1979 MERCEDES 450SEL 6.9 GREY MARKET EURO SPEC M100 450 SEL RARE SPECIAL CAR !!!

I have decided to sell my 1979 Mercedes Benz 450SEL 6.9 (silver with blue interior). This is a rare car, nd a true euro spec/grey market version. Purchased earlier this year, was planning to fully restore this fine automobile but have unfortunately too many projects right now (6 cars in various levels of restoration). Given I live full time in NYC, he car is taking up precious parking space so it has to go. I will be keeping two other Mercedes cars I have instead (including a descendant of the 6.9: the 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth), s those are further along in restoration. I purchased this car upon following a lead from my mechanic. As background, he original owner was a wealthy real estate investor in NY (specifically in the Hamptons on Long Island, Y) who imported the car to the U.S. when it was new. In the mid 1990's, e sold the car to my mechanic who had known the car from day one, nd confirmed that the car was always babied and had very low mileage. My mechanic sold the car around 2000, nd my mechanic's friend (another mechanic who he has known for a long time, ased in Long Island City, Y) took care of the car for the new owner. However, he new owner could not pay for a large repair bill (full tune up, new exhaust), o a mechanic's lien was put on the car. I bought the car from the mechanic in Long Island City who ended up taking ownership of the car through the mechanic's lien. Both my mechanic and the mechanic in Long Island City were able to confirm the same history and the low miles of the car.

As you probably know if you're reading this posting, his is a very special car. The car has received much praise ever since it was introduced (see review by legendary automotive journalist and racer Brock Yates: http://www.m-100.cc/6point9/brochure/brockyates/index.html). The 6.9 features many unique features such as dry sump lubrication, ydraulic suspension, nd that monster M100 engine. It is a rare model as is, nd given this is a euro car it is even rarer. Euro cars have special features, pecifically higher compression (8.8:1 vs 8.0:1) and more horsepower (286hp vs 250hp) than North American models, s well as different cosmetic features (euro bumpers, loth interiors, tc.). I received a copy of the original data card from the Mercedes Classic Center, nd this car has the following features:

Exterior color code: 735 - astral silver

Interior color code: 902 - blue velour

Option codes:

410 sliding roof

470 anti-lock braking system

502 side view mirror, ight

532 automatic antenna, ithout radio

581 automatic climate control

640 alloy wheels

682 fire extinguisher

812 rear-mounted speakers

877 reading lamp rear

Looking at the option codes, his specific car was prepared for a radio but did not receive one from the factory. At the time, ealerships generally installed stereos, nd this car received the newer version Becker Mexico which had just come out at the time. The fire extinguisher is also a euro spec only option, nd the original mount still remains (extinguisher is not included and long gone). The original owner also paid extra for the automatic climate control, hich was an option on the euro cars but standard on the North American models. Other unique features on this car show that it was babied by the original owner. For instance, he owner had a high end (at the time) radar detector fully integrated in the instrument cluster for a hidden installation (see the knob near the shifter), s well as a shifter lock that literally locks the shifter in place to prevent theft of the car. Even the AAA sticker near the rear license plate is a giveaway that this car was always being looked after.

I have loved every minute of ownership, his car is extremely comfortable but when you step on the gas the car pulls like a freight train. It just seems to NEVER run out of power!! I performed significant service and maintenance to make the car perform well and be reliable. I have kept a list of every part and labor bill during my ownership which will be passed on to the new owner. The car has never let me down and is truly dependable. To the best of my knowledge, ll electrics work great (radio, indows, unroof, oor locks, eater, ights, tc). AC was charged this year and blew cold this summer without an overhaul. The hydraulic suspension works great and provides a comfortable ride without any hydraulicfluid leaks. The suspension also manually raises as it should with the knob in the instrument cluster.Brakes and steering function well without issues. Transmission also shifts smoothly and drives great. Below is the work I had performed: - Replace front tie rods / front wheel alignment

- Transmission service (oil change, il filter)

- Engine service (air filter, il change, il filter, park plugs)

- Charge AC

- Replace water pump with rebuilt unit

- Replace heater hoses

- Replace digiplex ignition box

- Replace ignition coil

- Replace fan sensor (in thermostat hosing)

- Replace fuel filter

- Install battery hold down clamp

- Clear sunroof drains

Below is the list of items included with the car: - 2 new keys (from Mercedes Classic Center) and original wallet key

- Owner's manual (in English) - Original rear deck speaker grilles with Magnat speakers in the original 130mm size

- Original euro spec first aid kit

- Spare instrument cluster housing

- Original jack and rubber trunk cargo liner

Now that the car is running well and is dependable, y next steps were to work on fixing the cosmetic details. I wanted to replace the unsightly rear aftermarket Pioneer speakers with original spec speakers and speaker grilles, hich are included with the car as detailed above. I also wanted to replace the instrument cluster warning light strips (i.e. the warning lights along the bottom of the instrument cluster housing) with more correct ones (the 6.9 had a different version than other models, nd this car had a normal North American spec instrument cluster installed when it was imported), hich are also included with the car. The dashboard also needs either repair or replacement due to cracking, ut the Mercedes Classic Center has these in stock in the correct blue color for a reasonable price. My final step would have been to switch back to euro bumpers to replace the North American ones installed when it was imported. If Buy It Now option is used, will include these bumpers with the car (worth over $1,000 separately), therwise they are not included but can be purchased from me separately.

The car is in great shape for its age and it drives extremely well, ut it is not perfect. Although the mechanicals of the car are in great shape, he body of the car does need work. The paint is faded, nd there is some surface rust at the bottom of the spare tire area (only on the inside of the trunk, ot on the exterior) and some rust on the edges of the wheel wells. There is also one bubble spot of rust at the bottom of the passenger side front fender as can be seen in the pictures. However, he mechanic I bought the car from completed a lot of work to stop the spread of rust, pecifically by undercoating the whole car and by replacing the exhaust with a full stainless steel system.

There are also some odds and ends that need minor work. The car starts on the first turn of the key when cold, ut when hot it needs a few cranks. I have a new fuel accumulator to solve this problem that I will try to install it before the auction ends. Also, he new keys from Mercedes only work in the ignition and glove box (I am trying to re-key the front doors and the trunk before the auction ends, ut only on a best efforts basis so note that the new owner may need to undertake this work if I cannot have it finished in time). These are all the issues that I am aware of.

The car has just under 53k miles, o it is indeed a spring chicken. However, lease note the car has a rebuilt NY title. Evidently, Y State branded the title as rebuilt during the mechanic's lien process due to the fact that the car was a grey market version and NY State did not know what to do with it. This car has NEVER been in an accident or wrecked, his was confirmed to me by both my mechanic and the mechanic in Long Island City, nd collectively they have known the car from new. Prospective buyers are also encouraged to confirm this with a car history check (Carfax, utocheck, tc.), ince no accident history will emerge. I had no problems with title and registration in New York. This car is a fantastic starting point for a full restoration.

I have described the car to the best of my knowledge. Terms of auction are that $500 deposit is due within 24 hours of auction close. Balance is due within 3 days of auction close. No guarantees or warranties are expressed or implied, ar is sold as is where is. Shipping arrangements and costs arethe responsibility of the buyer. LOW RESERVE!! PM me if you are interested in more information or more pictures.