This 1969 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3 was sold new in California and remained a Black Plate car until it was purchased by the current owner in 2014. The car is finished in Beige Metallic (462) over Tan leather and powered by a 6.3-liter M100 V8 paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. Features include fully functional self-leveling suspension, air conditioning, power windows, and a Becker Mexico head unit. This 300SEL 6.3 now shows 83,680 miles. In 2010 the car underwent a full restoration including paint, lights, badges, and brightwork. Under the current owner’s tenure, maintenance items addressed include a new alternator, ignition tune-up, brake refresh three years ago, a complete fluid flush, fuel system refresh including a new fuel tank, and a new battery. This W109 is now offered with records, two keys, factory books, and a clean Georgia title.
The car, while originally finished in Tobacco Brown (423), is finished in Beige Metallic (462) and was repainted in 2010 as part of a comprehensive restoration. Lights, badges, and brightwork were also replaced at the time of the repaint. Features include US-spec bumpers and lighting, an automatic antenna, self-leveling suspension, and a driver’s side rear view mirror. All body panels are original and free from dings or dents. There is one small spot of corrosion in the lower left corner of the front driver door.
Factory 14″ alloy Bundt wheels wear their original Astral silver paint with some patina showing and matching OEM center caps. Michelin Rainforce MX4 tires are mounted measuring 205/70/14 on all four corners. Tucked behind the wheels are original disc brakes which had a system refresh and service three years ago. The air suspension system operates using a toggle switch in the front driver footwell. The car raises and lowers as it should.
The cabin is upholstered in Tan leather with matching Tan carpets throughout trimmed in leather piping. Burl wood adorns the dashboard, windshield sill, door cards, and window trim on all four doors. Additional features include a functional original quartz movement clock in the dashboard, air conditioning, power windows, a Becker Mexico head unit, and a locking glove box. Leather trimmed carpets can be seen throughout including the trunk and spare tire cover. All of the wood was refinished during the restoration process along with recovering of the seats and the installation of a fine grain carpet throughout. Original front floor mats are included with “6.3” embossed in the carpeting.
The original black-rim steering wheel frames a 160-mph speedometer, a 6k-rpm tachometer, and a round multi-gauge showing gauges for coolant temperature, oil pressure, and fuel level. Additional features include functional warning lights for the brake, low fuel, alternator, and self-leveling suspension. The five digit odometer now shows 83,680 miles. The bakelite steering wheel is free of cracks.
The 6.3-liter M100 V8 was factory rated at 247 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque when new, making it the fastest production sedan of the era and beating big block Corvettes in drag races. The 6.3 powerplant is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission that shifts firmly as intended when new. This example has received a new alternator, ignition tune-up, a complete fluid flush, fuel system refresh, fuel tank, spark plugs, and a new battery under the current owners tenure and a complete mechanical refresh in 2010 under previous ownership. There is an oil leak noted in the underside video coming from the back of the engine only while the car is on.
This 1969 300SEL 6.3 is now offered with records, two keys, factory books, and a clean Georgia title. Both driving, comprehensive walkaround, and underside inspection videos have been added below.
The seller has incluuded the following videos:
As far as 300SEL 6.3s go, this gold over tan is peak California spec – a product of its location in its early decades of motoring life. This desert bullet must’ve been striking, seen shooting through palm trees under blue sky with the vibrant neon life of early ‘70s California and rubbing shoulders with Howard Hughes and Steve McQueens 6.3s. Vintage reviews on these cars remark on journalists driving these cars at 120 miles-per-hour and being stunned at their surefootedness with the engine urging them there was more speed to be had. This beautiful W109 will blow minds at car shows but is also good enough to be driven often and begs for miles to be put on it. We got to stick someone who has never been in a 6.3 and her concluding thoughts on this example were, “It’s so smooth and quiet. It drives almost like a modern car and feels fast as hell!” This is coming from someone who drives a ‘07 S211 E63 AMG. Not a bad review from a modern audience…
Open Transit:
Enclosed Transit:
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2 Comments
$1,500 bid placed by @BD450SL
@arjang Hey everyone! I have yet another 300SEL 6.3 I'm helping re-home to another enthusiast. This is a very solid example that's pretty dialed in compared to others out there. The interior is superb and the engine/trans feels very healthy. Please go through the videos and gallery. Undersides are getting submitted as we speak and will be uploaded shortly by The MB Market team. I've pointed out all of the issues in the video and shot them with my camera. Don't be afraid to ask any questions -- there's a lot of info in the gallery and video that you could miss, so I have no issues answering any sort of question. Let me know if you have any questions! I'm available for phone-calls and the car is available for showings in Ball Ground, Georgia at the warehouse it's stored at. Thanks for looking! Agree, that's why I took a bunch of detailed underside photos for transparency. The air suspension however is fully operational -- it airs up and airs down with the pull handle by your knee. People commented on the last one sitting a little low for the shoot, so I wanted to shoot this one with the air bags pretty inflated this time around and also to show that they hold air. The car also doesn't get slammed to the ground when sitting. While the exteriors of the bags look rough, they do work.It seems that suspension needs some work to do, also the height of the car is way higher than usual, was the suspension level at high during taking pictures and videos?$1,000 bid placed by @arjang