To the mild annoyance of Dan, occupier of the Mercedes-Benz Enthusiast editor's seat for a few years, I would always have classed myself as a BMW kind of guy. M3 over C-Class AMG, Z4 over SLK, 7 Series over S-Class and so on. However, with a few tactical bum-on-seat placements including the
SLS GT3
C63 507
A45 AMG
, I'm coming round to his way of thinking. Perhaps.
Milan Brown perfectly 70s
Mention the 450SEL 6.9 in the PH office and a chorus of reverential 'oohs' and 'lovely car, that' will reply. It's just one of those cars that, regardless of your motoring preferences or biases, seems to garner a positive reception. Cue a negative response to this SEL then...
You just know cars like the 450 6.9 are for Very Important People. And not some foppish darling of the charts but the kind of individual that never has to introduce themselves anywhere. This car spent 28 years with the Qatari Embassy in London from new which seems wholly appropriate given the car's stature. British fuel prices must have come as a shock...
Can you imagine a V8 Merc with 'Beige Velour' and not leather in 2013? Funnily enough, despite the lack of leather and comically bulbous 215/70/VR14 tyres, it still exudes luxury in a world of 22-inch rims and hide-covered everything. It's probably timeless in that respect, in the same way a Caterham Seven will always look sporty.
It's that badge on the right that's vital
PH Heroes
feature last year, there's one stat that defines the SEL driving experience; the torque. The modern cliche of having so much torque that any gear will do actually applies in the SEL's case as it only has three but 405lb ft. The 286hp peak power seems largely irrelevant.
Dan's story will fill you in more on driving the SEL but, as this is a classifieds-based feature, seeking out some other £25K pluto-barges would seem apposite. Its Rolls-Royce contemporary, the Silver Shadow, is available at the same price, and this Bentley Arnage T offers an intriguing modern alternative for a couple of thousand more. For a BMW-based wildcard, how about an Alpina 8 Series? It too is rare, distinctive, powerful... you want the Merc though, don't you?
Mercedes is gradually phasing out its mighty V8s as emissions regs become more stringent. If the slightly in-yer-face style of some modern AMGs doesn't appeal, there can't be many cooler ways to get a Mercedes V8 fix.
MERCEDES-BENZ 450SEL 6.9
Engine: 6,834cc V8
Transmission: 3-speed, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 286@4,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 405@3,000rpm
MPG: You have to ask?
CO2: See above
Recorded mileage: 96,500
First registered: 1979
Price new: £21,995
Yours for: £24,995
See the original advert here