The orgs title page 6.9 anomaly

[nathan]

Hi guys,
Something that we have all looked at many many times actually made me think last night, what is with the cover page 6.9 (plate SCH 5363)? 

Its been commented before about the large badge 6.9 (I dont think its perspective as im sure there are other pics showing this 6.9 badge was larger than the 450 badge.

In addition, it has steel hubcaps and not alloys. 

And finally, it has no passenger side rear view mirror. 

I wonder what production number 6.9 this was?  I personally wrecked 6.9 #18 and none of these anomalies were on it.

These are the important questions in life!

[Max-NL]

Alloys and a right hand mirror were options (at least in Germany), even on a 6.9 somehow.

If you look at the following picture from the Mercedes archive the 6.9 looks a bit bigger than the 450 SEL

https://mercedes-benz-publicarchive.com/marsClassic/ViewTile?oid=3683349&version=-2&fdRnr=1&fineDataVersion=-1&quality=9009&thumbnailRedirect=true&checkMaxZoomLevel=true&renderZoomLevel=3

[nathan]

you cant imagine someone spends 80000DM and skimps on a mirror and an alloys! interesting Max.

The link wont seem to let me in, is it a club link? could you post to the org if pic is less than 1mb?

i know i have seen other large font 6.9 badges on some cars before

[6.9original]

Yes, even on the July 1979 factory price list, code 50/2 (same as 502) right-hand door mirror was a DM101.70 option except on the S123 estates/wagons, presumably due to towing duties! Even the 6.9 had it as an option ex-factory. 5 alloy wheels were a DM1169.55 option ex-factory on all models except the 450SLC 5.0 in that price list. If certain in-country markets wanted to offer them as "standard", they paid the factory the extra and "hid" it in the in-country sell-price. Regarding the extra large 6.9 type-designation, this was on perhaps as few as one or maybe two early cars (I always assumed, pre-sale development/press cars maybe 0001, 0002, ...). S-CH 5365 has data plates on front cross-member.

[6.9original]

Here's one of a series of shots of S-CH 5365:

https://mercedes-benz-publicarchive.com/marsClassic/en/instance/picture/Mercedes-Benz-450-SEL-69.xhtml?oid=129624&ls=L2VuL2luc3RhbmNlL2tvLzExNi1zZXJpZXMtUy1DbGFzcy1TYWxvb25zLTE5NzItLS0xOTgwLnhodG1sP3JlbElkPTEwMDEmZnJvbU9pZD00ODYyJnJlc3VsdEluZm9UeXBlSWQ9MTcyJnZpZXdUeXBlPWdyaWQmc29ydERlZmluaXRpb249bWFudWFsc29ydC0xJnJvd1N0YXJ0PTgwJm9pZD00ODYyJnRodW1iU2NhbGVJbmRleD0xJnJvd0NvdW50c0luZGV4PTUmZnJvbUluZm9UeXBlSWQ9MjI0NSNwcmV2SWQ9MTI5NjI0&rs=111

[6.9original]

Showing there were more than just the one ... S-CD 3608

We're really getting down to the uber-nerd train-spotting level now!

https://mercedes-benz-publicarchive.com/marsClassic/en/instance/ko.xhtml?relId=1001&fromOid=4862&resultInfoTypeId=172&viewType=grid&sortDefinition=manualsort-1&rowStart=80&oid=4862&thumbScaleIndex=1&rowCountsIndex=5&fullScreenId=3683353#prevId=3683353

[nathan]

nicely spotted original.  In aus though, we had all those bits standard. as you say, probably just tucked into the purchase price! ill attach your pics for future reference

[Max-NL]

Huh, weird that the link didn't work. I've added the picture as an attachment.

Mercedes was during that time known for that if you wanted something you need to pay for it. Right mirror? Optional. Electric (or even manual) antenna? Optional. Radio? Optional. You paid for the build quality, but the rest was optional.

Granted, the 6.9 does have some options standard compared to the 280S (Cruise control, Aircon, Heat absorbing glass). But a 6.9 did cost about 2,5x a 280S.

[6.9original]

I measured a friend's 300SEL 6.3 type designations last night. The 6.3 is easily 10 mm taller than the 300SEL. I think that the original intention with the 6.9 may have been to continue this style. Perhaps the original OEM, called P.u.C., may have even used existing/modified tooling before equal-height 450SEL and 6.9 types were decided upon for ongoing production from 1975.

[johnnyw116]

looks like these are both about the same size .....
 
maybe the bigger emblem is specially made for the pics that Mercedes Benz released ?