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Restoring a 450 SEL 6.9

Started by Andreas, 08 October 2006, 09:30 PM

Andreas

Hi, a quick question I got hold of two 6.9's yesterday. One of which I will restore. My question to the group is if I restore it would it devalue the car if I change the interior from the original. It is bulit in 1977 and has lots of plastic in it. I want to change the dash centere console and ashtray to wood. This is how my current 6.9 is. Doiong this would mean that this car is no longer in its original condition, whoever the later 6.9 did come with this option.

All feed back greatly appreciatied.

Cheers
Andreas
78 450 SEL Parting out
78 450 SEL Saving for parts
79 450 SEL 6.9  #5332
77 450 SEL 6.9 Euro # 1696
77 450 SEL 6.9 Euro #1577
78 450 SEL 6.9  # 4172
76 280 S     Manual Parting
80 280 SE  Possible Parts Car
74 350 SLC  Thinking converting to race

Des

3 6.9's!!!

You aren't married are you?  ;)

If you have someone she must be very understanding.



oscar

Hi Andreas,

Gotta admit your list looks impressive!!! :o

When you talk about modifying from original, it seems to me that your just changing from one option to another, ie, plastic to wood console/ashtray.  No way would that devalue, an enhancement that would be if anything.  Only the absolute purist that knows option codes back to front would know what was original.  IMO, 6.9's prices are primarily dictated by condition of body and mechanics.  Originality is secondary as long as it doesn't sway too far.  An enhanced burlwood interior wouldn't rate as a change from original in general, unlike 20" rims which would.

When I get round to owning one, personally I'll be looking for the bad bits and what needs doing.  If I was to buy this one from you for example, converting to wood is one less thing I'd have to worry about.  I'm curious to how many more plastic bits this car has, I thought there was no such thing as a non wooded 6.9.  Have you got the data card? May be wood was original but replaced.  On the other hand I suppose the original owner could order whatever they wished. 

Good luck with the project.

Regards, Simon.
1973 350SE, my first & fave

Des

#3
Simon, early 6.9's lacked the wood around the console, ashtray and the air con switches, see picture below, this is from car number #204:



The earliest car I have in my database with the wood around the above excluded areas is number #1290

Andreas

Yes Des I am currently not married.....and now may never get married.  :o

Simon the photo from Des is exactly what i  now have interior wise to the new car.
78 450 SEL Parting out
78 450 SEL Saving for parts
79 450 SEL 6.9  #5332
77 450 SEL 6.9 Euro # 1696
77 450 SEL 6.9 Euro #1577
78 450 SEL 6.9  # 4172
76 280 S     Manual Parting
80 280 SE  Possible Parts Car
74 350 SLC  Thinking converting to race

s class

with three 6.9's for kick why would a man want to get married?


[color=blue]'76 6.9 Euro[/color], [color=red]'78 6.9 AMG[/color], '80 280SE, [color=brown]'74 350SE[/color], [color=black]'82 500SEL euro full hydro, '83 500SEL euro full hydro [/color], '81 500SL

dudu

#6
My two cents...

I replaced mines... and now car looks pretty good. Alternative solution... keep the plastic ones and, if you sell it, you can give them to new owner...

The main issue can be replacing the "balance/fader wheel" ( my english is not as god as i would like and i do not know what is the word you use for it ).... but , anything you can not solve with some imagination and a scissor...  :).

Mine before the wood...



and now, after the wood have been installed... I think car looks better with wood..



Regards.