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Monster Motor: 1979 Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9

We all have guilty pleasures when it comes to automobiles. Cars we know we shouldn’t want, or vehicles that emit a siren’s song too tantalizing to ignore. That’s the case for your author and the Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9, one the world’s first high-output sedans built for ridiculous highways speeds and impressive handling out of the box. This tired W116 may need lots of love, but it’s worth it to hear that glorious M100 V8 sing once again. Find it here on craigslist for $5K and go here if the ad disappears.

The M100 powerplant kicked out a ridiculous 450 lb. ft. of torque, and was overbuilt by the factory, with race-spec features like a dry sump engine lubrication system and sodium-filled valves. While designed to provide reliable performance when new, these motors tend to get cranky – and expensive – when they sit. The good news here is that due to the presence of slim bumpers, Euro headlight lenses and headlight wipers is that this one likely has the Euro-spec lump with 286 b.h.p. on tap.

Bodywork will also be on the menu for the next owner, as rust is blossoming in multiple locations. This being a true Euro car likely means it retains its height adjustable suspension, as this feature was stripped from American models. The aforementioned headlights likely retain their trick vacuum-operated adjustability, but I doubt the system works currently. I don’t see any sign that the Mercedes has been anything other than silver since new, although a poorly-prepped repaint could be a reason for the rust seen here.

While the tires with signs of being sunk in the mud and coating of moss and film on the hood all indicate this 6.9 has been standing for a while, the uncracked headlights and straight bodylines are positives, along with the often-stolen Mercedes hood ornament still standing tall. These are never cheap cars to restore and this one should be approached only by those with the means to rebuild the motor and suspension at a minimum – but it will absolutely be worth it when it’s done.

Comments

  1. Avatar canadainmarkseh

    This was an autobahn monster. The car that drove in the fast lane and would go by you like a silver streak. Parts are going to be the killer as MB will have them but they won’t be cheep. This is one of my favorite euro cars but way out of my budget

    Like 4
  2. Avatar Rodent

    I don’t think this is a 6.9, despite the fact that the owner is showing the NADA value for one.

    Like 4
  3. Avatar Maestro1

    Jeff, I absolutely agree. If you know what you are doing and have deep pockets this will be a rewarding restoration. But let me remind folks that these cars are very complicated and require lots of awareness on maintenance, even after it’s restored. Having said that, they are brilliant cars and certainly worth a 6 figure restoration.

    Like 4
  4. Avatar Fiete T.

    Euro 450, but not at 6.9 unless they removed & filled the hole by what I can tell. Loved these as a kid in Germany- rode in plenty and a few polizei editions due to my dad’s job over there

    Like 6
    • Avatar Dave Wright

      Germans frequently ordered these cars with the badging deleted……..they didn’t want to advertise that they were rich enough to spend nearly 2X the cost of a normal 450. That being said, it is 600.00 and I doubt that it is a 6.9.

      Like 5
  5. Avatar alphil

    Doesn’t that CL ad read $600.00 ?

    Like 4
    • Avatar Suttree

      Looks like $600 to me. Maybe reality set in.

      Like 3
  6. Avatar On and On Member

    Money pit. A hole in the garage floor you throw your dough into. If it was free it would be too expensive. I’m not saying to buy a rusted out old Porsche, but seriously, invest wisely boys.

    Like 5
  7. Avatar Karguy James

    He saw 6.9’s selling for big bucks and they looked just like the one he had drug home from the woods so he thought he struck it rich. The first guy that came to look at the car probably set him straight so he adjusted his price. The Euro 6.9’s had the air suspension and I DOUBT that this car sat in the woods under moss for years and the airbags didn’t leak down. It doesn’t run so there would have been no way to “air up” the car. So this car most definitely has non-6.9 standard suspension.

    Like 3
    • Avatar LMK

      Or it’s blocked up….

      Like 1
    • Avatar Dave Wright

      They do not have air suspension…..(Like my 73 300SEL)……they have hydraulic suspension more like a Citroen. We air up air suspended cars all the time. Learned how to do that with my first 1965 300SE sedan 40 years ago from an old factory mechanic in Germany.

      Like 5
    • Avatar Rodent

      Had the same thing happen in our neighborhood classified. A running, driving 6.9 for $3500. Looked at the ad and was surprised that it was brown. Also missing the 6.9 emblem. Seller was kind enough to show a photo of the VIN. Not a 6.9. Big surprise!

      Like 4
  8. Avatar Dan in Tx

    That Craigslist ad saver sure came in handy this time. I can just see the seller having to change the ad and go “ah, man!”.

    Like 3
  9. Avatar Ronald G Bajorek jr

    what a great car

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Lindsey Johnstone

    Uhhhh, the revised listing is for $600, not 5K.

    Like 2
  11. Avatar max2018

    This is Not a 6.9 just another junked 450SEL!!

    Like 3
  12. Avatar Moparmann Member

    When I read “6.9” I immediately thought of “Ronin”! :-)

    Like 2
    • Avatar max2018

      3 yrs ago I bought All original 79 6.9 american version has 61K original miles with all documentation and manuals. black ext with tan leather interior. Even though well maintained I had my share of issues with it. Its beautiful and Iconic of course its Not daily driver I drive it once every 2 weeks or 3 even. I paid 36K for it back in 2015 and No its Not for sale! I love the film Ronin with De Niro and Jean Reno that but that was European version 6.9 used slightly more hp.

      Like 3
  13. Avatar RD

    I have a 1979 6.9 It only has the 6.9 badge on right side of trunk lid as all 6.9’s did. No 450sel on the left side of the trunk lid. No interior shots to show the hydraulic lever to pull to raise or lower the car. I doubt it is a 6.9 It is a Euro 450sel though with many interchangeable body parts.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Fiete T.

      Time to buy the Euro version for the lights and non-“Bass lipped” bumpers…just saying
      Always hated the tacked on look of the 5 mph bumpers

      Like 1
  14. Avatar Mark

    Fast fun to drive in range over 140 mph but expensive in maitnance
    I preferred 6.3 109 body- much smoother and better engineered vehicle

    Like 2
    • Avatar Jim Fuller Member

      I bought the 300SEL 6.3 in 1969 ($14,000 odd) described, at the time, as merely the fastest car in the world and so it was. However, within a year, the air suspension was causing such head aches I got rid of it. I never encountered the 6.9, but the 6.3 was PLENTY of power.

      Like 0
  15. Avatar HeadMaster1

    $600 is a GREAT deal if the car is close by. I say this because you will get nearly $1,000 for those bumpers, and another $500 for the headlights…..$500 for the scrape metal…..that’s a win in my book

    Like 3
  16. Avatar Todd

    This does not appear to be a 6.9

    Like 0
  17. Avatar Fiete T.

    Time to buy the Euro version for the lights and non-“Bass lipped” bumpers…just saying
    Always hated the tacked on look of the 5 mph bumpers

    Like 0
  18. Avatar Mark

    Air suspension on 109 – 6.3 always leak even new.
    But 6.9 is worst that 6.3

    Like 0
  19. Avatar joe palmer

    This is bone simple; open hood; look at VIN/Data plate; 116 036 = 6.9.

    116 033 = 450SE/SEL plain vanilla S class

    Like 0

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