Description
The 300 SEL 6.3 was Mercedes-Benz’s fastest and most opulent full-sized executive saloon car of the late 1960’s and early 70’s. The model started out as a private venture in 1966 by company engineer Erich Waxenberger, in what these days would probably be termed a “Skunkworks” project. His principle was simple: take the powerful 6.3-litre V8 from the luxurious 600 limousine, and squeeze it into the regular Mercedes-Benz S-Class model. The result was an almost 2 tonne saloon with performance similar to most dedicated sports cars of the era. Surprisingly, the rather conservative company went ahead and launched the car into the marketplace at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1968.
The 6.3-litre motor could catapult a car that weighed nearly two tonnes to a top speed of over 130mph and to 60mph from stationary in under seven seconds, respectable numbers for modern vehicles and an extraordinary feat for a luxury saloon in 1970. Adorned with the finest luxury fitments of the time, this was a car for those who were looking for the best in terms of automotive refinement.
This beautiful 1971 300 SEl 6.3 is finished in silver grey metallic and opposing black leather interior and comes with a number of options, including factory air conditions, electric windows, cental locking and power steering. The owner is said to keep the car well maintained, and has had a majority of the work done by well-known specialist Roger Edwards Limited of Amersham Buckinghamshire.
These 6.3-litre models offered class-leading levels of performance in their day and are the true forerunner of the AMG models which we are now familiar with. An exceptional example of a rare and desirable super-saloon.
