page_title: Mercedes-Benz R107 and C107
section_title: US Grey Market sales
hierarchical_section_title: Mercedes-Benz R107 and C107 / Model history / North American models / US Grey Market sales
caption_attribution_description: Mercedes-Benz 450SLC 5.0 photographed in Washington, D.C., USA.
context_page_description: The Mercedes-Benz R107 and C107 are sports cars which were produced by Mercedes-Benz from 1971 through 1989, being the second longest single series ever produced by the automaker, after the G-Class. They were sold under the SL and SLC model names as the 280 SL, 280 SLC, 300 SL, 350SL, 350SLC, 380SL, 380SLC, 420SL, 450SL, 450SLC, 450SLC 5.0, 500SL, 500SLC and 560 SL.
  The R107/SL was a two-seat car with a detachable roof. It replaced the W113 SL-Class in 1971 and was replaced by the R129 SL-Class in 1989.
  Predecessor W113 was notably successful in North America, with 19,440 units of 48,912 total units sold in the US. R107 and C107 were even more focused on the American market, with specialized engines, bumper designs, headlights, and emissions management designs. R107 and C107 sold US units of 204,373 units of 300,175 total units sold.
  It was the only Mercedes roadster during its entire production.
  The C107/SLC was a four-seat car with a fixed roof and an optional sliding steel sunroof. It replaced the W111 Coupé in 1971 and was replaced by the C126 S-class coupe in 1981.
context_section_description: The more powerful 500 SL with 5.0 liter engine, produced from 1980–1989, was not available in the US. This drove many customers to obtain the European specification car in the "gray market." Finally, a more powerful version was available from the factory, from 1986 to 1989, the 560 SL. It was exclusive to the USA, European, Japanese and Australian markets.
  Despite the larger 5.6 liter engine of the U.S. 560 SL, the forbidden Euro-spec 500 SL was the fastest production 107 produced (mostly because of the lack of emission restraints). The 500 SL was published by Mercedes-Benz as having 0-60 mph times of 7.4 seconds for a top speed of 225 km/h (140 mph). Torque for the 500 SL is 296 lb⋅ft (401 N⋅m) at 3200 rpm and for the 560 SL 287 lb⋅ft (389 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm.
caption: Mercedes-Benz 450SLC 5.0 (U.S.)
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