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I don’t see many W116s on the roads these days, although they do seem to be ubiquitous in certain kinds of Hollywood movies (usually those set in the middle east, in which they feature as the preferred ride of the terrorist bad guys). Produced between 1972 and 1980, the W116 was the flagship of the Mercedes lineup during the period and was the first car to be officially referred to as an “S-class.” Penned in the 1960s, the design looks remarkably more modern than it really is, probably because many of the car’s styling cues were carried over onto models built for a decade or two to come.
This particular example isn’t the range topping, high performance 6.9 SEL model. Instead, it’s a short wheel base, low mileage version of the ordinary 450. Nonetheless, it looks glorious and stately, which is exactly how an S-class should look.
In the annals of S-class history, the W116 of the 1970s doesn’t get too much respect, with exception of the mighty 6.9, one of the largest engines ever to find a home in a post-World War II Mercedes-Benz. If you’re not after one of these thirsty beasts, perhaps target one of the lesser engined variants, if you could consider the 450SE “lesser” engined. This short-wheelbase 1974 example for sale in The Netherlands spent most of its life in France. Looking resplendent in Silver-green metallic over a rich and inviting velour interior, I think it’s about time we start taking this seventies S-class a bit more seriously.
Yesterday Paul wrote up a rare 1990 Mercedes-Benz 560SE; for the W116 and W126, the short wheel base cars almost seem to be a bit odd. The long lines of the S-Class, especially in the case of the W126, seem normal with those long back windows. But for me, the W116 almost looks a little out of proportion in “L” guise. In part that’s helped when you delete the large bumpers that most U.S. bound examples had – in original Euro configuration, it looks much better in my mind. But drop the wheelbase to the “SE” version and the W116 just looks right to me. This ’73 example is a great case in point, with period green over green leather and Bundt alloys:
The 1970s weren’t the best times if you were a car enthusiast. Ever tightening emissions and safety standards left automakers scrambling for solutions while a…
The W116 is perhaps one of the most forgotten Mercedes-Benz S class generations, but even this staid sedan had a few interesting versions. We are…
