Mercedes-Benz Worldwide

Menu
  • News
  • A-Class
  • B-Class
  • C-Class
  • E-Class
  • S-Class
  • G-Class
  • V-Class
  • X-Class
  • T-Class
  • CLA
  • CLE
  • CLS
  • CLK
  • GLA
  • GLB
  • GLC
  • GLE
  • GLS
  • SL
  • SLC
  • Citan
  • Sprinter
  • AMG GT
  • Maybach
  • EQ
  • Unimog
  • Trucks
  • F1
  • Concept Car

Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC 400hp 2JZ-Swapped Wangan Sleeper

Mercedes-Benz | Mercedes-AMG 08/04/2023 No Comments
Mercedes-Benz | Mercedes-AMG
Click to rate this post
[Total: 1 Average: 5]

The JDM vs. Euro debate has been going on as long as enthusiasts have had access to both types of cars, but every so often a unique build will come around that fuses the opposing cultures. This special Mercedes SLC is one of those builds, and notable automotive photographer Larry Chen checks it out in his latest video.

400hp 2JZ-swapped Mercedes 450SLC Wangan Sleeper

 
What makes it so special, you may ask? The answer is that it has the engine from a Mk4 Toyota Supra hiding under its unassuming hood. The owner wanted something a bit less nose-heavy, as well as something that made more power, so he settled on one of the most iconic powerplants of all time.
 
In place of the standard 4.5-liter V8, the 1977 Mercedes 450SLC is powered by the famous 2JZ-GTE engine, which has been upgraded to make around 400 hp (406 PS / 298 kW). Some of those modifications include a Mitsubishi TE06 single-turbo setup, a Z32 intercooler system, a custom exhaust, and an enlarged-core OEM radiator.
 
Mated to this engine is a four-speed automatic transmission sourced from a Toyota Aristo to stay in keeping with the Mercedes’ cruiser ethos, and to allow everything to talk to each other properly, all management is done with a standalone MoTeC ECU. That even extends to the climate control system, which is based on Toyota underpinnings rather than Mercedes.
 
Arguably even crazier than all the Toyota parts, though, are the Ferrari brakes, which came from the legendary F40 up front and the venerable F430 in the rear. And as is the case with most of this car, the owner did a lot of custom work to get them to fit.
 

Custom fitting brakes does get a little easier when your wheels are custom-made as well, and that’s exactly the case with this SL. The owner of the car also owns his own wheel company, and after seeing that his vintage Mercedes wheel style of choice only came in 16-inches, he decided to make a custom set with a 17-inch diameter. Supporting those wheels is a new suspension setup, which was also custom-made, albeit by a third party.
 
Taking a look at the aesthetics, this car is about as close to OEM as it gets, and the owner didn’t want it any other way. The only visible components that aren’t original Mercedes are the wheels, brakes, and a single Toyota switch in the cabin. Even all the gauges are original. And seeing as it served as a display car in a Mercedes dealership for a while, it’s in superb condition, with things like the rear seats and headliner retaining their original upholstery. The paint was resprayed and the front seats reupholstered, but both jobs were to the OEM specs.
 
All in all, the build took two years to complete, which is actually quite impressive given the scale, attention to detail, and overall clean execution. Nevertheless, to see more of the baby blue Benz and hear its sonorous straight-six sing.

Share this ↓

Related posts :

  1. Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster 2021 Rendered By Kolesa
  2. Mercedes-Benz SL R129 Review By Chris Harris
  3. How The Mercedes-AMG SL 2023 Is Built
  4. Barn Find Mercedes-Benz SL R107 Survivor
  5. Mercedes-Benz SLK Owner Loses Her Mind For No Apparent Reason
  6. Mercedes-Benz 560 SL 5.5-Liter V8 Cold Start
  7. Mercedes-AMG SL On German Sportscar Sales Attack
  8. Mercedes-Benz 560 SL Has Been Tastefully Restored With AMG Parts
  9. Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster Preservation Detailing
  10. Mercedes-Benz SL SUV By Jeremy Clarkson
  11. Mercedes-Benz SL Electric R129 With Over 50 Miles Of Range
  12. New Mercedes-AMG SL 2021 Exclusive Renderings
  13. 2021 Mercedes-Benz SL Spied Testing On The Public Road
  14. New Mercedes SL 2021 Spied With Slightly Less Camouflage
  15. Mercedes-Benz SL R107 Turns 50 Years Old
  16. Mercedes-Benz SL-Class 70th Anniversary
  17. The World’s First Mercedes-Benz SL Is A Legend
  18. Lori Harvey Photoshoot Includes A Mercedes-Benz SL Convertible
  19. Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series Has More Road Presence Than Any Modern Mercedes
  20. Mercedes SL R129 Rad Boschert B300-24C Oozes ’80s In Excess
Prev Article
Next Article

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Google Translate

Recent Posts

  • Mercedes-Benz GLC Electric Pre-Production Review
  • Mercedes-AMG C 63 You Actually Want Is A Massive Performance Bargain
  • Mercedes-Benz 190 E Restomod We’ve Been Waiting For Is Almost Here
  • Mercedes-Benz SL R107 Pogea Racing With AMG V8 Engine
  • Mercedes-AMG One Was Completely Destroyed In A Fire
  • 2026 Mercedes CLA Production Begins At Rastatt Plant
  • Mercedes-Benz Truck Drives In Reverse For Over 6 Hours & 77 Miles
  • 2026 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Arrives With Classic-Modern Styling
  • Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 Night Edition Full Build For NFL Professional Athlete
  • Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series At 7-Eleven
  • Mercedes-Benz S 600 V12-Powered Paid Half A Corolla
  • Mercedes G-Class Dashboard & Touchscreen Review
  • 2026 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet The Good & The Bad
  • Mercedes-Benz GL 63 AMG 7-Seat 550-HP V8 SUV
  • Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 Arctic Silver Edition Heading To US Dealers
  • Mercedes-Benz G 580 With EQ Technology Isn’t Selling Well
  • 2026 Mercedes-AMG GT Sedan In A Timely Fashion Ahead Of Real-World Premiere
  • Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Is Back With Modern Bones & An Iconic Name
  • Mercedes-AMG SL 63 Rudolph The Red-Nosed For Sale
  • Mercedes-Benz F-Class Limousine Thinks The Porsche Taycan Is Overrated

Categories

  • A-Class
  • AMG GT
  • B-Class
  • C-Class
  • Citan
  • CLA
  • CLE
  • CLK
  • CLS
  • Concept Car
  • E-Class
  • EQ
  • F1
  • G-Class
  • GLA
  • GLB
  • GLC
  • GLE
  • GLS
  • Maybach
  • News
  • S-Class
  • SL
  • SLC
  • Sprinter
  • T-Class
  • Trucks
  • Unimog
  • V-Class
  • X-Class

Mercedes-Benz Worldwide

Copyright © 2025 Mercedes-Benz Worldwide