It’s been a minute since we’ve had a W116 on CC, Though we’ve had a number of posts about them. I figured it would be just a perfect fit to illustrate the ‘70s in my little Teutonic Viertüriger Woche – albeit a tight fit, because it’s quite the barge, for a European car. There’s just no better Benz to fill this role.
I wrote up a W116 a few years back – a 280 S gliding in Bangkok traffic, which I managed to catch while riding on a motorbike taxi. There’s no substitute for finding a car standing still, though. This one was stashed away in a curious little parking lot used solely by one of Tokyo’s Mercedes-Benz dealerships that also caters to the classic crowd. For all I know, that car was sold there originally 45 years ago.
Japanese-market Mercedes-Benzes, in those days, were a curious blend of Euro and US specs. Japan mirrored American emissions control regulations (albeit a bit less stringently) and switched to catalytic converters and unleaded fuel by 1978, so the 4520cc OHC V8 hiding behind this august grille was only good for 190hp, whereas the same engine was rated at 225PS in its native land.
On the other hand, the Japanese version has the “normal” W116 face – none of those horrid 5mph rubber underbites or tacked-on sealed beams on this big beautiful Benz. Was there a ‘70s luxury saloon more ungraciously defaced by federal busybodyism than this one?
While we’re on looks, let’s ponder about the W116’s paternity. The name most cited as this car’s creator is Friedrich Geiger, long-time head of Daimler-Benz design and credited with the Fintail, the 300 SL and even, according to some, the Pagoda. The W116 was the last big Benz saloon Geiger oversaw (he retired in 1973), so naturally his successor Bruno Sacco was very involved in the design, but more names are often mentioned when discussing this car. Paul Bracq left Stuttgart in 1967, during the W116’s gestation, but left his imprint on the its overall shape. Another Frenchman, Gérard Cardiet, was one of the new hires who did the actual drafting and modelling after Bracq left. And we might add Barényi to the list, too. Success has many fathers.
I’ve been trying to identify the colour sported by this beautiful Benz, going through colour charts are Google Image searches. It could be Cypress Green, or maybe it’s an Olive Green, but clearly not Forest Green. The amount of available hues on the W116 is pretty uncanny, compared to the S-Classes of the present century.
Again, we see an odd mix of US with a dash of local weirdness. The fancy-shmancy climate control, as far as I know, was not seen in EU-spec W116s. I’m not sure if the cloth and MB-tex (in resplendently period-perfect khaki) was used often on the 450 SE anyplace – leather would have been pretty high on the options list for most clients, except in Japan.
And for the dash of local colour, we have the inevitable seat doilies. An extra 10cm of legroom was available (for a hefty premium) on the SEL, but the “small” wheelbase seen here doesn’t seem to shortchange its rear occupants.
When Daimler-Benz finally halted W116 production in the summer of 1980, the singular S-Class saloon (it never had an official 2-door, limo or wagon variant, unlike most Mercedes products) had managed to tally up over 470k sales in eight model years. The majority of those were 6-cyl.-powered 280s, as one might expect. The 450 SE convinced 41,000 people, but more (just under 60k) opted for the SEL instead.
It’s interesting how Mercedes divvied up the global market with the W116 versions. America got a 5-cyl. Diesel that neither Europe nor the Asia-Pacific region ever heard of, and I’m sure it was plenty loud. Europe, for its part, had access to the 350 SE/SEL, featuring the V8 used in the W111/W109, that did not cross the Pond. Everywhere, though, the outrageously expensive 6.9 litre version was the real top of the range for commoners (potentates and rock stars could get a 600 limo). But the swankiest S-Class you would actually see in the street, and reigning supreme on the Autobahn, was the 450 SE/SEL. Let us bow in respect.
Related posts:
Curbside Classic: 1973 Mercedes 450 SE – Hello Darlin’; It’s Nice To See You, by Jason Shafer
Curbside Classic: 1977 Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9 – Plenty Of Power But None For The Seats, by PN
Junkyard Classic: 1979 Mercedes 280SE – Across An Ocean, Up A Mile, And Forty Years Of Stories, by Jim Klein
In-Motion Classic: 1974 Mercedes-Benz 280 S (W116) – Drive-By CC Effect, by T87
CC Capsule: 1978 Mercedes-Benz 300 SD Turbodiesel – A Curbside Classic for the Thrifty, by Jim Grey
Vintage Review: 1975 Mercedes 280S – “Strictly An Energy Crisis Car”, by PN
Vintage R&T New Car Intro: Mercedes 450SEL 6.9 – The World’s Best Sedan Is Now The Fastest, by PN
COAL: 1978 Mercedes Benz 450SEL – Grey Market Special, by Importamation
eBay Find: 1973 Mercedes 450SE Custom Estate – A “What If” Come To Life, by Perry Shoar
Design History: Broughamtastic Benzes, by Don Andreina
CC Outtake: 500000km M-B W116 6.9 – This Is How You Do It, by Don Andreina
T H A T is the car I have in mind when they say “Mercedes-Benz”.
