1974 Mercedes 450sel - Ultra-rare Color, All-original, Drive Anywhere!! on 2040-cars

1974

Mercedes 450 SEL

Very Rare Factory Color

All-Original In and Out

VIN: 11603312021803

Here’s another rare, great-running & driving Mercedes we’ve acquired recently for our Ebay customers.  This nice W116 Series car sold new at Bellingham’s Wilson Imports Mercedes Benz on December 23, 1974 and has spent its entire life driving our salt-free Pacific Northwest roads.  From the moment I first laid eyes on this spotless sedan, it was obvious that it’s received the utmost respect and care over the years.  There aren’t many left out there in this condition and brings to mind the old saying in the collector world: “Any car can be restored, given enough time & money, but it can only be factory original once!”  Reluctantly, it was turned over to us two weeks ago by only its second caretaker for resale.  I’ve got to tell you, having driven it virtually every day since, what a treat!  Where else will you find this kind of luxury, vintage style, safety, mechanical reliability AND decent economy wrapped up in one gorgeous ride?  Please feel free to contact me with questions or to make an offer.  My name is Mark Thompson and my direct phone number is 206/914-1173.  You’re encouraged to make an appointment to inspect and drive this outstanding car here at my Auburn warehouse facility. 

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION

Ever driven one of these Mercedes with the powerful 4.5 liter engine?  Smooth is the word for sure.  Smooth powerful acceleration.  Smooth handling in the curves or on the highway, too.  I’ve always considered these W116 chassis sedans constructed during the mid-70’s as some of the last hand-built, truly high-quality Benz and have heard many others say the same thing!  Take a look at the photos and I know you’ll agree with me what a great find this is.  What you see is the result of a wash and vacuum only.  It’s obviously been garaged from day one resulting in overall condition that’s superior to ANY other original 450SEL you will find!  Climb over, under and throughout and I know you’ll come up smiling!  Rust?  Please, this Benz hates rust and you WON’T find a thing to worry about here.  Yes, the Puget Sound area is famous for rain, but our winter roads are never salted.  We only have one or two days of light snow each year.  Everyone panics and stays home.  Climb over, under and all around this car - I know you’ll come up smiling!! 

Having personally owned more than twenty Mercedes over the years, I’ve developed a great appreciation for their style, mechanical reliability and overall driving experience.  THIS CAR RUNS OUT JUST AS IT WAS MEANT TO. I TRULY HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A VINTAGE BENZ THAT I’VE LIKED BETTER!!  I know you’ll be proud to own and drive it as well.

CONDITION:

In total, this is a clean, well-cared-for, smoke-free car.  I take great pride in the vehicles we sell and feel that you should know as much about it as possible.  Accordingly here is a list of what I’ve discovered: Hop in and turn the key, even when starting cold, and the powerful 4.5 liter V-8 engine fires right up every time!  The car idles, runs and drives like a Mercedes is supposed to – instant, strong oil pressure, good battery and charging system, no overheating, no brake pull to either side or alignment issues!   The automatic transmission shifts smoothly between all gears, just as it should, with NO slippage.  I’ve now put on almost 400 miles over the past few days including freeway cruising at 65 MPH for several hours at a time.  The ultra-rare lime-green metallic paint appears factory original to me and, with the exception of a few small rock chips, is virtually flawless; no thin spots or peeling clearcoat anywhere!  I’ve not come across any evidence of accidents or body repair.  Spotless chrome and exterior trim all around, too!  Look at any other Mercedes and almost all will have cloudy, oxidized aluminum trim.  Every piece on this car is almost showroom condition, the best I’ve yet encountered.  The front fenders, doors, rear quarters and floor pans are all solid; in fact the entire undercarriage is about the best you’ll find on any 40 year-old car!  The factory wheels are straight and true. They’re wrapped with 205/70R14 Michelin MXV4 radials with at least 75-80% tread remaining.  Take another good look at the interior shots.  Hop in and feel comfortable sitting on these firm buckets for hours as the springs have held up far better than most.   There’s only marginal wear on passenger front bucket, but you will find a few splits and a wear-thru spot on the driver’s side backrest.  The rear bench hasn’t suffered the fate of most other W116 cars and still has great underlayment and near perfect upholstery on both the base and back rest.  You’ll love the very large sunroof!  Open it year-round and it’s almost like driving a convertible.  The heater/defroster system blows warm & cold just fine.  I haven’t attempted to see what the A/C would need to be functional, though it looks like it’s all there.  Both the speedo and mileage counter work perfectly, but I don’t have any way to know if the mileage showing is actual.  There’s no evidence of any water leakage ever on the headliner or factory carpets.

It’s a mystery why Daimler has always had difficulty coming up with a quality, long-lasting German stereo for any of their cars.  Even modern Mercedes seem to always have poor radios so it’s not surprising that the former owner changed out the original Becker stereo for a nice Panasonic CD model some time ago.  The jack, spare and original tools are in the trunk as shown in the photo.

I’m always very happy to work with any shipper you choose, but you’re also welcome to do what many of my previous buyers from as far away as Alaska, Arizona, the Midwest, Canada, Florida, New York and even the Mexican Baja have done – fly in here to Seattle (We’ll pick you up at Sea-Tac International just a few miles away) and then start a road trip home the same day!  As a respected Ebay seller with many, many satisfied online buyers, I want you to bid with confidence knowing that this Benz runs and drives as it should AND that it is being properly represented to you!  Please don’t be upset if I miss a minor flaw or some small issue comes up on the car as NO used vehicle is perfect.  Having said that, I won’t hesitate to drive long distance in this Mercedes today!

Please check the photos over closely and call me with any questions BEFORE you place a bid!  You’re encouraged to stop by, inspect the car at my Auburn, WA warehouse and take it for a test drive.  As always, it is being sold “as-is, where-is” with a clean, free & clear Washington State title.  Because of the amount of money involved with a vehicle purchase, I reserve the right to cancel your bid if you have any negative feedback.  I also ask that potential bidders with a feedback rating of five or fewer transactions on Ebay contact me before placing their bid.  Please feel free to contact me directly through Ebay’s system or, as outlined above, call me at 206/914-1173 anytime.  My name is MARK THOMPSON.

A Few Additional Terms and Conditions: 

A nonrefundable $500 deposit is due within 48 hours of the auction’s end.  We can accept PAYPAL, but only for the deposit amount because of the high fees they charge.  The balance is due by cash or certified funds within seven business days unless prior arrangements have been made with me.   Please remember you are bidding to buy and I fully expect the winning bidder to fulfill their Ebay contract!  You’re not bidding to hold or then come inspect and test-drive the vehicle later -- You’re more than welcome to do this before the auction ends.