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The 450 SEL 6.9 is the high-performance version of the W116 S-Class saloon. It was based on the long-wheelbase version of W116 chassis introduced in 1972 and equipped with Mercedes-Benz M100 V8 engine and full
hydropneumatic suspension Hydropneumatic suspension is a type of motor vehicle suspension system, designed by Paul Magès, invented by Citroën, and fitted to Citroën cars, as well as being used under licence by other car manufacturers, notably Rolls-Royce ( Silver Shado ...
system. The 450 SEL 6.9 was presented to the public at the
Geneva Auto Show The Geneva International Motor Show is an annual auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva. The show is hosted at the Palexpo, a convention centre located next to the Geneva Cointrin International Airport. The Salon is organised by the ...
in 1974 as the successor to the original high-performance saloon from Mercedes-Benz, the 300 SEL 6.3 (1968–1972). Like the 300 SEL 6.3, the nomenclate, 6.9, was affixed to the trunk lid as to differentiate itself from 450 SEL. The 450 SEL 6.9 was produced in a very limited number from 1975 to 1981. The 450 SEL 6.9 had the first full four-wheel hydropneumatic suspension system from Mercedes-Benz and was the world’s first passenger car to be fitted with modern form of ABS, electronic four-wheel multi-channel anti-lock braking system from Bosch, in 1978. For several years, the 450 SEL 6.9 was the quickest-accelerating and fastest European saloon, reaching in 7.4 seconds and top speed. The direct successor of 450 SEL 6.9 is the 2003 Mercedes-Benz S 55 Kompressor AMG (W220, 2003–2005), given the criteria that they were built in limited production and had unique 5.4-litre engine with supercharger not shared with S 500. Mercedes-Benz had claimed 500 SEL (W126) to supersede 450 SEL 6.9 in its 1980 brochure despite 500 SEL being in regular production and sharing the same M117 engine with 450 SEL. S 70 AMG and S 73 AMG (W140, 1998–1999) were the commissioned models for the clients who requested the performance upgrade kits to the engine, chassis, and body. The total production from 1975 to 1980 was 7,380 units with 1,816 exported to the North American markets (United States and Canada) from 1977 to 1981.


M100 engine

The 6.3-litre M100 V8 engine, originally fitted to 600 and 300 SEL 6.3, was enlarged to 6.8 litres (6,834 cubic centimetres or 417 cubic inches) by boring out to 107 mm. The stricter emission regulations in the mid-1970s necessitated the larger displacement as to compensate for the lowered output. The fuel injection system was upgraded to the third-generation mechanically controlled, continuous-injection system Bosch K-Jetronic. Due to its sheer size, the engineers fitted the dry sump oil lubrication system as to lower the engine height and preserve the low hood line. The dry sump system had larger capacity at 12 litres rather than 5 litres for the wet sump system fitted to the smaller M116 and M117 V8 engines. The dipstick was moved from the engine block to the oil tank’s filler cap. The larger oil capacity extended the oil change interval to 20,000 km (12,500 miles). For the European and international markets, the M100 engine produced at 4,250 rpm and at 3,000 rpm. The 450 SEL 6.9 for the North American markets had the reduced output and compression ratio (8.0:1 instead of 8.8:1) and was fitted with catalysator that required lead-free petrol: at 4,000 rpm and at 2,500 rpm. The 450 SEL 6.9 sold in Australia had slightly reduced output due to Australia's new 1977 emission regulations: at 4,200 rpm and at 2,800 rpm. During its entire production run, the engine displacement of 6.8 litres was the largest V8 engine ever built by Mercedes-Benz and by European manufacturer after the Second World War.


