Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Coupé · 3rd generation SL Coupé

C107

The SL, under a fixed steel roof.

Production
1972–1981
Built
62,888
Body
2-door coupé
Based on
R107
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Coupé (C107)

Sold alongside the R107 roadster from 1971, the C107 SLC was Mercedes-Benz’s fixed-roof, long-wheelbase take on the same platform — a four-seat touring coupé rather than a two-seat open car, built through 1981.

It shared the roadster’s engines and evolved the same way, from the six-cylinder 280 SLC through small-block V8s to the 5.0-liter 450 SLC 5.0 and 500 SLC, using the same M110 and M116 engine and 722-series transmission families as the R107.

Mercedes-Benz built 62,888 examples of the SLC. Unlike the roadster it was based on, the coupé was discontinued in 1981 without a direct SL successor, while the R107 roadster continued in production through 1989.

C107 interior
The SLC’s cabin shared its dashboard and switchgear with the R107 roadster.

Every model.

Eleven model rows across 1971–1981 — from the six-cylinder 280 SLC to the 5.0-liter 500 SLC, each identified by its chassis, engine and transmission numbers.

ModelloModel yearTelaioMotoreCambioTotale
280 SLC1974–1976107.022110.982722.103 · 722.11210,666
280 SLC1977–1981107.022110.986722.103 · 722.112incluso sopra
350 SLC1972–1976107.023116.982722.002 · 722.20113,925
350 SLC1977–1980107.023116.984722.002 · 722.201incluso sopra
350 SLC 4.51973107.024117.982722.201 · 722.004incluso sopra
380 SLC1981107.025116.9603,789
450 SLC1973–1976107.024117.982722.201 · 722.00431,739
450 SLC1976–1977107.024117.985722.201 · 722.004incluso sopra
450 SLC1978–1980107.024117.985722.201 · 722.004incluso sopra
450 SLC 5.01980107.026117.9602,769
500 SLC1980–1981107.026117.960incluso sopra

* Il dato di produzione pubblicato copre tutte le serie di quel modello; la fonte non lo scompone ulteriormente.

722x Automatic transmission
C107 side profile
The C107’s fixed roof and longer wheelbase set it apart from the SL roadster it was based on.

Year by year.

Ten years of coupe-specific and shared-with-SL updates — from the first 350 SLC to the short-lived 1980 facelift that ended with the SEC.

  1. 1971
    • C107 SLC launches on a 360 mm longer wheelbase than the R107, with a fixed roof and full-size rear seats — Mercedes-Benz’s only S-Class-positioned coupé based on an SL platform.
    • 350 SLC opens the range with the 3.5-liter M116 V8.
  2. 1973
    • 450 SLC arrives with the 4.5-liter M117 V8 (March in many markets).
  3. 1974
    • 280 SLC joins with the fuel-injected 2.8-liter M110 straight-six.
  4. 1976
    • Heated rear window becomes standard on every C107.
    • Injection updates continue in line with the SL (Bosch K-Jetronic era after the earlier D-Jetronic cars).
  5. 1977
    • 450 SLC 5.0 introduced: aluminum hood and trunk lid, black plastic rear spoiler and a lighter 5.0-liter V8 package developed with motorsport homologation in mind.
  6. 1979
    • Rear seat belts become standard equipment.
  7. 1980
    • Shared Geneva facelift with the R107: updated cabin, four-speed automatic, aluminum hood cues and revised V8 lineup.
    • 380 SLC and 500 SLC replace the 350/450 line; 280 SLC continues. The 500 SLC succeeds the 450 SLC 5.0.
  8. 1981
    • SLC production ends (August/September) after 62,888 cars; replaced by the W126-based 380 SEC and 500 SEC. Unlike the R107, the C107 never received a 1985-style third generation.
C107 rear three-quarter view
The SLC’s louvered rear pillars are its most distinctive styling cue.

Shared with the roadster.

The SLC used the same engine families as the R107 roadster: the M110 inline-six and the M116 V8.

M110

Inline-6
  • 110.9822.7 L · 2,746 cc

    185 PS

    136 kW · 182 hp a 6,000 giri/min

    238 N·m

    176 lb·ft a 4,500 giri/min

  • 110.9862.7 L · 2,746 cc

    185 PS

    136 kW · 182 hp a 5,800 giri/min

    240 N·m

    177 lb·ft a 4,500 giri/min

M116

V8
  • 116.9823.5 L · 3,499 cc

    200 PS

    147 kW · 197 hp a 5,800 giri/min

    286 N·m

    211 lb·ft a 4,000 giri/min

  • 116.9843.5 L · 3,499 cc

    200 PS

    147 kW · 197 hp a 5,800 giri/min

    286 N·m

    211 lb·ft a 4,000 giri/min

  • 116.9603.8 L · 3,818 cc

    218 PS

    160 kW · 215 hp a 5,500 giri/min

    299 N·m

    221 lb·ft a 4,000 giri/min