1982 Mercedes-Benz 450SL Trans-Am R107

A unique 450SL recently went to auction in North America. Commissioned for the 1982 Trans-Am race season by Neat DeAtley, a Mercedes-Benz dealership owner in Lewiston, Idaho, USA, the intention was to improve the performance image of Mercedes-Benz through motorsports. Most notably, the V8 SL finished sixth overall at Road America in 1982. For the past 30 years it has been with a Minnesota Mercedes dealer, a friend of DeAtley.

Being a ‘silhouette racer’, the engine block, camshafts, timing chain and rear light lenses are the only Mercedes original parts. With an engine built by Edwin Hatch, a fibreglass body covers a tubular chassis. Complying with regulations at the time, the original Bosch injection made way for carburettors, and engine capacity was de-stroked from 5.0 to 4.5 litres. At the time of writing, the car was available at Mecum Auctions with an estimated value of $450,000 to $475,000 (around £330,000 to £350,000).