While W116s aren’t extinct by any means, what is extinct is seeing them in this kind of condition, a faded/peeling copper colored example with copious brake dusting on the front wheels seems to be the more common sighting.
And the later post-facelift W126 wheels really work on this, along with the flush non-US lighting and bumpers serve to tauten (is that a word?) the whole thing up, I would not have thought those wheels had an offset that would work as well.
Yes, this is certainly the car that for me embodies all the good and powerful traits in regard to what a Mercedes-Benz is and should be and has far more “presence” than almost any other built since the 1980s, even (especially?) other S-Classes. It’s one of the few 1970s era cars that I would very happily think nothing of taking on a long run across Europe, or the US for that matter, as long as someone else is footing the fuel bill.
I’ve recently discovered that these have a sort of second A-pillar, or rather an attached lazy-S-shaped trim piece that covers the actual A-pillar – it is chrome rimmed and the body of it is in body color, without close examination it doesn’t stand out at all. Here it’s most visible in the fourth picture from top if enlarged, I can’t quite figure the point of it beyond perhaps aero or noise reasons?
” I can’t quite figure the point of it beyond perhaps aero or noise reasons?”
As I red somewhere – don’t remember where and when – these parts seved as wind deflectors to protect the side glazing from water spatter. Thus, to give unhindred view to the side-view mirrors even under heavy weather conditions.
“seved” = served
btw: May I propose to bring in an amendment tool for 15 minutes or so ?
Ah, that makes sense, it’s a wonderfully crafted piece that represents quite a bit of extra effort and likely cost what with the multiple chrome bits and then body colored insert and not something I’ve seen elsewhere. It’s very subtle and well-done but once seen in person hard to unsee.
The door window frames are also special. With a chrome trimmed upholstered piece that adds privacy without hurting driver sightlines. Pre-Lexus Mercedes-Benz had so many “over-engineered” niceties.
For safety as much as privacy in pre side airbag days.
I’m almost 100% certain that US market 450s got standard leather, but I suspect a velour could be ordered. That fabric was not seen on any US-bound 116s. The cheaper versions had MB-Tex as standard; leather optional.
I checked out a 6.9 in a showroom when it arrived, and it had the velour upholstery. Really beautiful and high quality stuff.
The rear seat on the swb versions was just ok (from personal experience, but then I’m tall). It would be fine for an owner that mostly just drove himself and one passenger. But for any kind of executive/chauffeur use, the lwb made a substantial difference.
For me, visually in profile, the swb version looks a bit too short, and the lwb version a bit too long and obviously lengthened in the rear doors.
The cloth upholstery to be seen in the featured car was standard in Euro versions in the late 70s. Early cars had cloth with vinyl on the flanks, if memory serves well.
Exceptional design. This is for me the most beautiful MB sedan ever built. I prefer the SWB. Tatra, you say you’re sure that the diesel version was pretty loud. It sounded exactly the same as a 123 turbo diesel. I remember seeing several back in the day, when Uruguay was a diesel paradise and diplomats would import tax-free Mercedes Diesels and sell them at a huge premium after 3 years. A friend’s dad had a 280S in that color (interior in MBTEX), and it’s really nice.
This car is in such perfect condition, like a museum piece.
Yep, that’s what I (used to) think of as ‘Mercedes-Benz’, too.
It was almost a car from another planet way back then – and priced accordingly!
Their five-pot Diesels were a lot less horribly clattery than their fours, but really the car deserves the six or bent-eight.
Ah ;
The mighty W116 .
That nifty HVAC was Chrysler’s “Air Temp II” under license, M-B called it “KLIMA I” and when it was working indeed it was a thing but it’ was over engineered like so many Chrysler products and as it aged out it was mind bending & hair pulling to made it work properly .
Those seats are the standard European ones, the A.U.A. models came standard with MB-TEX , leather was an upgrade and I’m still having arguments with junkyard apes who want to insist it’s _LEATHER_ dammit and so twice the price =8-^ .
Yes, they sold 5 cylinder turbocharged Diesel W116’s in Europe, that’s where you’d get your turbo to Hot Rod your then new W123 5 cylinder U.S.A. spec. Diesel …….
No E.G.R. valves either making the paired intake & exhaust manifolds & heat shields a hot junkyard item for North American drivers who were DieselHeads .
They were not loud when new, after the deep foam padding under the hood crumbled you could hear the valve and compression ignition clattering away but not overly noisy by anyone’s standards .
More than a few European versions with the M116 D.O.H.C. inline 6 cylinder were gray marketed to the U.S.A., M-B N.A. hated this because they’d get Americans who wanted the local M-B Dealers to do free warranty repairs .
I doubt this left hand drive model was sold new in Japan .
-Nate