This 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL looks quite fresh for having just recently emerged from storage. Long regarded as one of the pioneers of the fast sedan movement, the W109 chassis models like this featured the M100 V8 that did duty in the big luxurious 600 SWB. In this application, it made the Mercedes a revelation back in the day by giving a four-door sedan the kind of performance that even muscle cars lusted after. This 300SEL is a running, driving example with functional air suspension and is listed here on eBay with bids to over $15K and no reserve.
This 300SEL has great colors, with the factory painted hubcaps matching nicely with the exterior. The earlier models like these wore gorgeous chrome bumpers that sit tight against the body – a much better look than the “safety” bumpers that would come later. Despite appearing to sit low in this photo, the seller promises that the air suspension still fully raises and lowers back down when the car is turned off. Hopefully, that means the system has seen some attention in the last few years.
The interior checks all the boxes for being a nicely preserved vintage Mercedes, with acres of blue leather accented by clean wood trim. The seller notes it all remains in great condition, and is capped off by a headliner in good shape that isn’t sagging down. The Mercedes has a floor-shift automatic transmission, which the seller says switches through the gears without issue, allowing the monstrous 6.3L V8 to put all of its power down to the ground. I would imagine with big horsepower cars like these, issues with the transmission would be pretty apparent.
The Mercedes was known when new for its ability to sustain tripe digit speeds and to keep its occupants in complete comfort while doing so. Today, its performance remains completely contemporary, able to hustle the family sedan along with ease against modern traffic. Despite its muscular performance, Mercedes of this vintage still demand fairly high levels of mechanical upkeep, and while this one is described as rolling out of storage and running well, it seems likely it was showered with regular servicing before going into an early retirement.
Have to wonder why this one was put to bed years ago. From the pics, it looks quite nice.
I like these much better than the 600’s because this is a car you can drive, enjoy and look good in, while driving a 600 raises questions about whether you are the chauffeur. For the same reason, while I love the look of Packard 1930’s era dual cowl phaetons, I’d never own one. If you could afford one then, you had a driver as well.
This one begs a personal inspection to make sure all’s well, and my hopes are that someone gets an exquisite car.
I like it when a no reserve auction doesn’t have a minimum opening bid that is three times what any informed person would ever pay for the car.
The suspension is supposed to be on the same level all the time and stay up for months. Obviously there is a major leak somewhere if it starts going down in 20 minutes.
I really enjoy Mercedes sedans of this era. I’d love to have this one, but…..you know the story.
A magnificent machine to be certain.
Curiously, it’s three pointed star on the trunk lid is upside down.
This is truly beautiful. Wish I could afford to maintain it.
I had a ’70 6.3 back in the late ’80s. Very well-built car, as you would expect. Working on engine doo-dads such as the air compressor was interesting; the engine is a bit of a stuff-job so you pretty-much can’t get to anything.
Super fun to hit the gas at 40 MPH and spin the rear tires! Gas mileage was around 10 MPH when you weren’t playing with the powerful engine. I have a vague recollection that renewing the air suspension was $1200 per corner in parts alone. Fortunately, my car’s air suspension only needed a piece or two.
Would I do it again? Definitely! The current bid, $22k, is a steal.