Stacked: ’70 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 3.5
The Mercedes-Benz W108 and W109 was styled by noted automobile designer Paul Bracq (Pagoda SL too). They were built in Stuttgart in what was then West Germany, from 1965 until 1972. These elegant sedans were the last Mercedes-Benz to have stacked headlamps. The W109 designation was reserved for the 300 Series, home of the notorious 6.3 Banker’s Hot Rod. But there were lesser variants that still warrant your attention. What we have here is a European Specification, 300SEL 3.5 with air-suspension. We didn’t get a version of this until ’71 and they were few and far between. The 3.5 was fuel injected and produced a sufficient 200hp. The interiors of the W109 were elegant and the condition of today’s find looks quite good. There’s plenty of leather and wood, trademark huge steering wheel and generous room for 5. The exterior was treated to a bare metal respray in the original color. The mechanical bits have not been ignored. The air suspension bladders were replaced and the system works well. The automatic transmission has also been serviced. Same for the braking system. It sounds like a car you can get in and enjoy. Mind you, it was originally delivered to Switzerland where Air-Conditioning was not a requirement. Definitely something to consider if this was to be your daily driver. But if it is a ocassional, fair weather car, we wouldn’t let that stand in the way. It is a beauty. Click here for the listing.
The other option not shown is whether it has a floor shift or column. Along with a sunroof this is what will make a W108 car more appealing to more people.
In one of the Q & A’s of the auction it is mentioned that “any rust was ‘dressed’ during the restoration”. I wonder what “dressing the rust” means?
I read that too however he reiterated that there wasn’t any.
Too bad there is no sunroof. That is a deal breaker for me. Nice car.