70's Mercedes muscle car ??? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

soothappens · #1 02-08-2010, 02:35 PM

In the 70's did Mercedes build a so called muscle car or was this craze only in America ? If not referred to as muscle car , did they build anything that would fit this description:

I was thinking plain Jane, no frills easy to work on sleeper . It would also need enough horsepower to scare you when the go pedal is mashed. A Standard transmission would also be nice. It Would need to seat 4 for non spirited drives. Hub caps manual everything , who needs a radio engines to loud ! Whats a climate control type of car.

Any one know of such a model ? If it does exist would the price be so far in the stratosphere that it would make your ears pop ?

I drive a 240D and love the build quality reliability. Just wondering whats on the other end of the spectrum.

JiveTurkey · #2 02-08-2010, 02:38 PM

In the Sixties
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_300SEL_6.3

In the Seventies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_450SEL_6.9

Beware of the gremlins that inhabit the suspensions of both cars.

POS · #3 02-08-2010, 05:52 PM

You'd have to get a coupe, then install a wicked engine in it. Either a w111 coupe from the 60s (3.5 had a V8, but expensive now), a w114 coupe from the 70s, a w123 coupe from the 80s, or a w126 coupe from the 80s (at least it already comes with a V8). Problem was, the europeans never got into the moster-CID craze - they prefer all around perfection rather than simply straight-line perfection.

Skippy · #4 02-08-2010, 08:03 PM

In answer to the OP's question, no. The muscle car concept of a relatively inexpensive midsize or compact with a big engine stuffed in it never really took off in Europe. America and Australia were the main markets. You could (and still can) get a Mercedes that would scare you when you mashed the go pedal, but you had to shell out the big bucks for one of the high end S-class or SL cars.

Unless of course you mean mashing the go pedal and then getting scared because nothing's happening. A 220 or 240D fits that bill completely

wolf_walker · #5 02-08-2010, 08:46 PM

I always figured it was the lay of the land and roads in a lot of ways. Roads, towns, etc. We built ours for cars, so much of europe had been settled so long and the patters were set up for wagons and horses long ago. Then there's the autobahn I guess..

Wodnek · #6 02-08-2010, 09:20 PM

In the 60s the 6.3 would be the closest.
Expensive as heck though for a muscle car.

In the 70s, the 6.9 would be the closest, but at close to 50 grand, really not cheap.

bwostosh · #7 02-08-2010, 10:16 PM

Muscle car comparison....

I had a 67 Dodge Charger with the 426 Hemi, new

I have now a 300SEL 6.3 and a 300SEL 4.5, used

no comparison, no question

Mercedes is the answer.

soothappens · #8 02-09-2010, 03:17 PM

Quote:

In the 60s the 6.3 would be the closest.
Expensive as heck though for a muscle car.

In the 70s, the 6.9 would be the closest, but at close to 50 grand, really not cheap.

After reading all the posts this was my thought as well . It seems Mercedes makes cars for certain demands. Economy end meeting those economy needs as the 240d . As the models increase so does the horsepower , systems and luxury appointments 450 SEL 6.9 . One not switching with the other. Thought out for the job they perform as a complete package. Leads back to the old saying " tell me how much you can spend and I'll tell you how fast you will go ".

Quote:

Muscle car comparison....

I had a 67 Dodge Charger with the 426 Hemi, new

I have now a 300SEL 6.3 and a 300SEL 4.5, used

no comparison, no question

Mercedes is the answer.

This is what brought about the post. I just finished a 69 firebird convertable for my brother in law. Pontiac 400, muncie 4 speed and 4/11 positrac rear . While its a blast to play with it runs 45-50 mph on the highway turns and stops only when it desperately needs to. Power nothing with drum brakes. What were they thinking ? It felt good to get back into the 240 but theres just something missing. Bought my son a 68 cuda so now its dads turn.

This is what happens when hemmings Muscle machines magazine is to close to Mercedes enthusiast !!

It will be a Mercedes but I'm not to familiar with the models. Kind of leaning towards a 80's 560 SEL . Only sticking point would be the hydraulic suspension .

