A San Diego, California ‘garage find’

Rarer than a 450SL and more expensive when new, this highly desirable ‘European’ specification SLC includes the ‘small’ ROW (rest of the world) bumpers also used on early U.S. cars (1972 – 1973).  With the “hot Euro spec engine” she will, “get up on the cams” at highway speeds. Unfortunately, this also means she cannot be sold for use in California. Imported directly from Europe in 1998, she later moved to San Diego but without California emissions, she sat in the previous owner’s driveway under a cover until our recent rescue. U.S. lighting was likely added when she was imported. In order to purchase, a California resident would need to be a licensed dealer or an exporter.

She was resprayed some time ago in the original color of DB #735, Astral Silver. The Roser* leather, dash, carpet, bright work, and glass all appears to be original.

The last service was recently when we got her running after the long storage. The work included complete fuel system cleaning, tuning, new fuel pump, and more. There was over a week of shop hours spent; see the image of invoice included with the photos. She runs and drives but is a project with tired paint and dents on the driver’s door and left front fender. She will need re-commissioning to be a safe and reliable driver and the air-conditioning requires a service. The basic equipment works, including the sunroof. The tires are ancient. Check the driving video.

*’Roser’ was a leather mill in Europe, famous for supplying vegetable-based, vat-dyed hides to Mercedes. It has a lovely and distinctive aroma which cannot be duplicated with, replacement leather–cherish it!

Being a European car, of course she’s had previous work in and around the rockers in varying levels of competence.