy. Seems like a good price if you had the right mill sitting around in your shop.