Suspension

The full
hydropneumatic Hydropneumatic suspension is a type of motor vehicle suspension system, designed by Paul Magès, invented by Citroën, and fitted to Citroën cars, as well as being used under licence by other car manufacturers, notably Rolls-Royce ( Silver Shado ...
self-levelling suspension Self-levelling refers to an automobile suspension system that maintains a constant ride height of the vehicle above the road, regardless of load. Purpose Many vehicle systems on a conventional vehicle are negatively affected by the change in attit ...
system from Mercedes-Benz was first introduced in 450 SEL 6.9 as a standard equipment. The other W116 models used the hydropneumatic system for the rear suspension only as level control under heavy load (Option No. 48/0, "Niveauregulierung"). The full system was exclusive to 450 SEL 6.9 until 1981 when the next generation, HPF II, was offered as an extra-cost option for W126 380 SEL and 500 SEL. The
600 __NOTOC__ 600 (Roman numerals, DC) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 600 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar ...
and
W109 W1 could refer to: * W1, a postcode district in the W postcode area of London * British NVC community W1 (Salix cinerea - Galium palustre woodland), one of the woodland communities of the British National Vegetation Classification * W-1 tool steel, ...
used the
air suspension Air suspension is a type of vehicle suspension powered by an electric or engine-driven air pump or compressor. This compressor pumps the air into a flexible bellows, usually made from textile-reinforced rubber. Unlike hydropneumatic suspension, ...
for self-levelling. The Mercedes-Benz system differentiated from
Citroën Citroën () is a French automobile brand. The "Automobiles Citroën" manufacturing company was founded in March 1919 by André Citroën. Citroën is owned by Stellantis since 2021 and previously was part of the PSA Group after Peugeot acquired ...
system, introduced in 1954, in some ways. Mercedes-Benz used the timing chain to drive the hydraulic pump instead of rubber belt in Citroën system. Citroën system used a single pump to send the vegetable oil (and later mineral oil) to the brake boost, power steering, power clutch (when equipped with semi-automatic transmission), and hydropneumatic suspension system. Mercedes-Benz system had the separate pumps for brake boost, power steering, and hydropneumatic suspension, citing the better failsafe measures than Citroën in the event of a hydraulic failure. The Mercedes-Benz system contained the hard rubber dampers that served as temporary springs and allowed the car to be driven if the hydraulic pump or components failed. Both manufacturers had different approaches when the cars were parked and switched off. Citroën lowered themselves closer to the ground while Mercedes-Benz did not. Mercedes-Benz suspension system has the feature that maintain the body level without squatting at the rear or diving in the front during the acceleration and braking respectively.


North American market

Initially, Mercedes-Benz did not plan on selling the 450 SEL 6.9 in the United States given the oil crisis that hit the Americans very hard and increasingly tightening emission regulations. Mercedes-Benz had difficulties in meeting the European demand. However, the strong requests from the customers and dealers reversed the decision. For the United States market, 450 SEL 6.9 was marketed simply as 6.9 and as sole affixation to the trunk lid on the right side. The retail price was more than $38,230 ($177,554 adjusted for 2021) for the 1977 model year and increased to $52,995 ($185,071) at the end of production in 1980. The 6.9 was fitted with four sealed beam 5.75" round capsule headlights with bezels and larger impact absorbing bumpers that lengthened the length by 11 inches. Due to the US FMVSS bumper standard, the variable height suspension was disabled, and the height adjustment knob was removed. To differentiate the 6.9 from other W116 models, the bumpers had thicker black rubber stripe covering the entire width and without the rubber bumper guards. The engine output was reduced to and due to the stricter emission standards.


Price

The retail price of 450 SEL 6.9 was DM 69,930 at its launch in 1975 and was DM 81,247 at the end of its production in 1980. The 450 SEL 6.9 had a premium of DM 25,000 to 30,000 over the 450 SEL. While 450 SEL 6.9 was visually indistinguishable from the other W116 models, 450 SEL 6.9 had wider wheels and tyres along with 6.9 on the right side of trunk lid. 450 SEL 6.9 had more standard features that were extra cost options in other W116 models: automatic HVAC system, power windows, power rear seats, headrests for the rear passengers, central locking system, headlamp washer and wiper system, heat-insulating glass, and a few other equipments.


