Vehicle Description
1972 Mercedes Benz 280SEL 4.5� Gray exterior and black leather
interior Powerful 4.5L M117 SOHC V8 Engine (195 hp) Three-speed
automatic transmission Factory air-conditioning Power steering,
brakes and windows and rear defroster Many original components, a
solid chassis and relatively presentable cosmetic pieces make this
1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SEL 4.5 a worthy restoration project, brought
to you by MotoeXotica Classic Cars. The previous owner, a Mr. Erdos
of Holly, Michigan, bought the car a year ago from a neighbor who
had stored it in his garage for many years. The seller changed the
spark plugs before selling it and the car runs but it will take
more restoration efforts to get it to a Mercedes-Benz level of
roadworthiness. This example came from the factory with the
following options - central locking system, U.S. trim, Becker AM/FM
stereo, Thermoking air-conditioning, power windows and green,
heat-insulating glass, with rear defroster. The Mercedes-Benz W108
and W109 vehicles equipped with the 4.5L SOHC cast-iron block m117
V-8 were produced, starting in early 1971, with the 280SE 4.5. The
4.5 engine was released by MB initially for the North American
market, to get around the tougher emissions standards without
killing the engine output and performance of the 3.5L engine. The
m117 4.5 is very similar to the 3.5, with a 30 mm taller stroke.
The heads also received larger combustion chambers, lowered
compression to 8.8:1 or 8.0:1, depending on engine variation and
production date. Power was 230 or 200 horsepower in Europe,
depending on compression but 195 horsepower for North America. The
D-Jet EFI system was tuned further for the 4.5, with a specific ECU
that gave a 10 percent full-throttle enrichment. This (along with a
taller rear-end gear) allowed the 4.5 to achieve similar efficiency
to the 3.5, yet more power on full throttle. The 3.5 and 4.5 are so
similar that 3.5 heads can fit directly on a 4.5 with no
modifications for a roughly 11:1 compression ratio! Believed to
have been repainted in its original gray, the paint is in fair
shape, with some blemishes visible. Most of the glass is clear and
intact but the driver's sideview mirror glass is on the console and
the rear window and rear passenger side glass carry aftermarket
tinting. The radio aerial is missing but most of the chrome trim is
in one piece and serviceable. The interior is almost 100 percent
original, with the exception of a Pioneer AM/FM stereo with CD
player and at least four speakers installed in the doors and rear
package shelf. The right front passenger headrest is missing but
the black leather seats are in good condition, the dashboard is
crack-free and its VDO gauges work as designed while the door
panels, headliner, the large steering wheel, gearshift lever and
upholstery are in decent condition overall. Driver assist features
include power steering and power brakes. The 108 and 109 Chassis
Mercedes-Benz vehicles with the 4.5L m117 V-8 are still, to this
date, sought after by many people who owned one in the early 1970s
(or who had a family member or friend with one). Also, many people
who live in Europe are buying rust-free examples from the USA and
shipping them back to Europe. The 4.5 wasn't offered in Europe at
the time, and it has a possibly stronger following than the 3.5 in
Europe. In 1971, the 280 SEL 4.5 sedan was available at the same
time as the regular-length 3.5 sedan. The almost four-inch
(10-centimeter) difference gave the rear-seat passengers additional
space to stretch their legs, a plus on longer journeys. This
4.5-liter engined long sedan outsold the 3.5-liter version by
three-to-one in 1971 and the following year, the more powerful
version was the choice of more than 6,000 customers while only
about 500 people chose the lesser car. Production in 1971-1972
totaled 8,173 units. Competition to this Mercedes-Benz in 1972
included Jaguar's XJ6 4.2L, BMW's 3.0 S and the Bentley T. GET OUT
AND DRIVE!!! This car is currently located at our facility in St.
Louis, Missouri. Current mileage on the odometer 23,649 miles. It
is sold as is, where is, on a clean and clear mileage exempt title.
VIN:10806812013973 Note: Please see full terms and conditions
listed below that pertain to the purchase of any said vehicle,
thank you.