1972 Mercedes Benz 300 SEL 6.3

The original ‘Wolf in sheep’s clothing’ the 6.3 was an out of hours secret project started in 1966 within the normally highly conservative Mercedes Benz organisation overseen by Mercedes engineer Erich Waxenberger. He took the powerful M100 V8 6.3 litre engine from the large 600 limousine and shoehorned it into the mid-range 300 W109 mid-size family saloon to create an ultimate very powerful sporting saloon.

Fortunately, the prototype was so successful that management gave the green light for production and it was introduced to much acclaim at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1968.

The 6.3 restored Mercedes reputation as a maker of performance vehicles which had been declining as memories of the 300 SL Gullwing and Roadster receded. Much press adulation followed with amazement at the ability to travel five up in comfort at 125 mph for many miles.

The very high price tag in the UK certainly limited sales but 700 cars were produced in right hand drive for all relevant markets. This is one of those rare UK supplied models and even rarer is its amazingly fine original order, partly explained by the fact it has only 50,000 miles recorded. Finished in Silver with exquisite original and barely worn dark blue velour interior the Mercedes presents much as it would back in the early 1970’s, it even passes the smell test with that interior fragrance unique to the marque in this period.

The Mercedes was purchased by a collector in Yorkshire in 1987 and it remained laid up during the latter years of his ownership, carefully stored in a garage until being found by an ardent Mercedes Benz Club member who found a new home for it in 2015. This new keeper, another marque enthusiast had the car inspected by a respected specialist of this model type. A renovation programme then began as documented in the copious invoicing on file. The aim being to bring the car to full working order without compromising the incredible fine original order that it presented in.

Much work has been completed more recently by the highly regarded marque specialists Roger Edwards Motors and latterly Paul Summer formerly of Roger Edwards who is now an independent specialist engineer working in Sussex. Recent works have included a major service, new water pump, new brake discs and pads and much suspension and detail work.

A very special original example of the rare and revolutionary Mercedes model that cast the die for the high performance sporting saloon that remains so popular today.