1968 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3- European edition

Description

Pure elegance and class, this 1968 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 would make Sinatra proud. This is a European edition beauty with only 41,702 original miles (67,113 kilometers) on her. The body is in excellent condition with a coat of Champagne Gold on the exterior (superbly repainted), along with newer upholstery on the interior in a rich brown leather, crafted to original specifications. It had been well maintained over the years in a climate controlled garage so no rust. Known issues include required replacement of cold starters as well as small leak in driver’s side air level but car stays pressurized for days. Campagnola wheels are in excellent condition with no curb rub and tires are fresh.
Whether you need a Saturday driver for brunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel or a Sunday drive for a cruise up the coast to Nobu, this 6.3 is ready for the mission. Plenty of power and a comfortable ride. She’s a real head turner.
History: The 1968 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 holds a unique place in auto history. Some consider it the first super sedan, a luxury machine with muscle car acceleration and impeccable road manners, all in a stealthy package. The heart of the 6.3 was the M100 SOHC V-8 that was first used in the unrivaled Mercedes 600 ultra-luxury sedan introduced in 1963. That car weighed nearly three tons, so putting its 300-horsepower engine into a 4,000-pound package resulted in stunning performance for the time: zero to 60 in seven seconds and a top speed of about 135 mph.
The car started out as a private venture in 1966 by company engineer Erich Waxenberger. His principle was simple: take the powerful 6.3 litre V8 Mercedes-Benz M100 engine from the luxurious 600 limousine, and fit it into the regular Mercedes-Benz W109. The result was a nearly 2-tonne saloon with performance similar to most dedicated sports cars of the era. It is said that Rudolf Uhlenhaut, when invited to test drive the prototype, opened the hood at the first red light to find out how the big engine and its supporting equipment had been squeezed in there.Surprisingly, the rather conservative company went ahead and launched the car into the marketplace at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1968,[1] in order to make better use of the M100 engine production facilities. The 6,500 build of the 6.3 outnumbered the 2,700 build of the 600 by far. What set this car apart from its contemporaries in the late 1960s though, was that it could cruise at over 200 km/h (124 mph) with 5 occupants in complete comfort within the body styled by Paul Bracq. Later, the company also fitted new, smaller V8 engines into the W109 series.
The suspension system features a reinforced rear axle with hydro-pneumatic compensating spring. The car sat on larger wheels (14”) and had disc brakes on front and rear. The W109 featured an extended wheelbase of 115 mm (4.5 in) and self-levelling air suspension. The 300SEL is especially well-appointed, featuring burled walnut dashboards, automatic transmission and power windows.
Vehicle located in Malibu, California. Worldwide shipping available