FOR SALE 1969 Mercedes 300 SEL 6.3 ESTATE wagon!

[Publius]

Y'all check this rarity out!!!

Lot 16 - 1969 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 Crayford

Lot 16 - 1969 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 Crayford

www.handh.co.uk

The auction is coming up on the 17th of November.

 

[maw1124]

I love a big, powerful wagon. Not that one though, mostly because I think that body is near perfect in sedan form. But also because it has to be stanced properly.

What's up with the rear camber?

maw

 

[gsxr]

What's up with the rear camber?

The rear camber don't look right. No idea what the issue is though.

 

[gerryvz]

The air suspension requires adjustment, but it is a "feature" of the 108 and 109 rear swing-axle suspension that sometimes it has odd camber when mis-adjusted. The 108s (all 109s had air suspension) in particular tend to have problems because of the hydro-compensator that sits atop the rear axle. These are NLA (and have been for years), and many substitute the spring that was used in other models like the 110/111, and 113s for example.

This car is riding WAY too high in both front and rear, though.

Everything looks very correct for a late model year 1969 car. The master control valve underhood has been refurbished/replaced, it looks very fresh.


Just saw the VIN, ending in #3081. It's definitely a very late 1969 model. Mine was made in July 1969 and was #2665.

 

[Kyiv]

Mine was made in July 1969

What was it like to drive? How was it different from American luxury cars of the same vintage (if you drove any)

 

[Bogeyman]

Maybe they're going for that "lifted" SUV look...

 

[gerryvz]

What was it like to drive? How was it different from American luxury cars of the same vintage (if you drove any)

The air suspension on the 6.3 is STUPENDOUSLY good and excellent handling. It was 30 years ahead of its time, to be honest. And is why MB went BACK to it with the 220 and newer S-class models, with the Airmatic system, because (now modernized) air suspension is THAT good.

Being a big-block motor, with 300+ HP and 434 lb-ft of torque on tap, in a relatively light body (by today's standards), and no traction nanny system, you could lay rubber for 1-2 city blocks in a straight line. Top speed was 140-145 MPH, which was MUCH faster than the muscle or luxo-cars of the era from the US. No wallowy handling due to the air suspension. The rear-end ratio of the 6.3 was surprising similar to that of the E500E (I think it was something like 2.85).

The weak spot was the swing-arm setup, which if it got out of control would spin the car around (it took a LOT to get the rear swingarms moving that much, but was possible). The other weak spot was if you floored the pedel, while making a left turn, you would throw out the rear end. Don't know why this was, but many cars required repair due to this problem -- again only in very certain situations.

 

[Kyiv]

Good-looking man, good-looking car

 

[sheward]

The first MB I rode in besides our family fintail shown in my avatar was a 6.3 owned by a local golf pro I would drink with shortly after moving to Atlanta some 30 years ago. He knew I was a car enthusiast so he invited me and my two other friends to take a ride in his Mercedes. On a seldom used parkway, from a 5mph roll, he opened it up and created a memory for a car I have only been in that one time. I was laughing out loud with excitement that a car so seemingly large could propel 4 people to speed so fast.

drew

 

[gerryvz]

Good-looking man, good-looking car

That's Gerry, circa 2001. Hard to believe, two decades ago. I still had plenty of hair......

There's a lot in common between the E500E and the 6.3. It's really the ONLY car I wish I'd never sold. But, it financed in part my purchase of my E500 in 2003. I sold the 6.3 earlier that same year, having bought it in 1998. Original paint, and it only had 59,000 miles on it when I sold it!!

 

[alabbasi]

The 6.3 goes and any W108 / W109 handles and stops about as good as any European sedan from the 90's. By comparison, my 68 Cadillac is like an elephant on roller skates.

That's a great picture of Gerry's car with his son next to it

 

[majus]

That's Gerry, circa 2001. Hard to believe, two decades ago. I still had plenty of hair......

There's a lot in common between the E500E and the 6.3. It's really the ONLY car I wish I'd never sold. But, it financed in part my purchase of my E500 in 2003. I sold the 6.3 earlier that same year, having bought it in 1998. Original paint, and it only had 59,000 miles on it when I sold it!!

Dear Gerry,

I am new to this forum and only found my way here due to #2665... I used to drive a 500E for a couple of years, really loved to drive it but sold it a few years ago. Now, since one month, I am the happy owner of 6.3 #2665 (65600 miles). And I agree - these two cars do have a lot in common.

I would love to hear more about this car from you

Kind regards from Switzerland
Marius

 

[gerryvz]

I would love to hear more about this car from you

Congratulations on owning my "first Mercedes love"!! You got a wonderful example of this car, and it has some good history and an interesting back story to it. And driven personally by Erich Waxenberger around the track.

I have been wondering for 23 years where in the world this car has been. It's good to know it is doing well and in good enthusiast hands.

E-mail sent.

 

[majus]

Gerry, thank you so much. I will treat it well ;-)

 

[nocfn]

great story!

 

[weide1]

Does this document prove a W109 300 SEL 6.8 in a road going version did indeed exist?
I wonder in which specific year the engine was installed. And how much PS it had.
The race engine had >400.