I have said multiple times over the last year that I am swearing off major projects. As it stands, my last big restoration is nearing the proverbial finish line, which is the junkyard rescue 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth you’ve seen on these pages. But like any car guy, I, of course, cannot resist the siren’s song of certain vehicles, even when in absolutely decrepit condition with bank account robbing needs. The Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 is one of these cars for me, and whenever I see one – even in disaster-grade condition like this one here on craigslist – I can’t help but think about the possibilities.
The 450SEL 6.9 was one of the world’s first high-performance four-doors, taking the stately W116 lineup and giving it a serious shot of attitude thanks to a monstrous engine producing foundation-moving amounts of horsepower and torque. The big body Benz was immortalized on the big screen in the epic car chase film Ronin, where it was spotted pulling a smokey J-brake turn with rubber melting off the rear wheels and thundering down the road in pursuit of someone we were told was a bad dude. The car was perfect for the role, the epitome of a Q-ship, with a boring brown exterior and performance that would threaten that of supercars half its size. As you can see, this example is threatening no one with its tires buried in the dirt.
The 6.3-litre M100 V8 engine produced close to 300 horsepower in European-market form, along with over 400 lb-ft of torque. Of course, like everything else at the time, America received a de-tuned version, but since so many of these cars were imported as gray market models, the odds are generally pretty good that the car you’re looking at has the dirty engine. The seller doesn’t appear to know much about his vehicle, but he claims that it is a “….premium vehicle that runs and rides beautifully.” I highly doubt that last part, though I have no doubt this hearty engine would fire up when coaxed after the fuel system was cleaned.
The interior doesn’t look too bad, and I’m shocked to not see more evidence of rodent infestation. The black leather is a nice change of pace from the usual tan or caramel color we tend to see in Mercedes of this vintage, but it would also seemingly confirm that this is a U.S.-spec car (European market examples usually have some version of a cloth insert in the seating material.) The seller may not know much about the car, but he knows enough to not give it away – and the $4,000 asking price is likely optimistic given the restoration costs associated with a model like this. Still, I want it badly.
The least the seller could have done is winch the car out of its hiding place, air up or replace the tires and give the car a total bath. Then he/she could ask twice as much. Laziness costs.
Such a shame to do this to such a once, fine automobile. I just don’t understand people. If one is done with the car, sell it to someone else…don’t allow it to deteriorate and sink into the ground.
Sad to see.
Nice job highlighting Mercedes’ brute force solution, Jeff. I remember reading about these as a “future collectible” in the ’80s and I’ve also considered pulling the trigger on one. While America sold 175 V8s, MB gave you a dry sump mill circulating 12 quarts of oil in a fuel-injected overhead cam V8 ready to run flat out until its 25-gallon tank runs dry. These are special cars in a timeless way that today’s high rollers with 17 computers and a CAN bus will never achieve.
I bought one of these “cheap”, back in the 80s. Mine was a high-mileage example, that had needs. I got it running well (sometimes) and looking nice (from 10ft). I had a great summer with it, and some great vacation drives. I soon realized that it was going to take a major investment to be a truly reliable daily driver. It turned out to be a difficult car to sell…. All the MB guys that knew about 6.9s took a brief look and ran. There were not many around, and some potential buyers actually knew my car was a dog before I bought it…. Just as winter came, I traded it even for a K5 Blazer at a known sleazy used car dealer. He thought he hosed me and I thought I hosed him. The Blazer looked nice but turned out to be kinda beat too. Only it was easy and cheap to fix.
Moral of the story: Don’t buy a project 6.9 like this one. It will cost huge money to even get to driver condition. The guys that buy these usually only want nice, original cars. Sadly this one is likely a parts car.
“ Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.”
Will Rogers
We’ve all been there but this really hurts.
90000 miles? Because that sure looks like a one in the left most counter digit. That is a nice interior though. Maybe the price isn’t too far off but agree it could have used better marketing.
We must remember, we’re spoiled by pristine Lambos, hemi Cudas and such, but the name of the site is “BARN FINDS”. I happen to notice every blue collector plate, from Wisconsin, and was the former Dairy State for lo the past 100 years( recently surpassed by California) WISCONSIN, that’s who, and where do you think most “BARNS” are? Knowlton is just south of Warsar[sic] and home to Mullins Cheese. If traveling to the North Pole on I-39, it’s a short bypass, you shan’t be disappointed.
Anyway, my point is, I’ve worked/lived on several farms, and this is exactly what they look like. Is the seller trying to cash in on the “barn find look”? Perhaps, too busy/lazy to clean it, BINGO! Farmers do things on an “as needed” basis, and there was no need to clean it.There were many other things to do before that. It’s unclear to me how it got to central Wisconsin in the 1st place. It’s not something you would normally see, and would conjure up conversation at the local diner. With the cost of MB parts, I couldn’t imagine anyone taking this on. It’s not a GullWing.
How much water has ran through that pole barn and under this mouse house? She probably was a nice car back in 79-85 now its a parts car at best or just send it to the crusher.
Crusher?! There are hundreds if not thousands of dollars worth of parts. If I was able to work on cars at all (80 years old with major mechanical issue) I would go after this. I did work at MB dealers when these were still on the street. Compared to the cars of to these were electronically simple and mechanically at the pinnacle of development. And yes they are fast.
I must politely disagree with all the doubters about cost and complexity. My 17 year old son bought a 6.9 that had been junked. He cleaned the injectors and plugs and got it running. Then he fixed the flex disk in the drive shaft as it was creating a huge vibration and noise, probably the reason it was parked, fearing an expensive repair. Next he slowly repaired leaks in the hydraulic system, granted some of these parts were expensive but the labor was not. This car pulled like a locomotive to 120 MPH plus and never felt like it was done. He drove it to high school for two years and faced some severe bullying. I won’t use the words used but it had to do with the car’s German heritage. Finally my son asked the worst bully what he drove. He proudly stated he had an almost new Monte Carlo SS. My son asked to see it. It had all the SS logos and two huge stripes across the car but when he opened the hood it was a V-6! The kid said his car would go over 100 mph.
Our son then opened the hood on the 6.9 and its wall to wall engine. He pointed out the 19 quart dry sump lubrication and said it was needed for high speed maneuvers to keep everything lubricated. Than he told the kid to check out the speedometer pointing out that it goes to 180 mph but test drivers topped out at 162MPH. He was never bothered again and his friends began to hear stories about the blue beast in the parking lot!
He drove the car for five years and sold it for way more than his costs. Don’t discount the value of persistence, a good manual, and free labor.
@Jeff Lavery, “Q-ship”?