RE: PH Heroes: Mercedes 450SEL 6.9
Discussion
There was another Setright tale involving Erich Waxenberger and the 450 SEL 6.9. Waxenberger had just demonstrated what the 6.9 could do on the Nurburgring and Setright decided to see if he could beat that time. LJKS had to abort his efforts a few yards short of the finish line as one of his passengers succumbed to motion sickness. However, when he stopped there was something like 30 seconds left on the clock and the SEL's brakes were on fire!
fourwheelsteer said:
There was another Setright tale involving Erich Waxenberger and the 450 SEL 6.9. Waxenberger had just demonstrated what the 6.9 could do on the Nurburgring and Setright decided to see if he could beat that time. LJKS had to abort his efforts a few yards short of the finish line as one of his passengers succumbed to motion sickness. However, when he stopped there was something like 30 seconds left on the clock and the SEL's brakes were on fire!
Shouldn't have stopped 
my Dad had one of these in the 80's, we used to call it the Millenium Falcon.. was a superb car...
One memory stands out, we pulled up to a similar period 911 at the lights which went for it as they went green, Dad mashed the hammer and the porsche driver had this look on this face like "WTF" seeing this big merc exactly side by side as he went through the gears... Dead even all the way....
One memory stands out, we pulled up to a similar period 911 at the lights which went for it as they went green, Dad mashed the hammer and the porsche driver had this look on this face like "WTF" seeing this big merc exactly side by side as he went through the gears... Dead even all the way....
thewheelman said:
Lovely car, out of interest, does anyone know what happened to James Hunt's old car? I remember seeing pics of it on bricks, hope it didn't get scrapped.
I seem to remember reading JH put it up on bricks as he kept getting speeding tickets trying to explore its limits on public roads; he bought an A35 van on cheap crossplies, which allowed lairy on-the-limit tail-out driving without the attendant risk to his licence and wallet.r129sl said:
Car pitched the 6.9 against the Daimler Double Six, the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow and a Cadillac Seville in the September 1977 issue. The Jag won. It may have been Setright doing the writing. Here's a link:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/9-77-Car-Mag-ft-Rolls-Ro...
Mel Nichols did the Silver Trashcan article, too, but that was later I think.
Many thanks for this, just bought the magazine in the link - always wanted to read it. My uncle, Bob Knight left Jaguar as MD with that particular Daimler as part of his retirement package and told me of the article and how he had personally fettled the car before sending it to Car, Bob was quite the engineer. Later, In the late 80s he spruced it up. "I gave Tim a call and asked if he could help with the leather" . "Tim" I asked. "Tim Connolly" he replied. Those were the good bad old days, great engineers often promoted to be awful managers, so he had guys at the end of the line getting the dings out their mates had put in earlier to keep them all in a job and overtime. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/9-77-Car-Mag-ft-Rolls-Ro...
Mel Nichols did the Silver Trashcan article, too, but that was later I think.
I had one. The one with the 'little' 4.5 V8 though instead of the rarer 6.9.
Loved the waft factor, combined with the immense solidity and sense that everything had been engineered to last.
It was a nightmare to work on though with a myriad of pipework (even sunroof was hydraulic IIRC) and wiring with black boxes of unknown purpose everywhere.
Would love to have another though...
Loved the waft factor, combined with the immense solidity and sense that everything had been engineered to last.
It was a nightmare to work on though with a myriad of pipework (even sunroof was hydraulic IIRC) and wiring with black boxes of unknown purpose everywhere.
Would love to have another though...
What an absolutely epic car.
True Legend.
This.
The Mercedes 600 Grosser.
And the Red Pig, some of my favourite all-time Mercedes Super Saloons.
Engineered and built to last forever.
This is, and has been in my dream garage for quite some time now.
Looked awesome in Ronin, with De Niro hanging out the roof with the rocket launcher thingy!
True Legend.
This.
The Mercedes 600 Grosser.
And the Red Pig, some of my favourite all-time Mercedes Super Saloons.
Engineered and built to last forever.
This is, and has been in my dream garage for quite some time now.
Looked awesome in Ronin, with De Niro hanging out the roof with the rocket launcher thingy!
r7ehw said:
Here's one for sale at a frankly ludicrous price although it is Mint!
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype...
That looks frankly ridiculous, with it's US-spec bumpers!http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype...
I remember being offered one of these in 1987 for £650.
It was a twin bumper, auto, SEL, V8, navy blue rust bucket heap of junk.
The thing that made it interesting was that we knew these were used by F1' drivers when they were new, so in theory it should have been a great car (if James Hunt liked it why wouldnt you?!).
The customer left it with us for a few days but we couldnt find anyone that wanted it or imagine why anyone would buy it so it got sent back (probably scrapped). That engine should have been donated to a kit car!
It was a twin bumper, auto, SEL, V8, navy blue rust bucket heap of junk.
The thing that made it interesting was that we knew these were used by F1' drivers when they were new, so in theory it should have been a great car (if James Hunt liked it why wouldnt you?!).
The customer left it with us for a few days but we couldnt find anyone that wanted it or imagine why anyone would buy it so it got sent back (probably scrapped). That engine should have been donated to a kit car!
IIRC JH was at a low ebb in his life when his 6.9 was pictured on bricks; the caption suggested he couldn't afford to run it having given up F1 and spent his money on wine, women and song. And a few chemicals, alledgedly.
The 6.9 is/was epic, and I don't think anyone in their right mind could compare one to a Royce, cadillac or Jag / daimler of that era.
Having said that, Munich Legends currently have a BMW 3.3 Li with low miles, for sale, which was possibly as close as it came, albeit with an engine less than 1/2 the size of the monster Mercs.....
Totally profligate, a behemoth that defies logic, but you just want one. Don't you???
The 6.9 is/was epic, and I don't think anyone in their right mind could compare one to a Royce, cadillac or Jag / daimler of that era.
Having said that, Munich Legends currently have a BMW 3.3 Li with low miles, for sale, which was possibly as close as it came, albeit with an engine less than 1/2 the size of the monster Mercs.....
Totally profligate, a behemoth that defies logic, but you just want one. Don't you???
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