I'm looking at a 1977 6.9. The car is being sold by a local dealer for a charity, it has 152k but there are no service records. The car is very clean but there is some rust under the rocker panels. I owned a 1976 450sel for ten years until it was wrecked it ran like a clock. How would the 6.9 differ in regards to maint. and service? would it be as reliable? I am going to have a mechanic check it out before I make any moves but I would like some feedback from someone who knows about these cars. Any major problems to look for? Thanks.

 

Well you did not say how much he is selling it for but i know that it was not as fast as the older 6.3's off the line but it did have a higher top speed. If you have the space i would buy it just cause it will be collectable. It should be just as good as ur other 450sel just faster.

 

The 6.9, at one point was the fastest luxury sedan in the world. The 6.9 easily fetches over $20,000 in good averager driven conditon. The upper conditions ones easily sells up near the newer Benzes and still be a bargain. That was the day when people thought MBZ has lost their minds. Everyone one else was downsizing engines and the muscle car era was basically over and they bring out a 6.9? History repeats itself when they made the S65. Just like they said back in the day, "What do you need all that engine for?" the answer usually given, "For bragging rights."

The number one complaint is that they said this 6.9 has a tendency to tear up torque converters from the extra HP/Torque since the tranny and parts are from the regular 450SEL. But note that I haven't heard even many of those complaints.

Do you think they will ever bring back the 6.9 V-8 for old time sakes? Like most of these Manufactuers are bringing back new versions of their old motors.

When I get the space I'm definately getting a 6.9.

 

"There's no replacement for displacement."

 

Here is one on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...spagenameZWDVW

Not anywhere near $20,000 and the reserve is met.

 

There was one for sale locally here for about the same.

If these were the fastest production cars in the '70s, I'm not surprised. The '70s were the worst years for American cars, especially muscle cars. Anti-smog laws and rising insurance rates forced car makers to weenie-down American cars. Except for '71 and '72, you saw things like a 454 cu Chevy motor with barely over 200 horsepower.

 

Yeah my dad's 72 Oldsmobile Toronado with the 455 only had 250hp when in 1970 the same car had 375hp standard and 400hp optional. Lugnut is right 73+ were just horrible and not just horsepower but also build quality. One could easily argure that most American cars untill the mid to late 80s even early 90s were terrible. Obvousily tis can go into greater detail but this is a Mercedes forum not an American car one.

 

Well I'm glad I was wrong about the price! That makes it easier for me to get one. Then again, people are selling any large V-8 now and days for a bargain all over the US. Plus Benzes always sell cheaper in Cali, because they are everywhere. Cali is the besy place to get a Mercedes in the states. But I'm no where near Cali and never really ever was near Cali so that car is out the question. But I want the one with the leather seats that I rarely see. I don't like cloth, but velour is okay, but leather is surpreme for me.

My price quotes came from DuPont Registry. I guess rich people are just willing to pay more.

 

Oh, I wasn't saying you were wrong about the value. I'm just saying one was for sale for much less locally. I have no idea what the condition was. I never saw it. The ad implied it was in excellent condition and was part of an estate sale and being sold by a rep of the family. In other words, I got the feeling a well-off elderly couple owned the car and one died so the other was downsizing, so to speak--and that the car was probably well-maintained, or at least not a junkyard candidate and certainly driveable.

I think mb/techman (a member) has one or just sold one. You should ask him if you're serious about getting one. He may still have it. I don't have any details about the car, though. It may not be the one you're looking for.

 

I have bought a DuPont Registry since i was a Freshman in high school i think i will go get one.