1972-1973 Mercedes-Benz SL

In 1971, Mercedes-Benz introduced an all-new 350SL roadster and 350SLC coupe in Europe, and were powered by a 200-horsepower, 3.5-liter overhead-cam V8 with Bosch fuel injection. The 350SL and 350SLC models were introduced in North America in 1972, but the 3.5-liter V8 could not make adequate power while meeting American emissions standards, so the North American cars were equipped with a 4.5-liter overhead-cam V8 engines with low compression that met American emissions requirements. The North American versions also had four round sealed-beam headlights, as the composite headlights used in Europe were not legal in the United States. In 1973, the North American models were renamed 450SL and 450SLC, reflecting the true size of their V8 engines, and in 1974, they received protruding 5-mile-per-hour bumpers. This roadster with the optional removable hardtop, pictured at the 1999 Eagles car show in Rainier, Oregon, has the original bumpers, making it either a 1972 350SL or a 1973 450SL.