Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present an extremely rare
opportunity to purchase an original (494) CA version 1978
Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 Long Wheel Base (W116-036 Series) 250HP V8
Sedan, a car which was built only between the years 1975-81 in
Europe and imported to the U.S only between the years 1977-1979,
with only 1,816 cars officially allocated for export to the U.S.A.!
The car was introduced into the U.S. for the 1977 model year with a
price of over $44K (over $160K according to the CPi when price
adjusted for inflation in 2018) which went to over $52K by the end
of U.S. production in 1979! That was virtually the same price as a
new Rolls Royce and at a time when the most expensive Cadillac, the
full size Fleetwood series 75 Limousine listed for less than half
that amount!This particular example reportedly boasts only three
southern California owners since new and it is a mostly completely
stock example with it's original factory 'Becker Grand Prix
Cassette Stereo' radio, power windows, power steering, power
brakes, power antenna, spare wheel and jack, original Mercedes Benz
chromed alloy 'Bundt' wheels and factory sunroof and automatic
climate controlled air conditioning!The car has been repainted at
some point in it's original and very desirable 'Astral Silver
Metallic' (Code 735) factory color paint and has a seemingly all
original and matching 'Dark Blue' (Trim code 592) leather interior!
The highly desirable 6.9L/250HP V8 engine runs extremely well and
this is a car fully loaded with factory options including power
steering, power brakes, power windows, power antenna, 'Becker Grand
Prix Cassette Radio', electric sliding sunroof and automatic
climate controlled air conditioning. This particular example from
1978 must has spent almost all of its life garaged and is a very
fine unmolested and stock example in superb condition throughout
with no signs of any accidents and absolutely no rust
anywhere.Despite the car's relatively high miles the engine has
very strong cylinder compression of between 155-165 lbs average per
cylinder, with no smoke or blow-by with the cylinders heads have
been rebuilt in the past. It has had a recent service with timing
chain replacement the transmission shifts solid and does not leak,
the hydro-pneumatic suspension system works as designed and has new
pressure accumulators. The steering is tight with new steering
links amp; steering coupler and the air conditioning and heater
system work well with a recent a/c compressor replacement and with
the a/c servo replacement converted to R-134 refrigerant. The car
has it's original and correct and working 'Becker Mexico' cassette
radio. The car drives extraordinarily well with recent service
history at a local renown independent Mercedes-Benz specialist shop
in Santa Monica, CA and anyone would be impressed with the car's
over-all ride and comfort.In 1968 the M-100 engine and hydraulics
from the 600 were fitted to the much smaller but still substantial
300SEL 6.3 creating the world's fastest four-door sedan. Upon the
introduction of the W116 chassis, a larger 6.9 liter version of
M-100 was installed in the 450SEL 6.9. The car only was ever
imported to the U.S in the first place because there was a
sufficient outcry from American dealers and customers to
practically force the factory to import it, even though it couldn't
build enough for the European market where the car has been on sale
for eighteen months. At a rate of less than 500 U.S cars per annum
between 1977-1980, they sold as fast as they came off the boats. It
should come as no surprise that the car was therefore in an
exclusive territory of only those who could afford the very best,
and who were fortunate if they could even obtain one of these rare
imports from their local Mercedes Benz dealer, such was the
exclusivity and demand of these amazing motorcars.The 6.9's
variable height suspension was actually illegal in the U.S at the
time of production so the U.S. specification cars had the knob
deleted for the raising of the car. For fans of the discontinued
earlier legendary 6.3 model, this was a car that continued its
legacy with 'Car amp; Driver' magazine proclaining it to be the
"Greatest Mercedes-Benz Ever Built!" and Britain's 'Classic amp;
Sports Car' magazine as recently as April 1999 declared the
Mercedes-Benz 6.9 fourth on their list of no less than "the World's
Greatest Saloons!".Indeed it certainly seemed true that money was
no object for those that had to own one and for that tiny handful
of people, many of them former owners of Mercedes-Benz 6.3 sedans,
who truly wanted the fastest production four-door sedan in the
world, boy were they were willing to pay for it, even though it had
hard leather seats, a slab of wood on the dash, and few other
amenities. Slightly wider fourteen-inch wheels and a 6.9 emblem on
the trunk lid distinguished it from the garden-variety 450SEL. What
you were paying for wasnt flash, it was engineering. And the
engineering started under the hood.The 6.9 was destined to be more
than a mere replacement for the 300SEL 6.3. The 6.3 was the big
news in 1968 when it was introduced. It was the 300SEL body with
air suspension and a hot-rodded version of the 600 limousines
engine and it went like the clappers. A total of 1840 were sold
before Daimler-Benz stopped producing the car in 1971, but the 6.3s
impact on enthusiasts far exceeded its sales. Its successor, the
6.9 was the continuing flagship car of the entire Mercedes-Benz
fleet. The car boasted a dry-sump engine, self-leveling
hydropneumatic strut suspension, specially modified three-speed
automatic transmission, beefed up driveline and a very
sophisticated Watts linkage applied to the already superior
Mercedes independent rear suspension to enhance anti-dive and
anti-squat performance on hard braking and acceleration. The 6.9
feels more nimble, more agile than any other classic Mercedes sedan
of its era. The new suspension, combined with the extra power of
the 417-cubic inch engine makes it possible to toss the big sedan
around like a bug-eye Sprite. It would accelerate 0-60 in a little
over seven seconds and has a top speed of nearly 140 mph. In
summary this is one very rare and head-turning example of a mostly
completely original 1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL Long Wheel Base 6.9
sedan with only three southern California owner's since new and
with recent comprehensive servicing. You will look long and hard to
find a finer unabused and well maintained example anywhere else.