The W116 chassis Mercedes-Benz is hardly an uncommon sight on various websites and classifieds. It’s commonplace to the point that it’s not exactly sought out as a collector car. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve a closer look, especially when equipped with a V8 and even more so when it’s a European-spec model, otherwise known as a gray market car. This 1980 450SEL comes with the full assortment of its European-market parts, along with a healthy 160 b.h.p. 4.5L V8. Check out the European headlights – a must have on a gray market car. Find the Mercedes here on eBay with a Buy-It-Now of $12,500 and the reserve unmet.

The 450SEL comes equipped with the much-preferred European bumpers, and even still has the mounting hardware for the longer European license plate. There were plenty of Mercedes from this era imported as gray market cars, a thriving business to satisfy the wants and needs of car shoppers who didn’t like what domestic showrooms were selling, but many of them were federalized in the process. This meant the European-style headlights and license plates were ripped out, steel crash beams welded into the doors, and any required emissions equipment installed. This example clearly evaded that process given it looks like it just rolled out of Stuttgart.

Now, normally the European specification models have cloth seats, but not here. That actually addresses one of the common laments from buyers at the time who didn’t want to feel like they just paid a bunch of cash for a European taxicab. This W116 may have had its interior swapped with a U.S.-spec car, which seemingly all came with MB-Tex or leather, or it was simply ordered this way from the factory. There’s some bolster wear on the driver’s seat, but otherwise, this 450SEL’s interior is in excellent condition. The seller confirms the air conditioning and cruise control work as they should, and that the vacuum door locks “….hold for days.”

The engine bay looks quite clean and un-messed with. The radiator, hoses, and expansion tank all present well. The seller doesn’t share any details about maintenance history or repairs, but contends you can fly in and drive it home – this, with 162,000 miles on the clock, is a bold claim. Of course, if there’s stacks of receipts to validate it, then you could feel pretty confident that this old-school cruiser will gladly stretch its legs and gobble up miles of highway with plenty of passing power at your disposal. The European-market cars are hard to come by, and this 450SEL looks like a honey of a find.