1979 Mercedes-benz 450 Sel 6.9 on 2040-cars

VIN: 11603312095328 Year: 1979
Make: Mercedes-Benz
Model: S-Class
Trim: diplomat owned
Options: Sunroof, Leather Seats
Safety Features: Anti-Lock Brakes, Driver Airbag
Drive Type: rear wheel drive
Power Options: Air Conditioning, Power Locks, Power Windows
Mileage: 124,650
Sub Model: 450 SEL
Exterior Color: Mercedes gunmetal grey
Number of Doors: 4
Interior Color: Black
Warranty: Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty
Number of Cylinders: 8

Condition: Used: A vehicle is considered used if it has been registered and issued a title. Used vehicles have had at least one previous owner. The condition of the exterior, interior and engine can vary depending on the vehicle's history. See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections. ... 

This car was originally owned by a German diplomat so it has several unique euro features for the interior. it also has the euro headlights, and still has the original California license plate and German badge on the grill. It has the factory option of a sunroof which does still function perfectly well. it has relatively low mileage considering its age and was rated at 87 out of 100 overall by a local mercedes-benz specialist, most points were detracted for the interior as it has some minor damage to the seats. It has been well maintained and runs perfectly, the exterior is exquisite for the year and is as solid as a tank. 

The Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 is a high-performance version of the S-Class luxury saloon. It was built on its own assembly line byDaimler-Benz in Stuttgart, Germany and based on the long-wheelbase version of the W116 chassis introduced in 1972. The model was generally referred to in the company's literature as the "6.9", to separate it from the regular 450SEL.

The 6.9 was first shown to the motoring press at the Geneva Auto Show in 1974, and produced between 1975 and 1981 in extremely limited numbers. It was billed as the flagship of the Mercedes-Benz car line, and the successor to Mercedes-Benz's original high-performance sedan, the 300SEL 6.3. The 6.9 also has the distinction of being among the first vehicles ever produced with optional electronically controlled anti-lock brakes, first introduced by Mercedes-Benz and Bosch in 1978

The engine was a cast iron V8 with single overhead camshafts operating sodium-filled valves (as are found in piston-driven aircraft) against hardened valve seats on each aluminium alloy cylinder head. Each hand-built unit was bench-tested for 265 minutes, 40 of which were under full load. Bosch K-Jetronic electromechanical fuel injection was standard at a time when fuel-injected cars were uncommon. As in all Mercedes-Benz automobile engines, the crankshaft, connecting rods and pistons were forged instead of cast. In non-US trim, the 6.9 l (6834 cc or 417 in^3) power plant was conservatively rated at 286 hp (213 kW) with 405 lb·ft (549 N·m) of torque helping to compensate for the 2.65 to 1 final drive ratio necessary for sustained high-speed cruising.

Far more modern than the contemporary Cadillac, which still had a live rear axle, and both faster and larger inside than the either the Rolls-Royce or Cadillac, the 6.9 was indistinguishable from its W116 stablemates save for a modest "6.9" badge on the deck lid and wider tires.^[2] US models also had different bumper rubbers fitted to the "park bench" impact absorbing bumpers. As discreet as the badge was, it could be deleted/ordered with option 261 omission of the displacement figure on the trunk lid at extra cost for those who wanted to avoid attention either from drivers of other high-performance cars or from law enforcement.

 When the car was officially introduced into the North American market for the 1977 model year, the price was well past $40,000 and was $52,995 by the end of production. The only way to get a 6.9 in the US or Canada prior to 1977 was to import one through the grey market. Though the 6.9 was undeniably a luxury car, it was a rather austere one compared to the sheer opulence available in a Rolls-Royce or full-sized Cadillac. The interior was identical to that in the less expensive models except for the push-pull suspension control knob just under the speedometer, a low suspension pressure warning and height adjustment indicator lights in the instrument cluster, and wood trim finished in burled walnut veneer on the dash and console

Only 576 of this model was ever produced for north america and only 1839 were made in total. The average NADA value of this car is well over 10,000 dollars in its current condition.