Vehicle Description
According to Car and Driver magazine in July 1977, the
Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 was the fastest European sedan. This
particular expample is previously collector owned. With a curb
weight of almost 4,400 pounds, it still went 0-60 in 7.1 seconds.
Of the 7,380 units built, 1,816 were officially sold in the United
States, making this car one of 1,816 cars sold in the U.S. When the
car was introduced into the North American market for the 1977
model year, the price was well past $40,000 and was $52,995 by the
end of production. The 6.9 was rather austere compared to the
opulence in competitors like the Rolls-Royce or Cadillac. The most
expensive Cadillacs, the midsized Seville and full-sized Cadillac
Fleetwood Series Seventy-Five limousine each listed for about
$16,000. The 6.9 listed for around $40,000, when the Rolls-Royce
Silver Shadow sold for $43,200. The 6.9's variable height
suspension was illegal in the United States at the time, so North
American specification cars deleted the knob that allowed the
driver to raise the car. The North American version was rated with
36 fewer horsepower and 45 fewer ft/lbs of torque (250 and 360,
respectively), due to differing emission standards. It also came
equipped with "park bench" impact absorbing bumpers, although the
variant used on the 6.9 differed from that on the rest of the W116
lineup; the North American-spec 6.9's bumpers had smooth black
rubber covering their outward-facing sections, while the other
North American-spec W116 models had exposed chrome with small black
rubber bumperettes. North American models were fitted with four
fixed round exposed lamps. Buyers outside North America could also
opt for headlight wipers and washers and/or headlights with a
special vacuum-operated linkage whose aim could be adjusted at the
dash depending on vehicle load. This car is powered by a 6.9-liter
V8 engine mated to an automatic transmission and shows 114,908
actual miles on the odometer. (the title reads mileage exempt). It
is finished in black over a brown interior.
