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Lowest VIN 6.9s

Started by nathan, 19 April 2018, 10:03 AM

nathan

hi guys,
ive been keeping data on 6.9s for some time, mainly at an Australian level.  I recently got contacted by someone with 6.9 #18, and went to see this car.
It got me thinking about where all the other low VIN 6.9s were so i thought id put up some pics of those remaining.  I would consider a low VIN 6.9 < #20 so if you have any more pics, feel free to add. 
1979 116 6.9 #6436
2018 213 e63
2011 212 e63
2011 463 g55
2007 211 e500 wagen
1995 124 e320 cabriolet
1983 460 300gd
1981 123 280te

nathan

yes, reportedly number 1. i was dubious for sure, but digging could not dispel the genuineness of this vehicle here in my own backyard. 
RHD, #1, and sited only last year - it looks very tidy.   Round fader, upper panel zebrano only, round hydro knob.
1979 116 6.9 #6436
2018 213 e63
2011 212 e63
2011 463 g55
2007 211 e500 wagen
1995 124 e320 cabriolet
1983 460 300gd
1981 123 280te

Harv

How are these number determined? The last 4 digits?
1980 300SD
1983 240D
2000 E55 AMG
2002 G500

nathan

Yes Harv, ie 116036 XX 00YYYY where XX is either 12 or 22 (LHD or RHD) and YYYY being the production number of the 7380

Number 9 I have some pics from i dont know when.  It is listed on the m-100 registry without a country and i cant recall where i got these pics. Again a nice looking car
1979 116 6.9 #6436
2018 213 e63
2011 212 e63
2011 463 g55
2007 211 e500 wagen
1995 124 e320 cabriolet
1983 460 300gd
1981 123 280te

nathan

a very sad demise for #18.  A LHD to RHD conversion reportedly purchased in Germany and brought to Australia.  Its been sitting a while and is unlikely to run again.  This was evidently a white car and painted blue.  Interesting the three low VIN cars i have pics of had blue interiors.  With a white exterior and blue interior, i dont recall seeing many of these combos, but it seems a logical choice.  This car has aftermarket alloys.  I wonder if the earliest cars maybe had the option of hubcaps or alloys.  That prototype picture (large 6.9 boot symbol one) on our forum coverpage had hubcaps, so maybe this car had them too?
1979 116 6.9 #6436
2018 213 e63
2011 212 e63
2011 463 g55
2007 211 e500 wagen
1995 124 e320 cabriolet
1983 460 300gd
1981 123 280te

nathan

Listed on the m-100 site as a silver green car in the USA, no pictures sorry
1979 116 6.9 #6436
2018 213 e63
2011 212 e63
2011 463 g55
2007 211 e500 wagen
1995 124 e320 cabriolet
1983 460 300gd
1981 123 280te

nathan

Like number 3, a LHD car with limited details on the m-100.cc site.  Listed as a blue car with velour interior.  Supposedly in Sweden but i have no pics again sorry.
1979 116 6.9 #6436
2018 213 e63
2011 212 e63
2011 463 g55
2007 211 e500 wagen
1995 124 e320 cabriolet
1983 460 300gd
1981 123 280te

nathan

#7
Belonging to the earlier pictures, this translation was found on a website about the blue car #9 which originally went to a French singer, and then back to Germany much later

450 SEL 6.9 Chassis no. 116036 12 000009 Engine no. 100985 12 000010 Metalic painting 931 magnetite blue inside 905 velor parchment
With this car chassis number 009 (engine 010) we are dealing with a pre-production car, which was initially driven by the test. In addition to many extras that were installed in this, it was specifically the car on the front of the calipers "Bendix" tested with wear indicator, the back of the normal of ATE. Furthermore tested on this car the VDO cruise control and a diagnostic connector. There is also a distribution list that shows which departments and people were informed about this car, drove it and what should happen to it. Surely such a test car, after the tests was no longer intended for normal sale, but the production order states: "The car is built by the main operation in collaboration with the AV. "It is indicated which special designs are to be considered and the car receives a new paint and interior equipment. So it happened and the car received on the data card the note "Takeover Day 2.Sep.1975" With this date, even with the 01.09.1975, this car is in the French papers (Carte Grise) out. Whether sold or given away, the car went from Stuttgart to the popular hit and chanson singer Mirelle Mathieu. The French-born star took the car to their place of residence in France and registered him there. She must have been very enthusiastic about this car, because there is a nice anecdote, which initially caused some confusion when researching this vehicle. We leave shortly this car 009 and go to the 6.9 with the number 4855 of 1979. This was the second 450 SEL 6.9 that Mirelle Mathieu bought or bought, also admitted to her and her place of residence in Neuilly on 19.09.1979, that is almost exactly four years after 009. This car was later also in German collector's hands, us well known and caused in so far for confusion, since the car almost 1: 1 corresponded to the car 009 and we first had to find out, the MM had two idendtische car in a row. The external differences are: In 1974, the car had a small antenna in the front center roof and a rear left on the fender and in 1979, the car had two antennas rear left and right, namely for the French and German radio telephone network. Back to 009: The Extras List is titled - Sunroof Electric, Becker Mexico Cassette, First-aid Kit Mounted, Fire extinguisher mounted (no longer installed), roof antenna, stern edge (B-net), driver's seat heating, passenger seat heating, rear seat heating, right exterior mirror, rear speaker with fader, LM wheels 5-speed. MM seems to have kept the car 009 still something, although they had received their second in September 1979. The re-registration in France is indicated with the 05.12.1980. The car was sold to a real estate agent near the residence of MM. According to his own statements, this did not drive him very often, but on special occasions and, as previously from MM, for long-distance trips. In the summer of 2006, he offered the car on the French Internet, where a collector from Hamburg who was enthusiastic about France discovered it and acquired it in August 2006. In France, especially in the south of the country, it is common the one, if you sold his car that you had many years, this can be repainted. So it happened with this, very good, but just repainted and probably, although it would not have been necessary, but just "usual". When this repainting took place we do not know. The total mileage is 174,790 km, which you do not look at the car, since most were actually driven in traffic between France and Germany many miles in one go. There is an approximately 1 cm hole in the front passenger door panel to discover, the slightest damage to the paintwork, but no rust, let alone rust. He looks like a good, well-kept used car that is not older than six to ten years. On sight and in driving behavior no accident damage is reported. The starter is a bit loud, the engine is a bit rough, but this may have something to do with a long service life. He heard him driven and hired. The central locking does not work.
www.schroederweise.de offer the car for 28,000, -


