The top of the W116 Mercedes-Benz platform was the 50SEL 6.9, a feast of power, prestige and displacement. From the factory, the big 6.9 liter engine was only available with the long wheelbase version, but the seller of today's vehicle shoved it into the short wheelbase sedan. Find this 1976 Mercedes-Benz 450SE 6.9
currently bidding for $5,000 reserve-not-met on ebay with 1 day to go, located in Seattle, WA.
Imagine, if you will, that you are a well-to-do 60-something with kids out of the house and plenty of money to spend on cars. You aren't interested in sporty cars, just need something to drive to the bowling alley once a week and pickup a few friends at the senior center. You may find yourself tempted to head to the nearest Benz dealer and pickup a new E-Class for $70,000...but it would be a mistake. Save your hard earned cash and pickup a inexpensive used classic, and you'll be happy as long as you budget for plenty of maintenance costs. Your ungrateful, worthless children will inherit a few more dollars when you head to the big junkyard in the sky. A good cheap example is this 1974 Mercedes-Benz 450SE for sale in Vista, CA for $2,750 via craigslist.
For some reason we've been on a classic Benz bender over here at the DT headquarters, located in the alley behind a 7-11. There is something in the air (other than the smell from the dumpster) that just beckons us to the classic shape, style and substance of an early 1970s Mercedes Benz S-Class. This 1973 Mercedes-Benz 450SE W116 is for sale in Orange County, CA for $4,000 via craiglist.
The W116 Mercedes chassis was the first MBZ to officially be called the S-Class, S for Sonderklasse or "special class". It was indeed a special car - with a 112 inch wheelbase (or 118 inch long wheelbase) and 4.5 liter V8 (or 6.9 liter monster!) it was a stately cruiser sold at high prices to wealthy bankers, politicians and other aristocrats. The hedge fund managers have long since moved on to newer models and left these depreciated classics for hedge pruning managers and this 1973 Mercedes-Benz 450 SE Euro version is for sale Pasadena, CA for $5500 is a great example (via Craigslist).