1972 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3

Impressive enough for the king of cool, the Mr Steve McQueen owned a black Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL sedan himself. This was presumably because the 6.3 had the ability to accelerate to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds and cruise at over 200 km/h (124 mph) with five occupants in complete comfort.

The car started out as a private venture in 1966 by company engineer Erich Waxenberger. His principle was simple: take the powerful 6.3 litre Mercedes-Benz M100 V8 from the massive 600 saloon and limousine, and fit it into the engine bay of the top-end 6-cylinder 300 SEL W109 model. The result was an impressive level of performance for the era and for the style of automobile. The company turned the prototype into a production model, introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1968.

Inside you can expect timeless elegance with extremely comfortable seats with headrests and a stunning handcrafted wood-trimmed Zebrano dash that houses a vintage Becker Mexico cassette stereo, along with the gorgeous period VDO instrumentation and an analogue clock. Ahead of their time, they were fitted with hydraulic adjustable suspension, electric sunroof and side windows, power steering, air-conditioning and central locking.

Entering Australia in the month of October 1972, this W109 has been specified in the perfect colour combination of Deep Blue over Dover Grey leather interior.

A true driver’s car to be driven and not hidden, both the exterior and interior present with an authentic patina consistent with the age of the restoration work carried out over its life. The attention to detail and quality of materials used, including long-lasting leather and genuine polished wood is a credit to its previous owners and an asset for the next. Opening the engine lid is always a special moment as you find a very pronounced German-built V8 with refined pipping, bracketry and components. Clean and crisp, the motor presents superbly.

Forever a collectable and so perfectly usable for weekend getaways with the luxuries of sunroof, electric windows and air-conditioning, this beautiful 6.3 litre V8 SEL is one for the savvy collector.

A rare opportunity to own one of the best W109’s in Australia, this example is beautifully prepped to escape the mundane with today.