Description

1972 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3 (W109)

Rare 6.3 V8 example from long-term 33-year ownership showing just 87,724 miles with considerable history
A car of immense street cred, of that there is no doubt. The 109 series 300SEL, here in bullish 6.3 guise. Our vendor, the 5^th owner, has been lucky enough to steer this fine car since March 1987, some 33 years! The car presents well (with scope for cosmetic improvement) in blue metallic with matching blue velour interior and has covered a modest 87,724 miles backed up by a monstrous history. **

The history file(s) include the V5C, original SEL 6.3 parts catalogue from 1969, owner’s manual and a service booklet (although on close inspection the chassis number in the latter item does not match so, although nice to have, it is for a different car). There are also two thick files of invoices dating back to at least 1983. It is not possible here to detail all of the works undertaken to the car, but highlights of note include most recently refurbishment of the Mexican Hat style alloy wheels, 4 new tyres from Vintage tyres, engine steam clean and machine polish with 12 months warranty in February 2020.

A £3,019 spend in August 2008 at 86,484 miles by Merc Spec of Middlesbrough included new OS and NS sills with welding to both inner sills, inner arches, boot floor and rear bellow chassis supports plus new electric window switches, new indicator stalk and a refurb of the power steering system.

A visit to North Riding Garages in August 1988 saw a set of new head gaskets and fuel injection pump fitted at a cost of £1,516 followed by another visit to the same in June 1989 which included a £3,895 spend on new camshafts and followers plus cylinder head rebuild and A/C rebuild at 52,503 miles.

The engine saw further attention in March 1991 also by North Riding Garages for a further £1,247 spend on a re-bore of the cylinders, a re-ground crank, new pistons, bearings and timing chain at 52,717 miles.

We then jump to 1991 when the car is subject to a total respray following replacement of the OSF X-member, repairs to the inner and outer wing tops, new sills, new front and rear wings by Cockerton Green Garages of Durham with parts invoices in support of their work. The head gaskets were replaced again in 1992 followed by a replacement timing chain by MB of Reading in April 1994 at 76,000 miles at a cost of £1,172. A stainless-steel exhaust system was installed in September 1993 at a cost of £1,010.

The file includes 7 old MOT, the last of which expired in September 2019 at 87,685 miles with no advisories recorded. The car is of course now tax and MOT exempt but its useful to know it passed with flying colours. A quick scan through the old MOTs shows the car has seen little use, with fewer than 1,000 miles recorded since at least 2012. In addition there are some period road tests and tech info plus a period magazine test of the 300SEL 6.3 dated 1969 along with a guide to restoring classic cars which could prove useful given something like this will no doubt require regular preventative maintenance. 

Offering the next owner the opportunity to use and improve, the car comes from long term ownership with heaps of history and a certain cachet other same era cars could only dream of. Its one to watch that’s for sure.


For more information, contact - will.daniels@brightwells.com