Steve McQueen has left an enduring legacy on popular culture in ways that many other celebrities has not. In addition to being a big screen legend, his identity – the things he touched, the items he favored, the purchases that he continued to enjoy – have become symbolic of the most interesting and cool products one can buy. I’d be lying if I said Persol sunglasses didn’t come onto my radar because of seeing McQueen wearing them, and for some of us, the Mercedes-Benz 300SEL carries the same impact. This powerful sedan is not McQueen’s but it’s quite similar, and it apparently has under 10,000 original miles. Find it here on Facebook Marketplace for $14,000.
Now, don’t get me wrong: I think celebrities carry far too much influence in modern society, but consumers are just as much at fault as Hollywood’s egomaniacs are. McQueen, in my opinion, was an outlier, as his interests in automobiles were genuine, not a flex just to buy the latest and greatest. He purportedly drove his 300SEL up until his death in 1980, clearly enjoying the car’s effortless speed and comfortable cruising at triple digits. The car shown here was apparently part of the European delivery program, meaning the first owner purchased it overseas and enjoyed it in Europe before bringing it stateside.
One of the clearer indications of low mileage is the condition of a Mercedes product from this era. If the car has been left outside, the wood trim on the dash will almost instantly perish. The trim here appears to be in excellent shape, and the red leather – a color scheme I cannot recall seeing with any regularity – remains in excellent condition with just some gentle creasing on the driver’s seat. Unlike the W123 or W124 cars, there was plenty of material inside the W109 that could quickly deteriorate if exposed to sun or moisture.
Now, McQueen’s car was the indomitable 6.3-powered version, which was a whole different ballgame as it relates to performance and value. The 4.5 was no slouch but it wasn’t the same as a 6.3 and certainly a later 6.9, making just shy of 200 horsepower but still producing a healthy 276 lb.-ft. of torque. The self-leveling suspension is one of the more typical areas of failure in Mercedes-Benz products of this era, and the seller notes this car’s system will need attention. It’s also a costly expenditure to have a shop correct it, so plan on that expense when making your offer.
Classic old classic here, Jeff. Yes the big motor got all the attention but a good friend stationed at Ramstein AFB many years ago bought one very much like this one from another guy going home. He said it’s easy to trade performance for comfort and the price difference with the “big motor. As well he swore he could feel the difference in drivability and performance between his and the ones he drove later here at home.
And yes he brought his home!
Sweet machine here for a decent price.
Overlooked the bit about the failing suspension but it’s a good bargaining point and an easy workaround for someone mechanically inclined and an internet connection.
This is a nice find however I wouldn’t even try to address then old suspension system. I’d opt for something newer and get rid of that problematic pneumatic system and drive the car regularly. A simple search on the internet tells you what the bargaining point would be for negotiating for the purchase price. Plenty of aftermarket shops can do that work and you would still have a nice “ride!” This car it literally right across the river from me and if I have a “need” for a project I would go see it.
My thoughts exactly. Retrofitting it with conventional shock absorbers (if possible) or modern airbags etc is a no brainer.
I began to appreciate these cars as a car-crazy teen the 70’s. My late godfather had one of these in silver, as well as a 1960 300sl roadster , and a 280 cabriolet. Over the years, I have owned a number of classic M-Bs. Most were barn-finds, mainly coupes, sedans and roadsters .
I have been tempted by a few 300sel projects, but most were rusty, and too far gone to consider. The car here is one of the nicest I have seen. A little pricey, but maybe less so than trying to improve a lesser car. If it were local, I would want to see it.
A few weeks ago, I heard about a couple old Benzes in a barn nearby. I followed up, found the barn, and the owner said she would consider selling the cars. One is a rust-free, low mileage ’89 126 diesel that has been parked about 6 years. The other is a 300sel 6.3 on jack-stands that has been parked for 30+ years. Her husband had bought the 300sel in Europe while serving with the Air Force. The dark, cluttered barn is in terrible shape, and made worse by (soon to be evicted) raccoons , so I could not get a very good at the cars. A family member is slowly clearing the barn so that the cars can be extracted, and properly evaluated. I am continuing to stay in touch…..
BEWARE of the sitting for years 300SEL 6.3 for many reasons, least of which is the air suspension. About 25 + years ago I bought a 6.3 that seemed to run well. The trouble was it was in Upstate NY west of Albany. I changed the oil and filter and drove it south to Philadelphia. One trouble was the rust at all four of the jack points, etc. Back then I purchased the four air bag assemblies for about $1000 and replaced them myself in the back yard with just jack stands, just a tedious but not too complicated job. Other than the rust and suspension there will be oil leaks and worse a fuel leak in the monster foot long MECHANICAL fuel injection pump. To rebuild that is a professional and expensive job. Driving it is dangerous otherwise. Other than that, fun to drive.
Bet you can hear the clock tick while driving down the road. I had a friend in Germany who had one and you could in his.
On Hollywood, celebrities, and an old Mercedes: my brother lives down there, and a few years ago purchased a similar 300SEL, white with the red interior. In the glove box was the original registration. Red Skelton! How cool is that?
Wow, that is barely broken in. Great find. Service it, detail it thoroughly.
Had a 6.3 for 18 years. If the paint can be brought back and the engine runs, this could be a fun project. Wear will be minimal, but sitting unused is the snag. Air suspension parts are readily available. Rebuilding the fuel-injection pump will run $5-6,000 but will probably not be necessary. This is a potential concours car.
I bought my first 108 in 75 when I was 21. a 280SE, then I bought 2 more 108s, a 4.5 (73) and a 66 300SE without air supension. and about 10 other mercedes over the years, as well as working for MB. the odometers on the 108s/109s were notorious for breaking and simply not working. assuming 10,000 miles on the car is probably a huge mistake, and unless the owner has records substantiating this, it’s a safe bet it’s 110M, or 210M, or more. nice car, needs some work, will cost a fortune only to be worth less than that. caveat emptor.
Uhhh… I certainly do not associate the 300SEL with Steve McQueen. This car will forever be ingrained in true car enthusiasts mines for being the basis of the first AMG car ever constructed… The Red Pig. There is no getting around the impact of The Red Pig on future four-door performance sedans.
Nice old MB SEL. We owned a 450 SEL, 6.9. These are tanks when properly cared for. But this one looks more like 110k on the clock.
For a lot less money considering what I see here, and my history with MBs, this is a 7k vehicle.
There is a 3.5 version about 400 metres from where I live. Looking very sad with rust and down in the weeds suspension. Oddly there is a 6.3 version not 100 metres away, different owner. Strange for such a rare car in RHD.