‘08 Chicago: 1969 300SEL 6.3 Graces Mercedes-Benz Display
We like finding hidden and vintage treasures at auto shows, so we were more than happy to stumble across this gem at Mercedes-Benz's stand at the Chicago venue. This beast, a 1969 300SEL 6.3, is one of only 6,526 examples of the German luxo-sedan built between 1967 and 1972.
Fitted with a 6.3-liter V-8 producing 250 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, the 3,835-pound 300SEL could mosey its way to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, ultimately reaching a top speed of 137 mph. That wasn't bad at the time, which led folks at Road & Track to proclaim it as "the greatest sedan in the world." We don't know if we'd go that far (although it certainly is impressive), but it's a (three-pointed) star at Mercedes' stand, nonetheless.
Comments
D. Smith
Oh, please. Grow some balls. "We don't know if we'd go that far?" Faux-journalistic, indifferent, noncommital pap. Ever driven a 6.3-liter W108? Or any late '60s/early '70s Mercedes-Benz in healthy shape? At the time, R&T was right——it was probably the best car on the planet, the one vehicle that did everything well and nothing poorly. 6.5 seconds and 137 mph "not bad" at the time? That was faster than BMW's revered 2002, faster than every British sports car of the time, and it rivaled some Italian exotics. Do your homework.
davido
What other sedan from that period would you suggest as the best sedan in the world if not this one?
Paul In Jersey
It was faster than just about anything that wasn't dropped out of a B-52 or launched from a F4 Phantom.
dante
These cars are sick! This is the real deal - the standard of the world, not some NBA star's bling. Built like a tank, understated elegant styling, fast as a sports car, engineered to last. I'd take this over any new M-B.
Ducati Minor
I'm with Dante. The sedan's large, and that's about it in the complaints department.
Sharky
This thing is frigging sweet. I'll bet the doors still have that bank vault "thunk" and I can almost smell the old leather from here.
rip
One of the greatest sedans EVER.
Put another way, this almost 40 year old design still outperforms 90% of CURRENT sedans.
This car did the modern day equivalent of 0-60 in <5 seconds and have a top speed of about 170. Yeah, "wasn't bad for the time." Pfft.
This car in 1969 was in a class of one. Name one other sedan that even came close.
PW
Open PS CS3.
Control-A selects the photo.
Control-T puts you in transform mode.
Place the cursor just outside of the lower right corner (you will see a little half circle with arrows on each side) and rotate the image until the Benz is sitting flat.
FLASHPOINT
What the hell was that?
Clásicos en Chicago: 1969 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3
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PW
We automotive engineers like to make sure our cars sit flat. Some over paid journalist drunk bastard with Mom's Canon A530...
bepsf
I'd rather be seen in a 1969 300SEL 6.3 before any 2008 AMG S63/S65.
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