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.
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!
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.
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.
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,
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.
I am always leery when the engine bay is painted black. The Cats seem to be missing.
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.
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,-
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
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.