On the earth of collectible Mercedes-Benz sedans there’s one automobile that’s legendary within the Mercedes lineup, and that automobile is our Choose of the Day, this Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 on the market on ClassicCars.com.

The Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9, which is thought amongst collectors as merely the 6.9, was launched in 1974 on the Geneva Auto Present because the successor to the now legendary Mercedes 300SEL 6.3 excessive efficiency sedan. Just like the 300SEL 6.3, the 6.9 had its displacement quantity (6.9) affixed to the correct facet of the trunk lid to distinguish itself from the usual 450SEL. The 450SEL 6.9 was a really restricted manufacturing automobile with a complete of solely 7,380 automobiles constructed 1975 to 1981.

The automobile was a real excessive efficiency automobile and was for years each the quickest and the quickest European sedan on this planet. It was able to 0-60 time of seven seconds flat and had a high pace of 149 mph. This was observed instantly by lovers and in 1979 a 6.9 completed second within the epic Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Sprint.

Not solely is the 6.9 quick it was additionally constructed with actually each out there choice of the time together with a full four-wheel hydropneumatic suspension system, in addition to the world’s first passenger automobile to be fitted with ABS brakes. As well as, the choices for these automobiles included heated seats (for driver and all passengers), an electrical sunroof, an automated local weather management system, seats in leather-based or material, and wooden trim completed in burled walnut veneer on the sprint and console. This was unique to the 6.9 rather than the Zebrano wooden veneer present in different 450SEL fashions.

The 1979 450SEL 6.9 featured right here is described as a European market automobile that’s completed in Anthracite metallic (code: 172) paint with a manufacturing facility black leather-based inside.

The vendor supplies an amazing quantity of details about this 6.9 stating that may be a European supply that has the upper compression engine (8.8:1) with 15% extra horsepower than the American model. Additionally being a Euro spec automobile, it has the streamlined bumpers and rectangular headlights which look quite a bit nicer than the large North American kind bumpers the US market spherical headlights.

They add that this 6.9 was personally imported by a “Judith Hippler” on August 13, 1985, and full documentation for the import comes with the automobile together with historical past recordsdata and repair books. They state that the automobile has resided in Atlanta, Georgia, ever because it was imported, solely just lately coming to the vendor in Illinois this 12 months. The automobile is acknowledged to be completely and fully rust free. This 6.9 has had solely two US homeowners because it was imported and has coated 160,000 miles. That will appear excessive, however the vendor states that if somebody was to let you know this 6.9 had solely 50,000 miles, I believe you’d consider it – it’s THAT good!

They go on to state that the 6.9 has been just lately serviced and every thing is in excellent working order. They state that mechanically the automobile is in high form with no recognized points. All home windows work, sunroof, vacuum door-locks, AC is ice chilly. They state that the physique and paint is superb, that the automobile is accident free and the paint seems to be principally unique with no crazing or cracks within the paint.

Underneath the hood, the manufacturing facility paint is superb and the radiator assist panel is all unique. You’ll be able to inform as a result of on repaired automobiles the engine bay decals are both lacking or you may see paint mask-off round them. They add that the bright-work is with out scratching or the everyday “hazing” that’s usually seen on Mercedes aluminum mouldings. The rear taillights are excellent, with the white reverse sections not light to yellow. The Mercedes M100 engine is a 6,834 cc/417 cubic inch dry sump V8 with 286 bhp at 4,250 rpm and 403 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm and appears and sounds to be in superb situation.

The vendor says that the inside is in merely very good situation, with no unpleasant put on on the seats, carpets or headliner. All of the man-made supplies just like the sprint, console, door panels, carpets, headliner, switches and controls are extremely like new. The pure leather-based has simply the correct amount of what the vendor calls “early baseball glove patina.”

In case you are trying to drive a really legendary Mercedes sedan and need one that appears to be probably the greatest preservation examples I’ve seen of certainly one of these legendary excessive efficiency sedans, this 1979 6.9 with a market appropriate asking value of $55,000 would definitely look to suit the invoice.

To view this Choose of the Day on ClassicCars.com, navigate to the itemizing right here.