After the somewhat unexpected success formula of mounting a huge engine into an S-Class with the Mercedes 300 SEL 6.3, Mercedes did the same exercise with the recently launched W116. However the launch of the big lumped car was posponed a while because of the raging oil crisis. In 1974 the ‘regular’ Mercedes 450 SEL was awarded Car of the Year and at the same time the 6.9 was launched at the Geneva Motor Show, delivery started in 1975. The 6.9 was the most innovative (first Mercedes with hydropneumatic self-levelling suspension system and first car ever to get ABS) and most expensive. It cost in 1976 almost 8 times the price of a basic Volkswagen Golf and lined up near the most prestigious cars such as Ferrari, Bentley and Rolls Royce. The top speed was claimed by Mercedes on 225 KM/h, but journalists testing the 6.9 reported top speeds of 241 KM/h. By production closing in 1980 Mercedes had managed to build and sell more than 7,000 units of this magnificent car, a real tour the force considering the crazy era it was sold in.

Technical specification Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9: