Gray Market Survivor: 1980 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL

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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.

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Comments

  1. alphasudMember

    I like the looks of the W116. I would like to find the short wheelbase version though. If that car has not been federalized that engine is more stout than 160 hp. and would have higher compression pistons and possibly the better exhaust manifolds with no catalyst. This one looks like leather interior as well. I know these and the W126 are gaining value. Especially for low mileage examples.

    Like 3
  2. leiniedude leiniedudeMember

    I would think European-spec cars would have the speedo in kilometers unlike the one in this car.

    Like 0
    • scantar

      You’re right, but a lot of these grey market cars had speedo swaps as part of ‘federalizing’ them

      Like 0
  3. Blyndgesser

    The Euro spec 450 should have more like 225 hp.

    Like 0
  4. Peter Koskinen

    I have one of these in the 1977 6.9 version that was brought from Denmark in the mid 80’s. It is a complete euro example right down to the euro bumpers, headlights, cloth interior and BIGGG motor. Being a complete euro example it has a just a bit more go than the 4.5’s that are quick in their own right. Like the old adage says… Go big or go home. This car at $12k is a steal and will make somebody a great highway cruiser. On the long haul its very comfortable.

    Like 2
  5. TED WALTHER

    When I was stationed in Panama I had a Euro/Gray Market 1979 350SEL W116 which was supercharged and while it is rated at 202hp (see ref below), that car could fly! I once raced a buddy, who was in a 1986 GMC 454 pick up and blew his doors off. I also joined the Panamanian Presidents motorcade on 4 different occasions, as my car was visually identical to mine. PCS-ed to Virginia and DMV gave me a hard time when I tried to register it. Man I miss that car!

    Like 1
  6. Luke Fitzgerald

    It’s a US car with the European bars and lights added – check the tags in the door jam. The writing on the HVAC is a giveaway.

    Like 3
  7. Kevin

    I’ve always liked these,but that 3-tone leather…not so much, and personally I would like to own one some day,but the price of European auto parts is high,and there is probably a wait, or hard to source some stuff,vacuum door locks sound scary as well!

    Like 0
  8. Laurent

    En Europe la puissance est donnée pour 286 CV ….

    Like 0
  9. Kevin

    Care to translate that,Laurent,for us non-French speaking people.

    Like 1

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