All Entries Tagged With: "w109"
YouTube: W108/W109 S-Class Photo-Montage Set To Jazz
By Gunnar Heinrich | YouTube
AS we wind the work day to a close here on the east coast, a soothing review of Stuttgart’s past is in order.
This video TRT: 07:49 is a photo montage of the W108/W109 Mercedes-Benz Sonderklasse from the 70s (remember, the W109 refers to 300SEL only).
A mixture of jpegs from the web, period film screenshots, and company archival footage all featuring 280SE and 300SELs; what’s noteworthy about this video is that it’s set to classic jazz rhythms of Stan Getz and the Oscar Peterson Trio.
A good effort by the YouTube poster. And a slick way to unwind.
eBay Watch: 1972 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 4.5
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG eBay
PARTIALLY, but professionally restored with fresh Mercedes-Benz 728H beige grey paint and refinished walnut paneling: a 1972 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 4.5.
Carefully considered listing with all original literature and some service records. Exhaust was replaced with stainless steel system for longevity.
Original pneumatic shocks said to be in full working order with the seller acknowledging:
Most 300SEL’s have worn out air valves and air bellows. Trouble with the air suspension will cost quite a bit of money. It is uncommon to find a car such as this that has been well maintained and all air suspension components replaced.
More than 140K miles traveled, though the seller states that the odometer reads only 42K. A buyer might check VIN with MBUSA as an additional source.
Eight bids have the price at posting @ $5,000 with three days to go and the reserve yet to be met. Based near Portland, Oregon, this W109 Benz sedan cuts a handsome figure, indeed. Aficionados will note that it lacks the mighty 6.3 designation with big-bloc m100 V8.
The trade off? An apparently cared for vintage Benz of seeming quality that will sell for less. Tremendously enticing, though as always, caveat emptor.
S-Class Generations
Left to right; present to past: W221 (blue) 2006-present | W220 (silver) 1999-2006 | W140 (silver) 1991-1999 | W126 (grey) 1979-1991 | W116 (tan) 1972-1979 | W108/W109 (silver) 1965-1972 | W111 (silver) 1959-1967 | W180/W128 (green) 1955-1961
By Gunnar Heinrich
MERCEDES only started calling the half-century lineup of luxury sedans pictured above the “S-Class” sometime during the tan car’s 70s generation (W116). Still, one can see a mostly evolutionary trend that’s disrupted every third generation or so by a revolution in design that reshapes the line’s form drastically from its forebears.
The S-Class generations can be paired in many respects by virtue of their genetic sculptural similarities. For instance, there’s a strong visual link between the W221 and the W140 in both physical presence and fascia styling cues. Similarly the W111 and W108/W109 are very close aesthetically and proportionally.
The W126 connects the 70s to the 90s as it has as much in common with its successor, the W140 as it does its predecessor, the W116. Interestingly, the W220 with its more silken form does seem to echo some of the leaner proportional characteristics of the W126.
Dynamic best describes the long history of the world’s greatest luxury car.
