Vehicle Description
Some of the greatest enthusiast cars in history have come from the
fruitful minds of engineers forced to work in secret to avoid the
swinging axe of the bean-counters or judgmental frowns of pragmatic
executives. This was the case with the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3
and its creator, Erich Waxenberger. In the mid-1960s, the
Mercedes-Benz lineup was very conservative. Even the SL sports car
was limited to six cylinders and heavily biased toward automatic
transmissions and luxury touring. Mercedes' saloon car lineup was
even more staid, with the W108 and its air-suspended sibling, the
W109, topping out with a 3.0 liter, Bosch-injected inline six. Of
course, these were wonderful cars built with exceptional attention
to detail - they just lacked the performance that Waxenberger
desired. Working in secret and after hours, a small team led by
Herr Waxenberger applied the classic American pony-car edict-
"there's no replacement for displacement" to the mid-sized W109,
shoehorning in the all-alloy, 6.3 liter M100 V8 (lifted from the
600 grosser limousine). They handed the prototype over to long-time
Mercedes-Benz executive, Rudi Ulehhaut who was seen as their best
ally in getting this new project off the ground. Ulenhaut was so
shocked by the turn of speed that it is said he immediately pulled
over and opened the hood in disbelief at how Waxenberger and his
team managed to fit such a beast of an engine in there. Give the
M100's output of 300hp and 434 ft-lbs of torque, it is easy to see
how he was caught off guard! The project was green-lighted by
Ulenhaut, with the unveiling scheduled for Geneva in 1968. The SEL
6.3 was a relative success with 6,500 examples built between 1968
and 1972. It also spawned smaller V8 engine models as well as a
long tradition of big-engined, Mercedes saloon cars that continues
to this day with the in-house AMG program. No car of its day could
carry five passengers at such speed, and the handsome but
conservative styling makes the "6.3" not only the ultimate Q-car,
but one of the best all-out performance cars of the era. Our
featured example, a 1970 300 SEL 6.3, comes to us via a passionate
and meticulous owner who cared deeply for the car while in his
possession. In the same hands for the last 20 years, the prior
owner purchased this car from the 2nd owner to use as a daily
driver. He used the car regularly for many years, maintaining it
carefully via specialists. As the duties of daily use showed their
marks, he embarked on an extensive multi-year restoration in the
early 2000s. In the process, corrosion was addressed using factory
panels, the M100 engine was serviced with new timing chains,
refreshed cooling system and other ancillaries, and the air
suspension fully rebuilt. The quality of the restoration is
exceptional, especially considering the costs involved in such a
project. The bodywork is incredibly straight with outstanding panel
fit and shut lines. The factory-correct and original color of 904G
Midnight Blue Glasurit single-stage paint is beautifully laid down
with a deep gloss and no flaws to speak of.� The chrome bumpers,
grille and exterior trim were restored to factory quality and the
headlights converted to the more attractive European units. Factory
"Bundt" alloys were restored and now wear proper Michelin rubber.
The quality and detail of the restoration continue to impress via
the gorgeous interior. The front and rear seats were restored using
parchment leather in correct materials and patterns, and a full set
of complementary blue carpets set off the cabin beautifully. The
wood trim was restored to concours standards, and the owner added
wood A-pillar trim from a pre-1970 model as a subtle aesthetic
upgrade. A rebuilt Becker radio keeps the dash looking period
correct and all instruments, switches and even the air conditioning
work as they should. Nearly $100,000 was spent ensuring this car
was returned to its former glory, all of which has been extensively
documented in an included history file. The M100 engine is
legendary for its longevity and the work performed ensured this car
will have a solid future. The air suspension was serviced and
rebuilt as needed, and the car sits properly, without losing air
pressure over time. Even the differential and rear axle has been
completely rebuilt at great expense using original MB parts. Since
the restoration, the owner ran the car and used it carefully but
regularly to keep every system working as it should. He reported to
us that a run from Eastern Pennsylvania to St. Louis, MO for the
M100 owner's club was relaxed and 100% trouble free. This 6.3 has
also been shown at several events including the Greenwich Concours
and the Deutsche Classic where it earned multiple awards. �Few of
these wonderful cars have been as cherished and well-maintained as
this example. Considering the performance, quality and the
outstanding restoration, this 300 SEL 6.3 represents an exceptional
value that is a match for its exceptional performance.