Vehicle Description
This is a truly stunningly original condition Mercedes Benz W116
450SE sedan. Finished in "Tobacco Brown" (code: 423) with Bamboo
factory and genuine leather seating, (267, Bamboo, leather color
code of 810). The car presents in amazingly original and is in true
museum quality condition. Being amongst the first of the W116 in
America, the car has the Euro spec style streamlined bumpers which
are indeed a great welcome over the very obtrusive (and ugly) North
American type bumpers that were mandated from 1974 and onwards. The
is a 1-owner and purchased new in Wisconsin by an industrialist who
only drove her on special occasions and appears never to have
driven her in inclement Mid-western winter weather. It is super
clean underneath and throughout with virtually no rust, not even
any mild scale. The car was used by its only and first owner up
until about 2000 and climate control stored since for reasons we
have not quite established but to say, the car presents in a
condition that looks like she is only 5 years old. Since purchase
from its dry storage, it was recently serviced and all in working
order. Mechanically the car is in top shape with no known issues.
Just a quick look under the hood is testament to how well this
Mercedes has been maintained. Body and paint is excellent. The car
is accident free and the paint appears to be mostly original. I
would fair to say she is "100% ALL original" but just in case I may
have missed something, I will err on the side of caution and claim
"mostly original". It is very shiny and consistent with only minor
chips here and there but nothing glaringly so. There is no crazing
or cracks in the paint. There are two panel areas of light rust
bubbling to include the forward section of the left rear wheel arch
and the lower forward section in the right rear wheel arch (please
see photos). I did not fix these so as to preserve the original
paint and allow the new owner to make their own evaluation whether
to leave or repair. I also wanted to avoid the misconception of
hiding anything sinister. The interior is simply superb. She is in
great shape with no unsightly wear on the seats, carpets or
headliner. The seats themselves are in excellent condition without
any degradation of the "horse-hair" padding. The leather seating is
in almost perfect condition showing only a very light and welcomed
patina, but certainly no tears, wear-thru and has never been
redyed. It is indeed all original and simply outstanding. Its
interesting to note that it does not have the more widely used
"Pebble" grain leather used in W116s but in fact the higher grade
leather normally reserved for the later 6.9s or, as also used, by
the late W108s. I am guessing because this is a very early 116. The
dash crash pad does not have a single crack and is completely
original. This in its own right has to be the best testament to the
cossetted life this Mercedes has had, as it is almost impossible to
find any Benz of this era to be without at least some little cracks
in the dash. The dash wood is also in excellent shape and has only
the most minimal "milk-ing", but no cracks in the lacquer nor
lifting or peeling of the veneer. Have a close look at the buttons
and switch gear; they are all in as-new condition. The car sports
its original Becker radio with electric antennae. The interior is
so "perfect" that even the top of the back seat and rear parcel
shelf is without blemish. The top of the seat leather is not hard
like typical examples but remains soft and without cracks, of
course. Even the carpet on the parcels shelf itself is immaculate
without fade or sun break-down of the pile. The front sun-visors
are not "brown-faded" as most often happens. The car really is
delightfully preserved. The trunk is super clean with its original
carpet and additional rubber mat in good condition. She is also a
non-smoker car so clean and sweet. The car presents with all its
original features; electric windows, door lo