Interior features

Despite the higher retail price, the interior of the 450 SEL 6.9 was indistinguishable from the other W116 models except for the different type of wood trims, height adjustment knob, and two extra warning lamps in the instrument cluster for the low suspension pressure warning and height adjustment indicator. Heated seats for driver and front and rear passengers as well as electric sunroof were extra cost options. No power-assisted external rear view mirrors and seat adjustments, commonly fitted to luxury cars such as
Cadillac The Cadillac Motor Car Division () is a division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM) that designs and builds luxury vehicles. Its major markets are the United States, Canada, and China. Cadillac models are distributed i ...
and
Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce (always hyphenated) may refer to: * Rolls-Royce Limited, a British manufacturer of cars and later aero engines, founded in 1906, now defunct Automobiles * Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the current car manufacturing company incorporated in ...
during the 1970s, were ever offered in the 450 SEL 6.9. The first-ever automatic
HVAC Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) is the use of various technologies to control the temperature, humidity, and purity of the air in an enclosed space. Its goal is to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality. HV ...
system from Mercedes-Benz was introduced in the 450 SEL 6.9 as a standard equipment and as optional extra-cost equipment in other W116 models. The automatic HVAC system was adapted from
Chrysler Corporation Stellantis North America (officially FCA US and formerly Chrysler ()) is one of the " Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is the American subsidiary of the multinational automoti ...
and had a compressor from Harrison division of
General Motors The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...
. The 450 SEL 6.9 had exclusive wood trim finished in burled
walnut A walnut is the edible seed of a drupe of any tree of the genus ''Juglans'' (family Juglandaceae), particularly the Persian or English walnut, '' Juglans regia''. Although culinarily considered a "nut" and used as such, it is not a true ...
veneer on the dash and console instead of striated zebrano veneer as found in other W116 models.


Cultural references

* After the persistent rumours, the French director
Claude Lelouche Claude Barruck Joseph Lelouch (; born 30 October 1937) is a French film director, writer, cinematographer, actor and producer. Lelouch grew up in an Algerian Jewish Family. He emerged as a prominent director in the 1960s. Lelouch gained critical ...
revealed the car he used to drive through
Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
at a very high speed to the rendezvous point at
Montmartre Montmartre ( , ) is a large hill in Paris's northern 18th arrondissement. It is high and gives its name to the surrounding district, part of the Right Bank. The historic district established by the City of Paris in 1995 is bordered by Rue Ca ...
in his eight-minute film, ''
C'était un rendez-vous ''C'était un rendez-vous'' (English: ''It Was a Date'') is a 1976 French short film directed by Claude Lelouch, showing a high-speed drive through Paris. Plot The film shows an eight-minute drive through Paris during the early hours (05:30) o ...
''. He used a 1976 450 SEL 6.9 with the camera mounted under the front bumper. He used the sound track from the
Ferrari 275 GTB The Ferrari 275 is a series of front-engined V12-powered grand touring automobiles with two-seater coupé and spider bodies produced by Ferrari between 1964 and 1968. The first 275 series cars were powered by a 3.3 L (3286 cc) over ...
, giving the impression that he drove a Ferrari. * The 450 SEL 6.9 was driven by Vincent, one of the antagonists in '' Ronin'', and was involved in several of the film's car chase scenes. * In
David Lynch David Keith Lynch (born January 20, 1946) is an American filmmaker, visual artist and actor. A recipient of an Academy Honorary Award in 2019, Lynch has received three Academy Award nominations for Best Director, and the César Award for Be ...
's 1996 film, ''Lost Highway'', a 450 SEL 6.9 was used as a major plot device, connecting all three main male characters in the film. In one scene, the hood was lifted up to reveal the 1,400-horsepower engine modification. In another scene, the car was used to shovel a
Ford Thunderbird The Ford Thunderbird (colloquially called the T-Bird) is a personal luxury car produced by Ford from model years 1955 until 1997 and 2002 until 2005 across 11 distinct generations. Introduced as a two-seat convertible, the Thunderbird was pro ...
off the road despite the latter applying the brakes.


Technical data


References


External links


International M-100 Group
— Factory-authorized site with information on all M-100-powered Mercedes-Benz automobiles, (including technical forums and maintenance information). The Brock Yates article can be found here as well
A Mercedes for the '70s: The W116 Series S-Class
— A site mixing the history of the full-scale W116 with that of its many miniature replicas.
Classic Car driver review

Golden Brown: Four Days in a Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 - Feature
(Car and Driver)
''Curbside Classic:'' 1977 Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9 – Deutsches Heavy Metal
– a retrospective of the 450SEL 6.9
''Petrolicious:'' Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 Was All About Engineering
– another retrospective of the 450SEL 6.9
Youtube clip
of Ronin high-speed chase featuring a 6.9 {{Classic Mercedes-Benz vehicles 450SEL 6.9 Rear-wheel-drive vehicles