1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL

Both the W108 and W109 were in production from 1965 through 1972, and 1973 in North America only. The W108 was an updated version of the predecessor W111 and the W109 replaced the W112. During the production lifespan, a total of 383,361 examples were manufactured.

The differences between the W108 and W109 were initially reserved to the wheelbase lengths, with the W108 represented the 'standard' length while the W109 was for the longer platform. This distinction changed for the 1968 model year with the introduction of 280 SEL that retained W108, rather than W109, chassis designation.

The W108 Mercedes-Benz, the forerunner to the S-Class, was introduced in 1964, devoid of the distinctive fins of its predecessor, the 'Fintail' (W111), resulting in a more sophisticated and smoother overall appearance. Power was initially sourced from six-cylinder engines, and the model designations were 250S, 250SE, or 300SE, with the numbers relating to engine size displacement, and the 'E' representing fuel injection. These models, only available with steel suspension, were offered alongside the long-wheelbase (LWB) SEL models with the option of air suspension. These LWB versions were lavishly appointed, had chrome window frames on the four doors, chrome sill treads, leather upholstery, electric windows, wool velour carpet, and in a few cars, Burr Walnut veneers. They formed a model series in their own right, with the designation W 109.

A V8 engine became available in 1970, initially a 3.5-liter unit, and nearly nine and a half thousand of these large saloons were built, in true Teutonic style, as the W109 300SEL 3.5.

The W109 used the larger 3-liter six-cylinder inline engine, except for the standard wheelbase 300 SEb of 1965 and 1967, which was designated as W108. The 250 S/SE and 280 S/SE/SEL used the smaller inline six-cylinder engines and W108 designations. The W109 eventually received a V8 engine in 1967 and the W108 followed in 1970.

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 was an opulent full-sized sedan that was in production from 1968 through 1972. The 6.3-liter overhead-camshaft V8 was installed into the long-wheelbase version of the 600 limousines, and fitted with a refined air suspension system and an automatic transmission. It offered luxury, practicality, and muscle car performance.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2018