Tuesday 7th July 2009

Lorinser 450 SEL 6.9 Up For Sale

Modded 1970s S-class that allegedly inspired the factory version of the 1980s S goes up for sale

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German tuning house Lorinser is selling off a rare modified version of a 1975 Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9.

Seen here with its modern equivalent, Lorinser's take on the S500, Lorinser's 450 was the flagship of its range of modded Mercs at its time of launch. The 450 SEL 6.9 that it was based on was the only S-class of the W116 series to get a 6.9-litre version of the V8 from the 600 Limousine.

While this only managed 286bhp - not exactly a vast amount in such a big barge - the V8 pumped out a far grander figure of 405lb ft of torque.

Lorinser's version changed the styling quite significantly, losing the original's slimline chrome bumpers and replacing them with some very 1980s-esque square plastic aprons front and rear. In fact, Lorinser claims that the integrated foglights and sporty grille may have inspired the look of the next S-class that came along in 1979, the W126.

Original 450 SEL 6.9 with chrome bumpers

The Lorinser W116 also got deep side skirts, large multi-spoke BBS alloy wheels and a big-bore double exhaust. But despite all that apparently aerodynamic bodywork and the fat exhaust, Lorinser's S-Class wasn't actually any faster or more powerful than the standard 450 SEL 6.9, with potential perhaps limited a tad by the three-speed automatic gearbox.

This rare and slightly oddball car is currently on display at Lorinser's 'Classic Center' [sic] and, as with all the exhibits there, it is also for sale on a price-on-application (POA) basis.

[Nickellarse]

Bullet proof windows and foam filled tyres as standard!

What a beast.