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Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9

post #1 of 19
4/23/07 at 6:33am
Thread Starter 
I saw this car for sale recently and was rather interested. It is a 1979 model and apparently the thing can get up to 150 mph; it was 0-60 in 8 seconds. Here are some specifications: http://www.m-100.cc/6point9/brochure...pec/index.html http://www.m-100.cc/6point9/magazine...390/index.html
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post #2 of 19
4/23/07 at 10:04am
Interesting. I've heard of these but never seen one on the street. The article says it goes 0-60 in 8.2 seconds -- these days, even cheap economy cars can match that. I guess the auto industry has come a long way.
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post #3 of 19
4/23/07 at 12:17pm
It is still a very comfortable car with great presence. Everything about these cars is SOLID. There was a car about a year or two ago with 20 - 30 K miles. Looked like it had never been driven in a rain. went for way more than what I was willing to pay.
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post #4 of 19
4/23/07 at 12:18pm
I've never actually seen the 6.9 SEL on the road, but man, it looks like one magnificent ride.
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post #5 of 19
4/23/07 at 8:19pm
It'll cost a lot to restore, but definitely more classy than a new car.
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post #6 of 19
4/23/07 at 8:48pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by greg_atlanta View Post
It'll cost a lot to restore, but definitely more classy than a new car.

It has the insidious suspension system that was beloved of '70s Citroens.

I don't find any new cars appealing; and this seems like a reliable sort of car--that is, if the suspension holds up.

It's certainly quite fast.
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post #7 of 19
4/24/07 at 4:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LabelKing View Post
It has the insidious suspension system that was beloved of '70s Citroens.

I don't find any new cars appealing; and this seems like a reliable sort of car--that is, if the suspension holds up.

Citroën's hydropneumatics of that vintage are pretty reliable. It's only the early ones, which used hydrophillic fluid, that can be dicey. And spheres are easily rechargeable. If we could keep them running in Apartheid South Africa keeping one running in the US today wouldn't be a problem. The only component that would worry me is the slushbox, party because I'm a man and thus have an extreme aversion to slow squishy things doing my shifting for me and partly because they're expensive to fix.

However, the earlier Merc hot rod (300SEL 6.3) is much better looking and probably no slower.
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post #8 of 19
4/24/07 at 4:40am
A friend of mine had this car, when it was new. He always gets a certain shine in his eyes, when talkin about it. A great ride.

Found this fan-site(mainly in german) with a lot of "good" pictures:
http://www.m-100.de/Garage.html
LL
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post #9 of 19
4/24/07 at 6:40am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SGladwell View Post
Citroën's hydropneumatics of that vintage are pretty reliable. It's only the early ones, which used hydrophillic fluid, that can be dicey. And spheres are easily rechargeable. If we could keep them running in Apartheid South Africa keeping one running in the US today wouldn't be a problem. The only component that would worry me is the slushbox, party because I'm a man and thus have an extreme aversion to slow squishy things doing my shifting for me and partly because they're expensive to fix.

However, the earlier Merc hot rod (300SEL 6.3) is much better looking and probably no slower.

Apparently with a lack of care, those suspension systems can become very costly exercises of faith. Although, I suspect it's less tedious than a bad Citroen SM.

Indeed, no porker albeit somewhat rarer:

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post #10 of 19
4/24/07 at 9:38am
The 6.9 was common in the greater Boston area in the eighties. I used to salivate over this sky blue model with cognac seats that I would see a few times a week during my commute to work. Definitely better built than current models and were more reliable comparatively speaking due in part to less high tech electricals. I could not imagine the cost to maintain that car or any of the 90's Benzes today. I opted for a 00 LS400. Although I realize it's not really comparable, it's the closest I'll come to the classy Benzes of old without the dreaded trips to the repair shop.
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post #11 of 19
4/24/07 at 10:14am
What a glorious auto. My neighbor currently owns a stunning 1986 560SEC coupe in mint condition, it may not have the lines of the one you are looking at but they still run in top shape after a while.

JB
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post #12 of 19
4/24/07 at 1:10pm
Thread Starter 
I see a fair amount of '70s Benz diesels running around here. Some of the drivers are old people, some are eccentrics and some are just enthusiasts although I suppose eccentric could be used interchangeably.
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post #13 of 19
4/24/07 at 2:01pm
You have Mercedes in Constantinople, eh?

JB
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post #14 of 19
4/24/07 at 2:10pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JetBlast View Post
You have Mercedes in Constantinople, eh?

JB

Oh yes--the Turkish Court actually paid an official visit to the Mercedes-Benz factory in the early 1900s.
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post #15 of 19
4/28/07 at 4:09am
I've actually seen a 6.9 do a pretty sick burnout and donut. The movie "Ronin" has a great chase scene with a 6.9 in it.

A
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