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Garage => Test Drive => Topic started by: Neil4speed on 24 February 2022, 02:13 AM

Title: The Case of a Curious Blue W116 (6.9) at Auction
Post by: Neil4speed on 24 February 2022, 02:13 AM
I keep a continuous google search for 450 related items that pop up online to keep my attention during a boring zoom call... I came across the following 6.9 at auction

https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/0222/open-roads--february/lots/r0025-1977-mercedes-benz-450-sel-69/1212773

This one interested me as the color was remarkable... one of my favorites of all time, and in a sense from a mileage standpoint at least - comparable to the Milan Brown 6.9 I recently acquired. For curiosity sakes I was wondering what it would go for. I was pretty shocked to see the ending price at 35k USD considering the vehicle seemed a bit rough but that is the sothebys premium too...

Looking a bit closer, I wanted to know more about the blue. Interestingly, Capri Blue didn't exist on this car, and looking at the options listing, it is actually Magnetite Blue Metallic. After a bit more research, I discovered that this car was sold by Sothebys in 2019 (pre-pandemic extreme inflation) for $10k less.

https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/af19/auburn-fall/lots/r0158-1977-mercedes-benz-450-sel-69-sedan/795403

Not shocking in a sense, especially considering it was with blown suspension at the time.

The surprising item is that the mileage decreased over the two year period... from 74376 to 74355...

Perhaps the odometer was replaced, who knows... but curious no doubt.

Title: Re: The Case of a Curious Blue W116 (6.9) at Auction
Post by: sutekh on 22 March 2022, 09:40 PM
Sounds like we have similar Google habits :) I intended to bid on this car, but RM's rep knew next to nothing about the car, and the owner never bothered to respond to my list of comprehensive questions.

I also noticed the mileage discrepancy. That, plus far too many unknowns scared me away. Given how it was presented and the lack of RM's knowledge / communication, I was frankly surprised that it crossed the block where it did!
Title: Re: The Case of a Curious Blue W116 (6.9) at Auction
Post by: Neil4speed on 23 March 2022, 11:32 AM
Thanks for Sharing Suutekh - The Magnetite Blue Metallic is truly stunning and rare, but I agree... lots of unknowns make it a scary proposition at this price point.
Title: Re: The Case of a Curious Blue W116 (6.9) at Auction
Post by: Neil4speed on 22 July 2022, 12:15 PM
And it has popped up again! Looks like a nice refresh of the interior and I am sure other things as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpBD4MIwGIQ&ab_channel=DanielSchmitt%26Co.

I must say, a fabulous color combination.
Title: Re: The Case of a Curious Blue W116 (6.9) at Auction
Post by: raueda1 on 26 July 2022, 03:47 PM
Quote from: Neil4speed on 22 July 2022, 12:15 PMAnd it has popped up again! Looks like a nice refresh of the interior and I am sure other things as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpBD4MIwGIQ&ab_channel=DanielSchmitt%26Co.

I must say, a fabulous color combination.
LOL, I fully agree.  That happens to be my color combination!!  I didn't know it was rare though.  Cheers,
Title: Re: The Case of a Curious Blue W116 (6.9) at Auction
Post by: Neil4speed on 28 August 2022, 07:06 PM
Ok, at this point, I am 'obsessive' I guess, but here she goes again with an asking price of $70k.

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/mercedes-benz/450sel/2605174.html

At least now a few miles have been put on it.

Title: Re: The Case of a Curious Blue W116 (6.9) at Auction
Post by: rumb on 31 August 2022, 07:57 PM
I am always leery when the engine bay is painted black. The Cats seem to be missing.
Title: Re: The Case of a Curious Blue W116 (6.9) at Auction
Post by: Sensh on 01 September 2022, 03:02 AM
I always feel a bit melancholy when a car - pretty much ANY car, much less a 6.9 - gets flogged around again and again, sold and resold, auctioned and re-auctioned to within an inch of its life.

I just wish someone would buy it who ACTUALLY WANTS IT.
Title: Re: The Case of a Curious Blue W116 (6.9) at Auction
Post by: johnnyw116 on 01 September 2022, 04:49 AM
Looks nice , i looked at the pics and also an underbody pic cought my attention someone jacked up the car under the spare wheel boot , and the exhaust looks like an 4 cilinder exhaust , it all can be fixed but it´s not what you aspect to see for $70.000,- 
Title: Re: The Case of a Curious Blue W116 (6.9) at Auction
Post by: Gpapaniko on 01 September 2022, 08:05 AM
I just noticed in some of the pics that the part number for the gauges for the curious blue 6.9 starts with w116 while those in Australia are a W107 part number. Interesting
Title: Re: The Case of a Curious Blue W116 (6.9) at Auction
Post by: Type17 on 04 September 2022, 02:10 PM
Quote from: Gpapaniko on 01 September 2022, 08:05 AMI just noticed in some of the pics that the part number for the gauges for the curious blue 6.9 starts with w116 while those in Australia are a W107 part number. Interesting
Because of the various legal requirements & favoured measurement units for speedometers around the world, there are a huge variety of gauges fitted in different markets, over different years. The 6.9 speedo goes higher than other models too.

eg: My own '76 UK-market car has MPH-only gauges with PSI oil pressure and Fahrenheit coolant temp (ie: not metric), so I presume that no other MPH gauges were at hand, so UK cars were fitted with the US-market ones for the early years, but '77-on UK cars have 'MPH with km/h-inside' gauges, but with metric oil and coolant units (BAR and Centigrade).

I presume that Australian cars would always have had km/h-only gauges fitted, like continental European models.