1979 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9

First registered in May 1979, this delightful Milan Brown Metallic Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 covered most of its 86,000 miles in the first few years of its life before being placed into dry storage in the mid-eighties, which explains why it’s in such good cosmetic condition.

As for its mechanical condition, that’s due to a series of careful owners followed by the seller’s insistence on using Oldtimerhandel Quaiser in Frankfurt to recommission it in 2015-16. One of the few firms in the world experienced in maintaining them, the seller invested approximately EUR40,000 and 18 months in the work.

The result is staggering. Already one of the most desirable classic saloon cars ever made, this genuine UK example must be one of the very best on sale anywhere today having covered fewer than 2,500 miles since the work was completed.

The coachwork is stunning. The vendor believes it to be the original paintwork and chrome, that it still looks this good after more than four decades is a stunning vindication of both its original build quality and its subsequent curation. The years it spent in storage helped, of course, but a car doesn’t look this good unless it has also been carefully maintained.

Heck, it’s even still got the original Alan Day sticker, the supplying dealer, in the rear window.

No matter how good a restoration is a car is only original once, and it’s a joy to see such good shutlines, panel alignment, and paint quality. Mercedes-Benz really were right up there with the very best of ‘em, back in the day. Take a look at the door latching mechanism, for example: A conical pin on the door slides into a cylinder on the bodyshell, ensuring perfect door alignment while simultaneously eliminating rattles.

Speaking of which, some recent fettling has ensured that not only does the electrically operated sunroof open and close as it should, it also seals tightly.

The original 14-inch alloy wheels were refurbished as part of the recommissioning before being fitted with a set of matching 215/70VR14 Michelin XWX tyres.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres like this – and these are exactly what it should be wearing - are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Faults? Well, if you’re looking for a job then the front numberplate needs sticking on more firmly and the surround of the offside door mirror has seen better days (#218).

Automotive legend will tell you that the W116 cars are bulletproof – and few things are more likely to convince you of this than this one’s interior.

Sure, 86,000 miles is nothing to these cars - and its value means it’s probably been treated a bit better than your average diesel taxi - but even so, the condition of the original and unrestored interior is nothing short of miraculous.

Everything is still clean and undamaged and working as well now as it’s ever done. The seats, velour rather than leather for the full seventies experience, are comfortable and supportive and devoid of anything more serious than an almost imperceptible softening of the outer bolster of the driver’s seat.

The headlining is clean and tight. The door cards are unmarked, albeit with fabric that’s sagged, just a little, as the glue has started to let go. The veneer is excellent and gleams in a way that MB are still trying to replicate in its current models.

Even the netting pockets on the back of the seat, you know, the ones that always go saggy, are taut and undamaged.

Oh, and there is a pair of deep lambs’ wool overmats in the back to protect the carpets and pamper the occupants.

The boot is just as clean as everywhere else and contains a full-size spare alloy wheel and Michelin XWX tyre. Obviously.

A summary of the work Oldtimerhandel Quaiser did includes:

· Remove the engine and gearbox,

· re-plate or replace all lines in engine bay,

· rectify a small area of corrosion in the engine bay,

· replace the air-conditioning compressor,

· restore the alternator,

· ceramic-coat the exhaust manifolds,

· remove all the suspension components and restore as necessary, including the replacement of the suspension spheres and the remanufacture of all the suspension struts, the main suspension valve, and the front and rear levelling valves,

· manufacture a custom stainless-steel exhaust,

· refurbish all the wheels and fit new Michelin XWX tyres,

· source and install a refurbished Becker Mexico radio with modern speakers,

· fix the broken heating control levers,

· rectify the corrosion in the ends of each sill, and

· replace the front radiator grill.

That little lot occupied 18 months and set the owner back around EUR40,000 – but then you can’t put a price on love, can you?

It’s been serviced since 2019 by AYS Engineering.

As you can see, it starts easily and revs well. The oil pressure is good. Honestly, there is no more elegant way of wafting around than this.

The engine bay is as clean and beautifully detailed as you’re ever going to see on a car that can actually be driven. In fact, the only thing we might be tempted to do is to clean/replace the windscreen washer fluid reservoir and pipes as they’re a bit grubby. Truly a #firstworldproblem, eh?

MOT’d until July 2023, the certificate was gained without a single advisory, a state of affairs it’s no stranger to.

The SEL comes with a huge history file comprising a current V5 registration document, historical MOT certificates and tax discs, a stamped service history booklet, the original book pack, and a thick wad of old invoices and bills for the work that’s been carried out on it including the recent recommissioning work by Stefan Quaiser of Oldtimerhandel Quaiser for which there is also a beautifully bound photobook that documents it.

It also comes with a full set of workshop service manuals running to five A4 folders.

The recent Vehicle History Check shows nothing of note whatsoever.

After years in the doldrums, the Mercedes 450SEL’s time has come. Which makes our guide price of £35,000 to £45,000 for this beautiful example something of a bargain, especially when you factor in its originality and the significant sum that has been spent within the last three thousand miles…

With nothing to do bar the most minor of titivation when you can be bothered, this is a car you can buy with both James Hunt’s, and your accountant’s, blessing.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

6.9 story continued from above:

The best story belongs to Mel Nichols, a former CAR magazine editor, who recounted the following to Pistonheads:

"At the old SMMT Test Day at Silverstone in 1975 or 1976, Mercedes brought a LHD 6.9 with Fangio to drive it. LJKS (LJK Setright) and I jumped in with him. Leonard sat in the front with Juan Manuel, I was in the back right side and someone else I can't remember in the left rear seat.

"Fangio took us around the Grand Prix circuit flat out, beautifully smoothly and uneventfully. We didn't appreciate quite how fast we were going until, approaching the old, fearsome, mega-fast Woodcote corner Fangio pulled to the left to overtake a racing Pantera that was being shaken down. It was flat out, on the racing line. Its driver was working away at the wheel as it twitched and hopped around through the corner.

"Fangio, driving with one hand, making just tiny movements at the wheel and talking to Leonard all the while, slipped up alongside the Pantera and eased past him. I looked out the side window and grinned at the Pantera driver as we were alongside, just a couple of feet away. I'll never forget the stunned look on his face as he realised he was being overtaken, in the middle of one of racing's most challenging corners, by a Mercedes saloon with four people on board. It was too much for him. He backed off and just trundled around slowly until we did a couple more laps and pulled off the circuit. I wonder if he ever knew it was Fangio behind the 6.9's wheel."