Mercedes 300SEL 6.3 | FerrariChat

Mercedes 300SEL 6.3

Discussion in 'Other German' started by donv, Jul 7, 2020.

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  1. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    New addition... I bought this car on BaT last week with a partner. The interior is a time capsule! Just amazing. Runs and shifts great as well-- we drove it back to Portland from the Canadian border last week and put more miles on it in the process than it had in the last 20 years.

    Today I took it to my vintage Mercedes guy to take care of a few minor things-- he drove it and said it drove exactly like a brand new 6.3, which is sort of amazing...

    Looks nice next to my 3.5 Coupe. They aren't quite the same color-- Coupe is Tunis Beige, while 6.3 is Sand Beige.


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  2. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Does this model have the air shocks?

    Nice looking, BTW.


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  3. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Yes, it does-- and it is fantastic. It glides over small bumps and yet has no floaty feel at all. It's very well controlled and firm. The small bumps and road harshness are just not there.

    We'll see if the maintenance horror stories are true. My very experienced 6.3/600 mechanic says they are not. This car needed one valve rebuilt after sitting for almost 20 years, and the rest of it functions just fine. I think they rebuilt another valve around 1992.

    The BaT ad shows the interior, which is just stunning. The back seat looks like no one has ever sat back there, and the whole interior presents as almost new. My mechanic looked at it and said "obviously the seats have been redyed" and then he looked closer and said "wait a minute, there is no dye on the stitching... these seats haven't been redyed!"

    https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1969-mercedes-benz-300sel-6-3-9/
     
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  4. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    It does need new tires, though... I'm thinking XWXs, although I have Vredestein Sprint Classics on the Coupe, and they are a fine tire. XWX isn't that much more, and I think would be better with the more sporting nature of the 6.3.
     
  5. Patek

    Patek Formula 3

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    That is a great car to have. So glad you got it.
     
  6. max930

    max930 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Great car, congrats..........................
     
  7. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Thanks! Car was in your area for at least 30 years. Most of that time, tucked away in a garage surrounded by stuff.
     
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  8. Cotton

    Cotton Formula Junior
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    Very nice. I have a couple of 6.9s and want to add a 6.3 at some point.
     
  9. max930

    max930 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    I have the dealer's website bookmarked. The newest Mercedes I want is another 1991 500SL. I had my mothers, but gave it to my brother. He sold it. Shouldn't have given it to him...........................
     
  10. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
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    Very nice.

    Although the coupe is gorgeous!

    Matt
     
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  11. pilotoCS

    pilotoCS F1 World Champ
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    Be sure to replace the fuel filter frequently. You have to remove the battery to get to it on the 6.3
     
  12. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    They have another 6.3, probably waiting for better market conditions. My car was part of a 2-car purchase they did from the same garage, both 6.3s.
     
  13. Cotton

    Cotton Formula Junior
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    What color combo is the other 6.3 they have?
     
  14. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    I know the exterior is silver, but that's all I know about it. Pulled from the same garage.
     
  15. Cotton

    Cotton Formula Junior
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    Thanks, I’d love a silver one if it’s in similar condition to the one you purchased. Would you mind passing along the shops information?
     
  16. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    http://silverarrowcars.com
     
  17. Cotton

    Cotton Formula Junior
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    Thank you, I’ll check in with them.
     
  18. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    I would be interested in hearing what you find out, and if you go further, what the car is like.
     
  19. ralfabco

    ralfabco Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Don,

    Congratulations. That is a real Mercedes and it has a cult following.

    Best saloon from that era.
     
  20. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Thanks! I agree.
     
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  21. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    This is the car which was pulled out of the same garage as my 6.3:

    https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1971-mercedes-benz-300sel-6-3-9/

    I have to say, I really love the 6.3. And mine just keeps turning out to be better than we expected. It hasn't been cheap, and has had some issues as we've gotten her going again, but overall it has just been a fantastic car. I really want to do a drive together with my 365GT... the two are remarkably comparable. Both had a claim to being the fastest four door (6.3) and four seat (365GT) cars in the world at the time. I think the 6.3 might actually beat the 365GT off the line, but I think about 100 mph, the 365GT would take the lead and never look back. It would be fun to try.
     
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  22. 95spiderman

    95spiderman F1 World Champ
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    awesome car. friends father had one new back in the day and ive always liked it since. best mb sedan of all time
     
  23. GordonC

    GordonC F1 Rookie
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    Don, just spotted this thread - congrats on the great 6.3 find! That brings back a lot of memories; my dad had a 1972 300 SEL 4.5 in the same colours, Sand Beige over natural interior - identical car but for the engine (but of course the bigger 6.3 had much more character). Dad was a small town doctor in Manitoba, drove it year round for 8 years. When he wanted to trade it in the Mercedes dealer offered him $5K, and even though I was still in university I said "Hell, I'LL give your $5K for it". I drove it for 4 years, then had the body restored.

    When I went to sell it the following year, I'd tell people about the body restoration and repaint, and they'd all ask "And when did you have the interior restored?" but it was all original, never touched - looked like new after 12 years and 125,000 miles. I sold it in 1984 for $11K, so about broke even on it for my purchase price, running costs and restoration costs. It was an incredible car, I'd love to drive one again.

    Cheers,
    Gordon
     
  24. BMWairhead

    BMWairhead Formula 3

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    Don, who is your vintage M-B guy? ...and, what does he work on? Mid-80s 190 Cosworth? There's a 190 guy in Vancouver, WA...but, alternatives are always good to know about.
     
  25. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Mike Burback at Burback Motors. He does pretty much all Mercedes from the early 1950s cars through 2000s, although I think his sweet spot is 1965-1985 or so-- and he services quite a few 600s and 6.3s. He also does a few other German cars (I took my 75 911S to him for it's annual service this year), and he has a nice collection of American cars from the 1930s and 40s, so he's very good on that sort of thing as well.

    He does like to fix things correctly, so be aware of that. In other words, he prefers not to take the cheapo way out, but rather to do it right, with quality parts, and commensurate costs. There are other guys in town who are cheaper, but I would argue none better.
     

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