A Guide to Mercedes Benz models of the 70's?

toyotageek · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:36 pm

Anyone know of a comprehensive guide to Mercedes cars of the early 70's? Something like Toyotareference.com? I'm trying to figure out what my parents owned when I was a kid. My dad can't remember. I think it was something like a 1972ish 280 or 300 SE, but I don't know what else was available. I've googled, but get too much to sort through, so I'm hoping there are some dedicated sites (with illustrated guides) that might help. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Cycletech · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:48 pm

Just tell everyone it was a 300SEL 6.3 :wink:

Keep in mind it could have been be a gray market car too. Mercedes were very popular to bring in from Europe back in that time period.

Does he remeber if it was a twin-cam? That may help to narrow it down.

Lukas · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:01 pm

Mercedes-Benz of the 70s are very easy to overlook, there weren´t much versions.

It could have been a W108 (1965 - 1972) or a W116 (1972 - 1980), from what you discribed.

toyotageek · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:24 pm

Nah, my dad doesn't recall. All he seems to remember is that it was a 'long' version. But he has a way of stretching the truth & reality! :lol:

It was my mom's car, my dad drove demos since he worked at a car dealer.

What I do remember about the car the the front end and the headlights lights (twin, vertically arranged circular lights, and fog lights on the bumper) & grill, which looked like the W108, Lukas. I know it was a 4 door, and a nice dark blue color. We bought it around 72/73 (maybe earlier - prior to that we had a 65 Thunderbird) and had it till about the early 80's when my dad switched from working at VW to Toyota.

Lukas · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:48 pm

From your describtion, it must have been a W108, no doubt!

The vertical twin-headlights were for the export-versions and the top-of-the-range only, but many owners here retrofitted them because the 300 SEL 6.3 had them too, so the 280S looked like the top-version. :lol:

The US-versions with long wheelbase were the 280 SEL 4.5 with steel-springs and the 300 SEL 4.5 with air-suspension.

toyotageek · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:56 pm

Yep, that is definately the 'look' I remember.

Where there any major external differences between the 280 SEL 4.5 and the 300 SEL 4.5? Do you know the overall length of the short wheelbase vs the long wheelbase? (then I could figure out what might have fit in our garage) :roll:

The only reason I'm trying to sort this out is I would like to find the car in miniature. I'm looking to make a collection of cars we have owned in 1/43 or smaller scale.

Stationwagonguy · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 5:15 pm

Nice. A friend of mine just inherited a minty-looking gold '72 280SE 4.5 sedan, W108. Sadly it was last driven in 1985 and the repair list is miles long (And more than it's worth...).

Neat cars, though.

A Guide to Mercedes Benz models of the 70's?

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