Ostensibly, this black Mercedes saloon could not be more traditional, and hardly a ‘classic’. However, underneath the sober lines of the W109-series saloon lies some advanced engineering: quite revolutionary in fact.
In the late 1960s, Mercedes’ designer Paul Bracq joined in the general sense of rebellion by designing the new W108 saloon without 'fins'.
With the 250, 250 SE and 300 SE, the famous Stuttgart company introduced fuel-injection to the mass market.
A little later it added the 300 SEL, ‘L’ for lang denoting a long-wheelbase limousine. The extra 10cm in the wheelbase was not the only change, for this model saw the introduction of air suspension front and rear (the previous ‘fin tail’ estate had air suspension at the rear only). The system is best known in the Tarmac-shredding 300 SEL 6.3.
So different was the long-wheelbase SEL model with air suspension that Mercedes allocated it a new type number: W109. At first, the car ran with a 170bhp straight six. Not the most exciting motor, we’d agree, but more than enough to blow VW Beetles off the Autobahn at 100+mph. A 280 version of that ’six soon followed, with more serious power coming from the 200bhp 3.5-litre V8. A 4.5-litre V8 was also fitted – a rare beast nowadays.
Classic Driver dealer Mirbach let us try this 300 SEL 2.8. It is in quite superb condition. The 200bhp engine was replaced at 80,000km with a genuine Mercedes unit. The seats are still covered with original fabric. Its specification of four electric windows, an electric sunroof, a Becker Mexico radio-cassette player and automatic transmission make it rare and desirable. Costly maintenance such as overhauling the air suspension has already been carried out by a previous owner.
So, comrades, why not join the revolution?
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Text: Sven Jürisch (ClassicDriver.com)
Photos: Jan Richter
