TRAITOROUS BEHAVIOR!

[infinitinut2]

OK, guys, let the throwing begin!

I am about to acquire a Benz! It is a 1978 450 SEL, with the 6.9 engine. It has only 66K miles and is owned by M/B collector MD in Atlanta area, who needs garage space for his next acquisition (a 72 SL). We are of the opinion that this is a grey market version (only 1,800 US spec cars brought in over 4 year model run), and in that it is black over black, and he found a funeral home under the rear seat, it is believed that this car was used as a "family car" by Texas funeral home. Thus, his naming it the "grim reaper"!

I owned the 6.9's predecessor (the 300 SEL chassis w/ 6.3 engine) when living in Germany. Bought from a mad Bulgarian who had escaped from East Germany (this escape is something of Bond novels!). Enjoyed 6.3's awesome power while in Europe and brought it back to US and sold it through ad in Road & Track. Flying back to east coast next week on business, and will pick up 6.9 in ATL. Both of my beloved Infinitis currently in semi-storage at NM summer home where I am in process of restoring the M's interior. Frankly, one of the reasons I bought the Q was that its awesome power reminded me so much of the 6.3! Yes, I am one of your true car nuts!

[infinitinut2]

and he found a funeral home under the rear seat,

....uhhhh, sorry guys, that is a funeral home PEN........!

[bone_stock_240]

and he found a funeral home under the rear seat

I was thinking, "damn, that is a huge car!!!"

[qship96]

Wonderful car,our neighbor bought one new way back when-make sure air suspension works correctly!

[maxnix]

Yeah, those were the ultimate of the early series full size sedans that broke away from the dreaded swing axle rear suspension. Thought about getting one (Willie's ex was for sale a while back, who knows what was under the rear seat?), but 3 speed automatic kind of killed the deal for me. SOHC, 2 valve head. Kind of like the ultimate Galaxie 500 with a real 427 motor.

A great car.
Modified by maxnix at 9:32 PM 8/9/2007

[jamesmost]

check out http://www.benzworld.org iam jimmypop in that forum 1986 560sec

[infinitinut2]

make sure air suspension works correctly!

The 300 SEL 6.3 was notorious for leakage! You could always ID a 6.3 in the mornings, in that it had settled onto the stops! I always thought of bad guys going in to rob a bank, spending a wee bit too much time in it, and, coming out to their 6.3 getaway car, and finding that they had to sit awhile to get the suspension up before they could hi tail it, all while good guys shooting at them!

The 6.9 had a totally new system, which was supposed to eleminate most of the problems. The car sold for in excess of $55K in 1979 (more than a R/R), and I am paying less than $6K for it! Or, as some of my more crass friends would say, "***t, I would pay $6 grand to see a monkey ****"!

I had recently looked at a new MB CLS 550 at the dealer when the M30 was last being serviced, and the salesman called today inviting me to the party the dealer was having on the 18th to introduce the new Benz C klasse, and Infiniti coupe. When I told him that I was dealing on a Benz, he nearly lost it! I quickly told him that the car was the legendary 6.9, but, frankly, I actually believe it is older than he is! I told him to go talk to the service manager to learn about the car and, that I would drive the 6.0 over to the dealership on the 18th and park it beside one of the new ones! Should be fun!

[lino]

Ah the 6.9! Three people I knew owned these cars.

Check out these sites:http://www.motortrend.com/clas....htmlh ... cedes.com/

[Sailtap300]

Amazing Car! Congratulations! (If you change your mind, I'm interested!)

[MinisterofDOOM]

405 ft-lb at 3000 rpm...I like.

[maxnix]

Ah the 6.9! Three people I knew owned these cars.

Check out these sites:http://www.motortrend.com/clas....htmlh ... cedes.com/

Interesting to note the G50 easily outperforms it, but it should as a later more sophisticated design.

I did see a white CLS 6.3 AMG that made me go hmmm.....as if I had $100K to blow.

[infinitinut2]

Interestingly, the ATL MD tells me that he is being bugged by losing bidders, so, if I opt out on Monday, he has folks standing in line to buy it! There will have to be a lot amiss for me to do that! See previous comment about paying $6K to see monkeys do things!

The MD will be racing one of his other 6 Benzes at Road Atlanta all weekend. He invited me to come, but time issues got in the way!

[BadQ45t]

My dad had a 1978 450SEL, doesn't yours just say 6.9? That is all it should say on the back, those were the bomb in their day!

[maxnix]

The 450SE were the first luxury performance sedans that could handle and brake in my book. It was a revelation in 1973. Most old people who bought them had no idea what they could do.

[infinitinut2]

doesn't yours just say 6.9

Yep! One must really look close at the wider tires and note the 6.9 on boot lid to know what it is and, absent knowledge of its heritage, not understand its capabilities! AND, THE DOCTOR HAS INSTALLED A NOS SYSTEM IN THIS BEAST! He says he took 2nd place in it in some sort of road race they run between Athens, Ga., and the coast, a miniature "Cannonball" thing! Yikes! One fast medical type!

[tkd_q45]

Awesome car - the "original" Q45 IMHO. They can be quite expensive to keep running but they definitely have their charm. Post pics!