Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Mercedes-Benz C107 coupe was built from 1973 to 1981 and was always badged as the 'SLC.' It was an elongated version of the R107, most commonly known as the '450SL.'
Like R107, under the skin the SLC was a W114 with a larger engine, and styling cues from the contemporary S-Class. This approach to developing low volume models, while not particularly interesting, proved far more profitable that the clean sheet design approach of certain contemporaries, like the Citroën SM.
The SLC succeeded the saloon-based SE coupes and convertibles of the 1960's. The SL's wheelbase was stretched and the car received a fixed roof. Some feel the SLC suffered in terms of styling, being only a very large luxury coupe built as derivative of an SL and not of S class. Most criticism was directed towards the louvers in front of the C-pillars which, no doubt, were added to mask the fact that the full size windows could not retract completely. In the US, the SLC was further burdened with very large bumpers, far out of proportion to the design.
In Europe there were 280/350/450/450-5.0/500 SLCs, in the US a 350/450 SLC, and later a 380 SLC, when the price of oil became a concern.
The 1981 successor to the SLC has been inspired by SLC (front section) but an entirely different type of car - a large 2 door sedan with a more cohesive design. ' The new SEC was based on the S-class introduced in the autumn of 1979 (W126).
SLC production reached 7.000 units in good years, with the United States absorbing the majority.
The most collectible version is the 450 SLC 5.0 of 1978, the first Mercedes-Benz car with the new light alloy 5.0-litre engine and hood (bonnet) and trunk (boot) lid both made of aluminium, recalling the 1972 'Batmobile' BMW 3.0CSL. This rare model was never sold in the US.
