How is it that merely the greatest car blog in the world has never written up “merely the greatest sedan in the world”? What a glaring omission. I actually shot one some years back, but had forgotten about it, until now. Well, it’s going to have to wait, but in the meantime I can offer you this as a consolation. I’m not going to claim it’s merely the greatest review in the world, but it is actually quite good, and a bit less breathless than some of the others at the time.
The 6.3 was a rather unexpected bold move by such a conservative company. Shoehorn a V8 more than twice as big as the six it was designed for into the engine compartment of a 112″ wb Mercedes? Was John DeLorean moonlighting for Daimler-Benz? This was pretty radical, for a company that made a big deal in pointing out the small incremental differences in engine sizes on the back decks of their cars. And that wasn’t going to work for this one, as there was no way they were going to let mid-range sedan challenge the Grosser 600 in prestige or numbering rights.
The 6.3 L SOHC V8 was rated at 300 (gross) hp at a very modest 4100 rpm. In the German PS rating, its rating was a mere 250, roughly comparable to the net ratings that came along in the US a few years later. Clicking off a 15.1 second 1/4 mile time was pretty impressive in 1969, with just 300 hp and an automatic. Good luck getting your 300 hp Impala to do that, or even a Chevelle. In fact, in the 1966 Popular Science comparison we posted here, the fastest of the big cars tested was the Impala with the new 325 hp 396, backed by the new THM-400. Its 1/4 mile time: 17.0 seconds.And its 0-60 time (8.9 seconds) was also a full two seconds longer than the 6.3 (6.9 seconds). And they both weighed in right at about 4000 lbs. What gives? Maybe DeLorean was a consultant, in terms of specially prepping this ringer?
R&T even took their 6.3 to the drag races, where it won two out of three races against a 427 automatic Corvette.
Nope; these performance stats were right in line with all the others for 6.3; no hanky-panky. And the tested car did not meet the factory’s stated top speed of 137 mph; it only went 131. But how it went 131 was the key factor: with complete calm and composure.
Do we have to repeat the fact that the Mercedes’ suspension gave both a superlative ride and handling? And that the steering was precise, quick and gave genuine feel, despite the power assist? And that the four wheel disc brakes are terrific? Never mind the comfortable seats and superbly well appointed interior.
R&T did point out that “merely the greatest sedan in the world” did have a few imperfections, but who cares? To drive a stately Mercedes that can shut down 427 Corvettes at the drags and roll down the Nevada highways at 130 for hours on end, these kind of minor quibbles seem rather unseemly.
What’s with the swing axles at the back? Even the VW of that year had double cv joints. I think MB was too cheap to get a decent rear suspension. Truth is that a Chevelle SS would handle way better than ANY Benz. German cars are over-rated,mainly by ‘Muricans.
These cars didn’t even have ball joints in their front suspensions. They were very refined examples of 1930’s chassis technology. It was just one of the things that the American car magazines didn’t mention much until the W116 arrived and they suddenly noticed that the 300 SEL 6.3 had copious amounts of brake dive and the usual swing-axle handling traits. Then they used the earlier car’s failings to emphasize how great the new one was. They did comment that the new 450 SEL couldn’t match the ride quality and isolation from road noise that the antique suspension had achieved. I find it interesting because this article states that various Detroit cars had quieter rides than the 6.3.
I have to wonder how it’d stack up to that Caddy, if Cadillac sent them a car with the towing package.
I had a fun moment with those taking a tight exit ramp east of Amsterdam in my ’68 300SEL back in the day.
I drove a 6.3 years ago. It wasn’t restored, and felt notably heavier up front than either of my W109s – the ’68 with the 2.9L six or the ’71 with the 3.5L V8.
Eh, speak for yourself. All I’d say is good luck getting that Chevelle SS in a corner. If Americans think German Cars are overrated, then why is the US a big market for them?
Pity it is so bland looking, outside and interior. Nothing special at first sight but maybe that is the attraction for some – not me.
Apply red and white stripes.
It looks bland in pics but as you get closer and especially inside you can see and feel the total lack of cost control that led to a price of 14 grand in 1968, when the Deutschemark was still pegged at four to a dollar and a VW cost $1800.
To each their own, indeed. The mystique of classic MB vehicles in general isn’t that they’re showy or “out-there” about their luxury like how a Cadillac, Bentley, or even a Rolls Royce would be, but rather that they maintain a stealthy profile. Which quite a lot of folks, including me, appreciate. The money goes in how they drive, handle, are built, etc.
