Earlier this week I check out a handsome 1973 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 4.5 that looked to be a great driver and probably not a bad buy for the long run. Today, we have another W109 that has a little bit more risk attached to it. This of course is the king W109, the 300SEL 6.3. I’ve covered these many times before and every time I see one pop up for sale I always try to take a look at them. Unfortunately, this 6.3 needs a lot of help and even more money to make it worth it.
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1969 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3 on eBay
Year: 1969
Model: 300SEL 6.3
Engine: 6.3 liter V8
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Mileage: 92,242 mi
Price: $14,450 Buy It Now
1969 Mercedes Benz 300sel 6.3
This 6.3 is an excellent candidate for a complete restoration to a driver or concours level.
Over 45 high res photos available upon request. Here are some of the finer points:
Excellent Original Color Combination of 467H Sandy Beige over Black Leather
Original Books and Records
Factory A/C
Engine Turns Freely
Solid and Straight Arizona Body
Stamped Service Booklet Documents Delivery to Dr. Robert Leonard on Sept. 27, 1969
Originally Delivered to Phoenix, Az. Remained in Az until recently.
Clear Arizona Title
I will assist with domestic and international shipping
WE HAVE OTHER CLASSIC MERCEDES AND PORSCHE AVAILABLE
Please review all photos prior to contacting Mike with any questions or offers, 386.334.0709
This poor thing has seen better days — much better days. Everything about this 6.3 will need serious attention. The body is full of dents and dings, rust is everywhere, the paint is coming off in chunks and even a door handle has gone missing. Inside, it isn’t much better. Mold has taken over nearly everything and even the wood has started to warp. Under the hood doesn’t look too bad, but it is impossible to say by just looking at it. A very expensive (and beautiful) injection pump on these M100 cars is inside that V of this engine that shouldn’t be running at anything less than ideal conditions. The rest of the M100 parts aren’t cheap pieces either compared to the M117 cars which makes me nervous. The good news here is that the suspension looks to be functioning, but that is no guarantee that this car won’t be laying on the ground by nightfall.
So what do you do with this car? Well, the seller is asking $14,500 for this mess and with the prices that 6.3s are pulling these days, he probably isn’t far off. The challenge here is figuring how much money is needed and what it will be worth when it is done. Most 6.3s for sale right now are commanding over $50,000 in average condition and even some have hit the $100,000 mark for the really prime examples. I personally think that is crazy, but I have no room to talk. This 1968 6.3 that looks like it was living on Skid Row sold for $5,500 and probably would have sold for a little higher if the seller would have held out. So say you buy this car for the $15,000 and throw $50,000 at it for parts and labor, is it a $65,000 car? Probably. Rarely does that basic equation work with most cars but the super hot classic European car market right now made this possible. Would I take that risk? No way. I’d much rather spend that $65,000 on an already completed car but maybe if I was a 6.3 specialist (there are a handful of them out there) then I’d take the risk on this one.
– Andrew
There are certain cars that, even if acquired for free, will require more time, money, and effort than they will ever be worth upon completion.
This is one of those cars.
At $14,500 to being with, non-running engine, rusted paint, and god knows what else, RUN, Forrest, RUN.
So either this was stored in the mountains in the elements, which explains the mold – Or the desert, which means that any piece of rubber is going to be dry & brittle. The “Arizona Car” sword cuts both ways.
Its worth that as a longer term investment I reckon. I have the 300SEL 4.5 in the same kind of condition (although she runs well). In ten years it may be a 100k car.. who knows