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What would you call a car that is 4,7 meter long and is equipped with automatic gearbox with three speeds and a five liter V8 engine? That's right, an executive saloon. Except that 450SLC isn't a saloon, it's a coupe. Yet, it is S-series Mercedes Benz and the car that they chose to build into a rally car. You heard it right - and what's more amazing is that 450SLC is the only rally car with automatic gearbox that ever was even remotely successful.
Just as the specification suggests, 450/500SLC wasn't particularly competitive anywhere except in long-distance rallies where endurance counted more than outright performance and driveability. It would be wrong to say that the car wouldn't have performance, quite the contrary as it had easily the most powerful engine until Audi introduced the quattro. But since that power had to move the immense mass of the car, was fed through automatic gearbox and powered only two driving wheels, it was to little avail.
So it is no wonder that car's two wins came in Ivory Coast where conditions were suitable. It is interesting to note that car played an important part in making Bjorn Waldegard the first drivers' champion in 1979. Even though he finished second to team-mate Mikkola, that gave him one point advantage and the the championship. Also, that Mikkola's win is one of his wins with five different makes, which is a record.
Data is for 500SLC, which was lighter and had more power but otherwise identical.
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| Debut WRC event: | Safari 1979 |
| Best WRC result: | 1st by Hannu Mikkola in Ivory Coast 1979
1st by Bjorn Waldegard in Ivory Coast 1980 |
| Rallies contested: | 0 | (works entries) |
| WRC starts: | 0 | (works entries) |
| Outright wins: | 2 | 0.0 |
| Podiums: | 9 | 0.0 |
| DNF's: | 0 | (DNF's to starts ratio 0.0 %) |
| Points scored: | 114 | (manufacturer championship points) |
| Avg points per rally: | 0.0 | |
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| Group and class | Group 4 |
| Engine |
| Location: | Front longitudinal |
| Turbo: | No |
| Cylinders: | V8 |
| Valves: | 16 |
| Bore x stroke: | 97.0 x 85.0 mm |
| Cubic capacity: | 5025 cc |
| Power: | 340 hp |
| Torque: | 430 Nm |
| Compression ratio: | 10.0:1 |
| Dimensions |
| Length: | 4750 mm |
| Width: | 1750 mm |
| Height: | 1331 mm |
| Wheelbase: | 2815 mm |
| Weight: | 1350 kg |
| Transmission |
| Drive: | RWD |
| Gears: | 3 |
| Sequential: | No |
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Mercedes 500SLC
(Photo: Slowly Sideways / McKlein)
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Even such a big car can corner...
(Photo: Slowly Sideways / McKlein)
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...or even fly if driven hard enough.
(Photo: Slowly Sideways / McKlein)
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