1981 Mercedes 500SLC

Want to win Global Classic Rallies or Show?

Most Australian car enthusiasts who grew up in the 1970’s and 1980’s would recognise Mercedes iconic coupe the 450 SLC but relatively few would realise that the model was the base for Mercedes entry into the World Rally Championship.

The first iteration was the 450 Slc 5.0 with the 5.0l alloy block, alloy hood and trunk, all LHD and all retaining the 3 speed auto gearbox – 1636 built. In that guise they performed:

Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC 5.0 was the true works rally machine, and despite being a large luxury coupé, it achieved some remarkable results:

Major WRC & international rally achievements
• 1979 Bandama Rally (Ivory Coast)
o Winner (Hannu Mikkola) + Mercedes 1–2–3–4 finish
• First ever V8 car to win a WRC event
• First automatic transmission car to win a WRC event
• 1978 Vuelta a la América del Sur
o Overall victory (Andrew Cowan) by ~20 minutes
• Safari Rally (Kenya)
o 2nd place (1979), very competitive but reliability issues prevented wins

Very specifically designed for brutal long distance events in Africa and South America where strength and durability were far more important than outright speed. Too heavy for tight mountain roads however when you think of Classic Rallies of today – perfect!

The 450 SLC 5.0 morphed into the 500SLC, the principle difference being a 4 speed auto replacing the 3 speed. 1133 500 SLC’s were produced – they are rare cars, one of the rarest Mercedes ever produced. To find one with under 60,000 kms, is unheard of.

Having competed in the 2016 running of Peking to Paris where an iron block mid 70’s 450 SLC came third, my interest increased. Clearly a 450SLC 5.0 or 500 SLC Homologated car would be highly competitive as they were in the day. The problem was that until recently, circa 2024, they were ineligibles for many events as “too young” for a cutoff of 1976. In the last few years the 1976 ruling has changed dramatically with many events including the very big ones opening up to mid 1980’s cars including the 500slc.

Ai’s conclusion:

🧭 Quick ranking (for your car specifically)
Rank Rally Best for
🥇 Peking to Paris Ultimate challenge / prestige
🥈 London–Cape Town Best natural fit for SLC
🥉 Le Jog Serious driving + navigation

A 500 SLC isn’t just eligible—it’s ideal for:

• Long-distance endurance rallies
• Rough terrain events
• Fast road-based rallies

It’s less suited to:

• Tight, technical, lightweight-focused historic rallies (Escort/Alpine territory)

Having now owned two 450 SLC 5.0’s [1978 and 1979 – both now gone] and this 500 SLC, I get it and a very fair conclusion. The cars are incredibly well balanced, strong and durable. As built, they need to go on a diet, be lifted circa 40mm, have a LSD fitted, cage and under body protection etc, but all the basics are there.

Anybody who has built a rally car knows that you “start” with the best car you can find, original and rust free – look no further!
I bought this car out of Portugal in 2016 purely because of its condition – it is so original it could become a genuine Concours car or a cracking rally car. Totally numbers matching, original build sheet [carefully hidden], flawless interior, perfectly straight body, zero rust, even the cruise control works! It has had paint sometime in its life well before my ownership

The documentation and history are not perfect but there is enough there ex Portugal, the UK MOT where I kept it for a few years, plus it’s overall condition, original factory paint marks on the suspension, the velour interior and how it drives, to verify the 59,000 kms. [It was registered in the UK and technically still is with a SORN – Statutory Off Road Notice]

It sits on new 15” genuine [expensive!] Fuchs rims, replacing the original 14" rims, with a 6th unused rim, comes with a Quaife LSD to be fitted if required and even comes with an original factory sump guard! If someone was really serious I have a 6 speed, brand new, Getrag manual gearbox that could be fitted! Extra!

Fully Registered in Victoria Australia with Import Approval. Priced in A's.

Why sell? Simple, I had a big accident in 2016 and then Covid killed the years when I intended to take the car globally so, at 77, it is time!