Description
7th Dec, 2024 10:00
The December 2024 Auction
1978 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL
Attractive and imposing 1970s super saloon
Estimate
£6, 500 - £7, 500
Buyer's premium: 15. 00%
Lot details
Registration: DLL 66T
Chassis: the details below
Odometer: 178, 044
Transmission: Automatic
MOT: October 2025
Impressive looking example of Mercedes’ 1970s flagship saloon
Low owners
Recently serviced at a cost of £455. 92 (invoice on file)
We are very pleased to bring to market this imposing Mercedes 450 SEL. Finished in Astral Silver with a contrasting dark blue leather interior, it looks very smart, and really needs to be seen to be appreciated. It appears to be the correct factory specification and the exterior is also complemented with the attractive Mexican Hat alloys shod with matching Falcon tyres.
The car presents well overall. There is bubbling on both rear doors by the door mouldings, a mark on the NSR arch, and there are some marks on the roof but other than that the SL looks great. The interior is a lovely place to be with lashings of leather and veneer. There is some wear on the driver’s seat bolster as to be expected given the age of the car and mileage, and some of the veneer is missing on the centre console. The warning triangle is still present in the boot.
There are some bills on file plus a stamped service book, the majority of stamps being from Mercedes Benz dealers.
The 450 SE was named the European Car of the Year in 1974, even though the W116 range was first introduced at the Paris Motor Show in the Winter of 1972. The W116 range became the first production car to use an electronic four-wheel multi-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS) from Bosch as an option from 1978 on. Production totalled 473, 035 units. The W116 was succeeded by the W126 S-Class in 1979. The W116 was sold throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia.
This is a rare car and if you are a serious fan or collector of Mercedes-Benz cars, you have to have one of these in your garage. Remember this was the pinnacle of wealth to have one of these back in the day and here is the chance to get a good example at a sensible reserve price.
PLEASE NOTE: The HPI report is showing that the original colour was red, although there is no evidence of this and the original maintenance booklet shows the paint code as 735 - Astral Silver.
