While the M5 may have the notoriety of being the first serious super performance sedan, it’s easy to forget that Mercedes-Benz really started the trend. As early as the 1930s, Mercedes-Benz was building some of the fastest large cars in the marketplace. They were expensive, complicated, and beautiful works of engineering. It took a while post-war for both the marketplace and the company to come back to full strength, but two cars created in the midst of an international oil crisis I really think point towards the character of their respective companies. First was BMW’s hard-edged, barely disguised racer for the road, the 3.0CSL – which we sort of just looked at. It was expensive, relatively lightweight, stunning to look at and pretty quick to boot – a sporting nature that would carry through to the current generation of BMWs, still considered the benchmark in sporting sedans. On the other side of the fence was the 450SEL 6.9; who else but Mercedes-Benz would put the largest production V8 into a sedan when there was a gas crisis? If the 3.0 shouted about it’s racing prowess, the Mercedes was subtle and understated. Indeed, option number 261 even removed the displacement badge on the rear, and outside of that you’d only see hints of the car’s performance by the bulging tires and slightly more showy exhaust. But stomp on the loud pedal and the best part of 290 horsepower was on tap for you – and this was 1975. Remember 1975? It was when the base Corvette had 165 horsepower and if you wanted to just break 200, the L-82 was your only option at 205 horsepower. A full 40% more powerful, the Benz was the match for sports cars of the day in a straight line but offered extreme luxury at the same time:
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1977 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 on eBay
Year: 1977
Model: 450SEL 6.9
VIN: 11603612003377
Engine: 6.9 liter V8
Transmission: 3-speed automatic
Mileage: 175,800 km (~109,000 mi)
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Price: $26,000 Buy It Now
Gateway Classic Cars of Scottsdale is proud to offer for sale this sought-after 1977 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 marketed on consignment with our Arizona showroom, located in North Phoenix. A child of the W116 series, the 450SEL was already an impressive executive sedan but the 6.9 is the one to have since it features the largest production engine of any import sedan post-World War II. Painted in a classy Milan Brown, this Mercedes has all the typical body lines/trim and benefits from not having the less desirable American-spec bumpers or dual beam headlights. The 6.9 model features a self-leveling hydraulic suspension system, with manual ride height adjustment. The headlining act on this German classic is the monstrous 6.9l V8 engine. The 16 valve, 250hp engine with Bosch fuel injection is plenty powerful for this large sedan and you’ll be impressed by the reserves in the 360lb ft of torque when you plant your foot to the floor. 60mph can be reached in approximately 7 seconds according to online literature- Ferarris from this era were struggling to get below 8 seconds for reference. A 3-speed automatic transmission helps move this German tank down the road with purpose. This 450SEL 6.9 is an import and has a speedometer/odometer measured in kilometers, so the dash reading is 175,833 but that is approximately 110,000 miles after doing the conversion. The interior of this Mercedes is upholstered in Blonde cloth with matching velour carpets and options including power windows, climate control (not currently functioning) and a power sunroof. The wood trim finished in walnut veneer is showing some age and there are a couple of small cracks in the dash but overall the cabin is in nice shape. This 1977 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 was an exclusive buy when it was new and to this day remains highly collectable. This car has been driven, enjoyed and can be bought at a much more accessible price point
The dealer listed US output for the car, which was indeed about 250 PS in 1977 – but this isn’t a US model, so you got the full-fat 286 PS motor under the hood. Not full-fat was the body, with slimmer Euro bumpers and great-looking single-piece headlights. And this one is in full 70s regalia in Milan Brown over velour upholstery. The downsides? Well, no maintenance history is disclosed on the M100, the climate control doesn’t function, and it’s far from a perfect example. $26,000 probably feels a bit pricey, but W116 6.9 prices are all over the map; from pristine examples trading north of 60 grand to less perfect models selling under 10k. I think this one will need to be cheaper before it changes hands, but it’s cool to see.
-Carter