Those who have these know what they have and love it.
There’s always JC Whitney for that extra flash. Maybe a rattle can metalflake and some donks?
The article says it got shut down by the girl in the automatic 427 Corvette, btw…only beat her when she fluffed it off the line.
Still, a great car that I would love to drive – the right size, discreet, lovely Paul Braq style.
Very special indeed. Would love to see a comparison of this and an early, swb XJ12….
I work for a vintage Mercedes parts supplier. I know more about these cars than I ever wished to. It’s a brand that, being my most generous, I can say I am merely apathetic about. I some ways, I can’t stand them.
I spend my days sifting through endless diagrams and part numbers trying to make sense of German engineering. These cars were not made to be simple to maintain. That’s all well and good for their wealthy owners who were never expected to pick up a wrench, but for the shops and parts people… They are a nightmare. A beautiful, expensive, ridiculous nightmare.
Interesting as Jay Leno has a 300SEL 6.3 with him that’s got around 327,000 miles on the clock and according to him, hasn’t needed anything substantial in terms of maintenance and repairs. Sure, these cars aren’t cheap to maintain when and should some component need looking after, but they’re built in ways which most modern cars, let alone a current generation MB wishes it was built. They just keep going.
The editors of “R&T”, based out of Newport Beach, CA did not have to drive in hot & humid traffic conditions or on any pot-holed, bumpy streets that many American cities had/have today.
If they did, they may have chosen the Cadillac.
“You’ll love the roads you used to hate.”
But then, they also advertised the smooth ride of the first ML models with a cute doggie and a teacup when everyone else was complaining how rough they rode.
A Chevy dealer friend of mine got one of these for fun back in the early 90’s. It was a blast to ride in and I was impressed. But I was selling Cadillac’s and Buick’s at that time and I didn’t see anything more impressive about that car than the older (similar years) Cadillac’s. A few years later I picked up a 1969 MB (not this model). It was a 4 door sedan in light blue with dark blue Benz Tex, a gas 6 cyl and 4 speed manual. Zero options but the Thermal King AC. Being so simple and basic, it was not expensive to keep and I enjoyed the car. However, after several years of driving it in my car club driving events and constantly shifting, I knew it was time to get something else. I sold it and ended up with a really clean 1987 Chrysler 5th Ave. in white with blue top and velour. Although I liked the MB, the Chrysler was certainly a step up in the comfort world.
The A/C compressor is rough AND if you lived in anything resembling a hot climate the A/C was marginal.
That was true of all those older Mercedes……
I’ve only lived here 15 years, so I don’t know if I’d qualify as the “typical Las Vegas resident”, but I don’t think I’d want to own this OR a white Cadillac. (And I speak as the former owner of a white Cadillac!) but if I had to pick from the pair, I’d go with the Caddy, just for the A/C.
Both the Benz and the Cadillac were very nice cars during this era. If you want handling go w/the Benz and if you want ride comfort, go with Caddy.
The ultimate sleeper, could you imagine sitting at the traffic lights in one of these on a warm spring evening in 1970 and a big block Corvette rolls up next to you, you gun the motor and the Corvette driver laughs, once the lights to turn green he laughs no more.
I would love to see one in the annual Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Races in Stanton, Michigan holding its own against US pony cars of the era.
For $14 large in 1969 dollars, it better be the greatest sedan in the world.
14K in 1969 dollars would equal about $113,224 in today’s money.
https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/
It was. In the late 60s my father picked up 1969 model in Germany and shipped it to Baltimore. We flew out and drove it home to Wisconsin where it was the family/business car. It was all it was cracked up to be and we drove it on an unfinished part of interstate 65 for a while up to 135. It would beat Corvettes off the line and even earned me an “A” in high school German class when I let the teacher, a native German, drive it. It was parked and badly put up in a garage for 20 years or so and I had it shipped south with some hope of getting it back on the road. Sadly, Hurricane Katrina drowned it while it sat in my garage. But I still have wonderful memories of driving that car and can still feel the bleat of it’s exhaust and smell the leather of the interior.
The autobahn ‘cruise-ability’ of cars like this has always been so seductive. Cruising at 120, 130, or 140 mph in a well-engineered car is the stuff of fantasy.
This video of a 240kph (155mph) autobahn cruise in a BMW 730d may be the closest I’ll ever get to that fantasy fulfillment….
I’ve just gotten a hold of one of it lying in a mechanic’s garage and in urgent need of it’s engine and dashboard