Hi,

Was the 450SEL 6.9 sold in the USA from 1978-79 really that good back in the day?

Also, how does the 6.9 compare to latter-day Mercedes S-Class models, 1981 and beyond?

~Ben (StrokeEightFan)

"Diametrical Benz to the white courtesy telephone, please"!!!

He knows the truth.


Short answer: "Yes".

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I can't speak for back in the day, but I wants one now!

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

When I went to junior high in LA someones folks had one. The school was at the base of a decent incline.

They picked up their kid one day, did a U-turn and punched it. No muss, no fuss. JUst went up the hill, gaining speed and growling all the way up. I got a warm fuzzy feeling that afternoon. That was over 25 years agoand I still remember that moment in time and I have had dreams about that car ever since.

When my 16V grows up, it wants to be a 6.9.

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Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

If you look at what was on the market in 78-79, the 450SEL 6.9 really stood out.

American luxury cars were fat and sassy and usually underpowered;

BMW just came out with the e23 7-series which was quite modern but not terribly fast, at least in U.S. spec;

Jaguar was producing the Series II XJ6 with most of the reliability and design flaws of the Series I front and center, but with rubber baby buggy bumpers marring that delicate 60's-era styling, and the 4.2 was a lump in U.S. emissions/compression trim. The XJ12 was more theoretically a competitor, but the execution was flawed, particularly as Jaguar, as with the XJ6, saddled the engine with the prehistoric and lumpy Borg Warner Model 12 automatic transmission;

Audi was just warming up with the first-gen 5000, but it was more of a Mercedes w123 alternative than a competitor for the S-class;

Rolls Royce? Um, no.

Let's not discuss the Maserati Quattroporte unless you have a fetish for cars that don't usually start and usually incinerate their garages when they do.

The 6.9 had power, comfort, reasonable ride and handling, build quality and safety rolled into one vehicle, not to mention Mercedes S-class cachet, which was at its zenith at the time. It really had no competition.

Watch the movie Ronin (filmed in real time)....and then that will express my sentiments.

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

Yah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNmNO-Lg7o4

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

The 6.9 is a blast and is great fun to drive. My girlfriend had a E430 which I drove up to a football game once from Houston. A 90 minute drive each way. Very refined car, generations ahead in comfort. 6.9 kicked its ass in fun factor, I never drove hers again, oops, but I dumped her that day so maybe that had something to do with it....

I am selling mine and I hate to see it go, but I know I will have another. I have a 6.3 to tide me over.

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MB-less

I have never driven a 6.9 but I can imagine it is kindof like a big heavy hammer with a velvet glove.

Gobs of power, good ride and handling that would put many of the sports cars of its day to shame.

.....and will pass anything but a gas pump!

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.