1974 Mercedes-Benz SL 450SL review from North America

When purchased, the vehicle had the following problems:

Broken front parking light lens;

Inoperative windshield washer

Inoperative cruise control.

The radio (original) is horrible as a tuner, sounds great as a cassette deck.

The odometer quit at 125599 miles.

I found this car for sale sitting along the road about 40 miles north of Chicago.

The paint and interior are original and flawless. The complete service history was with the car. The seller installed new spark plugs and wires, new tires, and filters, along with a new fuel pump.

My previous convertible was a 1973 Corvette, which I owned from 1977 to 1978. This is definitely not a Corvette; it's much, much better. As we have 3 more Mercedes sitting in our driveway, I know from experience that this is a much more reliable and better-designed car than the Corvette.

This is a very fast car. While not as fast as current models, it still has the acceleration that is absolutely exhilarating.

The seats are very comfortable, with ample padding and lumbar support. There is plenty of leg and foot room for the average driver. However, this car is not made for the very tall or very heavy person - there just isn't enough room.

The main drawback for 1974 cars made for the US market, no matter what the make, is the abysmal gas mileage. This model get about 9 to 10 mpg (urban).

In closing, if you want a SL and cannot aford the cost of a new one and can live without all the bells and whistles, this series is a great substitute. However, please bear in mind that although the purchase cost is low, repairs are not. Afterall, it is a Mercedes Benz.