| Mercedes-Benz |
280 SL/SLC* |
300 SL |
350 SL/SLC** |
380 SL/SLC† |
420 SL |
450 SL/SLC*** |
500 SL/SLC****‡ |
| Produced: |
1974 - 1981/1985 |
1985 - 1989 |
1971 - 1980 |
1980 - 1981/85 |
1985 - 1989 |
1973 - 1980 |
1980 - 1981/89 |
| Engine: |
6-cylinder-inline engine (four-stroke), front-mounted |
90° 8-cylinder-V engine (four-stroke), front-mounted |
| Bore x Stroke: |
86 mm x 78.8 mm |
88.5 mm x 80.25 mm |
92 mm x 65.8 mm |
92 mm x 71.8 mm |
92 mm x 78.9 mm |
92 mm x 85 mm |
96.5 mm x 85 mm |
| Displacement: |
2746 cc |
2962 cc |
3499 cc |
3818 cc |
4196 cc |
4520 cc |
4973 cc |
| Max. Power @ rpm: |
185 PS (182 hp/136 kW) @ 6000 |
188 PS (185 hp/138 kW) @ 5700 |
200 PS (197 hp/147 kW) @ 5800 |
218 PS (215 hp/160 kW) @ 5500 |
218 PS (215 hp/160 kW) @ 5200 |
225 PS (222 hp/165 kW) @ 5000 |
240 PS (237 hp/177 kW) @ 5000 |
| Max. Torque @ rpm: |
238 N·m (176 lb·ft) @ 4500 |
255 N·m (188 lb·ft) @ 4400 |
286 N·m (211 lb·ft) @ 4000 |
299 N·m (221 lb·ft) @ 4000 |
392 N·m (289 lb·ft) @ 3750 |
377 N·m (278 lb·ft) @ 3000 |
402 N·m (296 lb·ft) @ 3200 |
| Compression Ratio: |
9.0: 1 |
9.2: 1 |
9.5: 1 |
9.0: 1 |
9.0: 1 |
8.8: 1 |
9.0: 1 |
| Fuel feed: |
Fuel injection, Bosch D- or K-Jetronic, from 1985 KE-Jetronic |
| Fuel tank capacity: |
90 L (23.8 US gal; 19.8 imp gal), from 1985: 85 L (22.5 US gal; 18.7 imp gal) |
| Valvetrain: |
DOHC, duplex chain |
SOHC, duplex chain |
| Cooling: |
Water |
| Gearbox: |
4- or 5-speed manual standard on 380/420/450/500: 3-speed automatic, from 1980: 4-speed automatic rear wheel drive |
| Electrical system: |
12 volt |
| Front suspension: |
Double wishbones, coil springs, additional rubber springs, stabilising bar |
| Rear suspension:: |
Diagonal swing axle, coil springs, stabilising bar |
| Brakes: |
Disc brakes (Ø 278 mm front, 279 mm rear; from 1985: 284/279 mm), power assisted ABS from 1980 on request or standard |
| Steering: |
Recirculating ball steering |
| Body structure: |
Sheet steel, unibody construction |
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| Dry weight: |
SL: 1560 kg (3439 lb) SLC: 1610 kg (3549 lb) |
1530 kg (3373 lb) |
SL: 1600 kg (3527 lb) SLC: 1650 kg (3638 lb) |
SL: 1640 kg (3616 lb) SLC: 1690 kg (3726 lb) |
1600 kg (3527 lb) |
SL: 1640 kg (3616 lb) SLC: 1690 kg (3726 lb) |
SL: 1600 kg (3527 lb) SLC: 1570 kg (3461 lb) |
| Loaded weight: |
SL: 1920 kg (4233 lb) SLC: 2040 kg (4497 lb) |
1930 kg (4255 lb) |
SL: 1960 kg (4321 lb) SLC: 2050 kg (4519 lb) |
SL: 1960 kg (4321 lb) SLC: 2050 kg (4519 lb) |
2020 kg (4453 lb) |
SL: 2015 kg (4442 lb) SLC: 2095 kg (4619 lb) |
SL: 1960 kg (4321 lb) SLC: 2005 kg (4420 lb) |
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Track front/ rear: |
1452 mm (57.2 in) 1440 mm (56.7 in) from 1985: 1461 mm (57.5 in) 1465 mm (57.7 in) |
| Wheelbase: |
SL: 2460 mm (96.9 in) SLC: 2820 mm (111 in) |
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| Length: |
SL: 4390 mm (172.8 in) SLC: 4750 mm (187 in) |
| Width: |
1790 mm (70.5 in) |
| Height: |
SL: 1300 mm (51.2 in) SLC: 1330 mm (52.4 in) |
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| Tyre/Tire sizes: |
185HR14 |
205/65VR15 |
205/70VR14 |
205/70VR14 |
205/65VR15 |
205/70VR14 |
205/70VR14 |
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| Top speed: |
207 km/h (129 mph) |
210 km/h (130 mph) |
212 km/h (132 mph) |
215 km/h (134 mph) |
210 km/h (130 mph) |
218 km/h (135 mph) |
215 km/h (134 mph) |
| Fuel Consumption (estimates): |
15.5 litres per 100 kilometres (18.2 mpg-imp; 15.2 mpg-US) |
14.5 litres per 100 kilometres (19.5 mpg-imp; 16.2 mpg-US) |
18.5 litres per 100 kilometres (15.3 mpg-imp; 12.7 mpg-US) |
18.5 litres per 100 kilometres (15.3 mpg-imp; 12.7 mpg-US) |
15.5 litres per 100 kilometres (18.2 mpg-imp; 15.2 mpg-US) |
18.5 litres per 100 kilometres (15.3 mpg-imp; 12.7 mpg-US) |
18.5 litres per 100 kilometres (15.3 mpg-imp; 12.7 mpg-US) |
| Notes: |
* in 1976/77 rated at 177 PS (175 hp/130 kW) @ 6000 ** in 1976/77 rated at 195 PS (192 hp/143 kW) @ 5500, from 1978 at 205 PS (202 hp/151 kW) @ 5750 *** from November, 1975 (change from D-Jetronic to K-Jetronic) rated at 217 PS (214 hp/160 kW) @ 5000, from 1978 again at 225 PS (222 hp/165 kW) @ 5000 **** from November, 1981 rated at 231 PS (228 hp/170 kW) @ 4750, from 1985 at 245 PS (242 hp/180 kW) @ 4750, catalyst version at 223 PS (220 hp/164 kW) @ 4700 † from autumn 1981 a different 3.8L engine was used (bore/stroke 88 x 78.9 mm, 204 PS (201 hp/150 kW) @ 5250); this engine already was in use for North American versions ‡ the 450 SLC 5.0 used a slightly larger version of this engine (Type M117): bore/stroke 97 x 85 mm, 5025 cc, 240 PS (237 hp/177 kW) @ 5000 |