1979 Mercedes-Benz 450 Series

The 1979 Mercedes-Benz 450 Series was available as the 450SEL 4-door sedan and 450SLC 2-door coupe. The base engine was a 90-degree overhead-cam V8 that gave 180 horsepower. A 6.9-liter version was available offering 250 horsepower. An automatic was standard.

The 450SEL sold for $32,860, while the 2-door 450SLC Coupe retailed for $36,515.

Mercedes-Benz introduced the 450 Series at the Geneva Auto Show in 1974, and produced it between 1975 and 1981 in very limited quantities. The vehicle was the flagship in the marque's lineup. The 6.9 was among the first vehicles ever produced with optional electronically controlled anti-lock brakes, first introduced by Mercedes-Benz and Bosch in 1978.

The 6.9 came equipped with hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension which had been introduced by Citroen in 1954. They were also fitted with rubber emergency dampers that served as temporary springs and allowed the car to be driven in the event of a hydraulic failure. The ride height could be altered by a dash-mounted push-pull knob under the speedometer that raised the car an additional two inches for increased ground clearance.

by Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2011