This is a 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 SLC Rallye. Designed by Erich Waxenberger, this was a rallying version of the R107 and C107 line of sports cars produced by Mercedes-Benz.
The R107 and C107 were originally designed by Joseph Gallitzendörfer and Friedrich Geiger in 1968, taking the chassis components of the W114 and mating them to a number of V8 engines. The cars remained in production from 1971 to 1989, with 300,175 built in total of all types. The 500 SLC specifically was produced from 1980 to 1981 when the SLC was discontinued entirely; 1,133 were produced, making it one of the most desirable of all SL and SLC variants.
In 1977, Waxenberger, Mercedes-Benz's director of rallying, homologated the SLC for Group 2 rallying competition; the 450 SLC Rallye was created in the process. These were fitted with a new all-aluminum 5.0L M117 V8, mated to a specially developed 4-speed automatic, as well as weight-saving alloy and trunk panels and a "clever" radiator system. Seven were produced for 1978, with competition beginning in 1979.
The 450 SLC won the 1979 World Rally Championship in the hands of Björn Waldegård and Hans Thorszelius (VIN 10702612000836), it being the first V8-powered and automatic car to take home the spoils. For 1980, a number of cars were upgraded to 500 SLC spec, while six more chassis were produced for that year of competition.
The 500 SLC had good results, finishing third in Kenya, second in Codasur, third in New Zealand and winning the Rallye Côte d'Ivoire, with Waldegård at the wheel. It was originally planned to continue the rally program for 1981, but a number of reasons resulted in the program being canceled; seventeen chassis were built, with most destroyed following the cancelation of the program.
Now this casting was designed by Rob Matthes and introduced in 2025. This is currently its only release.