Thanks for all the replies !

thorsen · #9 02-09-2010, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwostosh

Muscle car comparison....

I had a 67 Dodge Charger with the 426 Hemi, new

I have now a 300SEL 6.3 and a 300SEL 4.5, used

no comparison, no question

Mercedes is the answer.

What was your opinion of the 426? My dad bought a 1966 Charger (new) with the 318 and now has a 1966 Charger with the 4 barrel 383. I call his current Charger a "4 second car", because you can't hold the gas pedal down for more than 4 seconds before you start to pucker up pretty bad.

JiveTurkey · #10 02-09-2010, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soothappens

This is what happens when hemmings Muscle machines magazine is to close to Mercedes enthusiast !!

It will be a Mercedes but I'm not to familiar with the models. Kind of leaning towards a 80's 560 SEL . Only sticking point would be the hydraulic suspension .

Thanks for all the replies !

If you mean Mercedes Enthusiast magazine from the U.K. then yes, I freaking love that magazine. I wish it wasn't $10.00 per month though. I also read Hemmings Classic Car (american only cars, from around 1970 and earlier.) Every month.

Also... I don't know much about the innards of 80's Mercs, but I didn't think the 560SEL's had a hydraulic suspension. Hopefully someone more informed than me will chime in on that. You might want to consider a W116 (I'm MUCH more familiar with those.) as some came with a 4.5 V8 (good for around 200 horse and 260 lb-ft of torque depending on how badly said engine was castrated by emissions gear.

Rust can be an issue on W116's but they were really neat cars, big V-8, lots of room, good looks, 3 or four speed auto depending on the model, etc. If you're good with the old Hot Rodders tricks when it comes to tuning an engine (porting, polishing, etc.) you might be able to turn that lazy 4.5 into a pretty mean engine. I've yet to see anyone try to spice up a w116's powertrain without resorting to extreme stupidity (IE: Twin Turbos, etc.)

Skippy · #11 02-09-2010, 04:14 PM

If you're into building your own, I have seen a couple of W114 cars with 350 Chevy swaps.

GGR · #12 02-09-2010, 06:18 PM

If you want to sit four comfortably go for a nice 6.3. If you want a car simple to work on go for a W108 4.5. You can work on the 4.5 to get more power out of it or fit a later euro 500 or 560 engine. They are light and powerful, and it's nearly a straight swap with the good selection of parts. A W111 Coupe looks better, but the rear passengers will be less comfortable, aspecially if they are adults. Otherwide they are mechanically similar.

Wodnek · #13 02-09-2010, 09:16 PM

With today's economy, lots of good deals on 6.9 cars out there.

winecountryone · #14 02-10-2010, 01:12 PM

The 560's had a self leveling rear suspension (as did the station wagons) This used a pump and fluid tank mounted in the engine compartment.
This is TOTALLY different than the high pressure suspension used on the 6.3 or 6.9.These used high pressure bladders similar to the french Citroen.Very expensive and hard to maintain.(The bladders are 800 to 1000$ a corner,so multiply X 4)
A 560 is not an American muscle car but it produces around 250HP and is tall geared for high speed operation.A 126 chassis 560 SEC would probably be as close to your specifications as reasonable money will allow.A 560 SL convertible would be a fine choice if you wanted something a bit more "sporty"
Figure 5K for a coupe or probably double that for a convertible.

diametricalbenz · #15 02-10-2010, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winecountryone

The 560's had a self leveling rear suspension (as did the station wagons) This used a pump and fluid tank mounted in the engine compartment.
This is TOTALLY different than the high pressure suspension used on the 6.3 or 6.9.These used high pressure bladders similar to the french Citroen.Very expensive and hard to maintain.(The bladders are 800 to 1000$ a corner,so multiply X 4)
A 560 is not an American muscle car but it produces around 250HP and is tall geared for high speed operation.A 126 chassis 560 SEC would probably be as close to your specifications as reasonable money will allow.A 560 SL convertible would be a fine choice if you wanted something a bit more "sporty"
Figure 5K for a coupe or probably double that for a convertible.

There is a 5th sphere up front as if 4 wasn't expensive enough.