From the Classifieds: Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9

When Mercedes-Benz bravely launched the range-topping 116-series 450 SEL 6.9 in the wake of the oil shock in 1975, it probably didn’t expect the big luxury sedan to be just as (if not more) popular in 2020.

Today, exactly 45 years later, 116-series vehicles are highly sought-after – especially ones fitted with a 6.9-litre V8, says Patrik Gottwick, the head of ALL TIME STARS, Mercedes-Benz Classic’s own vehicle retailer.

“The 450 SEL 6.9 is a brand icon,” he said, adding that Benz has “noticed a significant increase in demand over the past years and recent auction results show that the value of the 450 SEL 6.9 is on the up”.

Only 7380 examples of the top-spec 450 SEL 6.9 were ever produced between 1975 and 1980, making them relatively hard to come by these days, right?

Wrong. Not only are there still a few award-winning 450 SEL 6.9 saloons around today, there are actually some pretty affordable examples available a carsales.com.au right now.

Take this 1979 example with 347,000km on the clock and an asking price of just $30K.

Another ’79 model, this re-sprayed red number, has an asking price of $41,000. With 202,000km on the odometer, it has been “maintained by a local German mechanic who originally worked on these cars at the MB service centres in the 1980s”.

At the pointy end of the scale is another 1979 model being offered for sale from a private collection at Peter Lennox Automotive Thomastown, Victoria.

Asking $85,000, it’s said to have been re-sprayed, completely mechanically refurbished and blessed with a new interior sourced from Germany. It also comes with complete service history documentation.

The Mercedes-Benz 116-series was introduced in Europe in September 1972, and instantly received awards including a Car of the Year title for the 450 SE in 1974.

But the highlight came three years later with the 450 SEL 6.9, which stepped further ahead of its lauded predecessor, the 184kW (250hp) 300 SEL 6.3, with a 6.9-litre M100-series V8 producing 210kW of power and 550Nm of torque.

Faster than all but a handful of sports cars in its day, the 450 SEL 6.9 was claimed to hit 100km/h in 7.4 seconds on its way to a 225km/h top speed – a figure it frequently exceeded in the hands of the press, despite its 1935kg kerb weight.

Other highlights included dry-sump lubrication with an oil quantity increased to 12 litres, stretching service to 15,000km, a three-speed automatic transmission, hydropneumatic gas springs and 215/70-section tyres.

Standard features included air-con, heat-insulating glass, a headlight cleaning system, cruise control, velour upholstery, a heated rear window, central locking, power windows and inertia-reel seat belts front and rear. You could also option luxury features such as an electric sunroof or a Becker AT 160 S car phone.

Forty five years ago, the quickest and most luxurious Mercedes-Benz sedan was named ‘The world’s best car’ by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport magazine, which proclaimed: “The 450 SEL 6.9 sets new benchmarks in the automotive top class”.