the car is indeed shown on in some pics in the museum and may be found in some youtube videos (not much on the car though).  this above information reads to me like the singer had two of the same colour cars??  however, i beileve #9 is indeed the car in the German museum Automobil- und Spielzeugmuseum Nordsee
1979 116 6.9 #6436
2018 213 e63
2011 212 e63
2011 463 g55
2007 211 e500 wagen
1995 124 e320 cabriolet
1983 460 300gd
1981 123 280te

robertd

Hi Nathan

You have certainly put some time and effort in researching these early cars, well done.
I'm always interested in the history of these cars as they almost certainly had belonged to some rich or famous person.
I wonder what these first owners would have thought if the could see how their pride and joy ended up.

cheers
116   1978 450SEL 6.9 #  4848
116   1979 450SEL  6.9 # 5884
116   1979 450SEL  6.9 # 6225  SOLD
116   1978 450SEL  6.9 # 5128  SOLD
116   1979 450SEL  6.9 # 5884  SOLD
116   1974 450SEL  DJet

nathan

im just like you RD. perhaps many of these wealthy people couldn't give two hoots but for example, the wife of the original owner of my silver 6.9 was very sentimentally attached and I updated her every few years which she seemed to enjoy.  but they must have been some very rich people!
1979 116 6.9 #6436
2018 213 e63
2011 212 e63
2011 463 g55
2007 211 e500 wagen
1995 124 e320 cabriolet
1983 460 300gd
1981 123 280te

floyd111

Quote from: nathan on 19 April 2018, 10:05 AM
yes, reportedly number 1. i was dubious for sure, but digging could not dispel the genuineness of this vehicle here in my own backyard. 
RHD, #1, and sited only last year - it looks very tidy.   Round fader, upper panel zebrano only, round hydro knob.

Only saw this now.. WTH?? Is this even possible? You got the first, and the Museum does not? That is insane! What are your experiences with collectors , finding out about this?

ptashek

Quote from: floyd111 on 20 April 2018, 03:03 AM
Only saw this now.. WTH?? Is this even possible? You got the first, and the Museum does not? That is insane! What are your experiences with collectors , finding out about this?

From what I've heard at the MB Museum it's customary for the Benz archives to grab the last of each model off the line, or prototypes and firsts for facelift models etc. They do have the very last 6.9, but it's not the one displayed at the museum, albeit that one's a late one too - 1979 or 1980.

Still, it's fascinating to see #1 out in the wild. Makes me wonder if all the other #1s are still around.
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

Max-NL

Wow #1! I somehow thought that it would have been lhd. Is it an original Australian car or was it imported?

According to the second owner of our 6.9 the person who ordered our 6.9 first had another 6.9, a blue one. But he wrecked it on the German autobahn due to hydroplaning. I wonder how low that vin # would have been.

On our car alloys was an option of about 1500 DM.

Also I found these pics of #3 on the m-100.co site. Sad to see it like this.
1971 R107 350 SL
1972 W108 280 SEL 3.5
1975 W116 280 S
1975 W116 450 SEL 6.9 #140
1977 W123 230
1992 W124 230 CE
2001 Ducati Monster S4

rumb

I talked to the guy that owned my now gone parts car #179 and he couldn't remember even the faintest details about the car and even said things that I knew could not be true. Must not have been a car guy at all. No wonder the car ended up being parted out.
'68 250S
'77 6.9 Euro
'91 300SE,
'98 SL500
'14 CLS550,
'16 AMG GTS
'21 E450 Cabrio

nathan

great, thanks Max. excellent detective work, thats 4 of the first 20 cars made!  very sad, what happened to number 3?  Number 1 was reportedly from Hong Kong and imported, but now resides in Australia.    Hopefully we can find some more!
1979 116 6.9 #6436
2018 213 e63
2011 212 e63
2011 463 g55
2007 211 e500 wagen
1995 124 e320 cabriolet
1983 460 300gd
1981 123 280te