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Sometimes iconic vehicles begin as something no more than one persons seemingly ludicrous dream, pushed through by after-hours working and a stroke of brilliance. In the case of the Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3, its creation resembles something like that. With humble beginnings from 1966 starting as a private project of Erich Waxenberger, a Mercedes-Benz engineer, he wanted to have the hugely powerful 6.3-liter engine (M100 V8) inside of a more pedestrian-looking Mercedes. With the V8 powering the extremely-large 600 sedan and limousine, it had horsepower and torque to spare in the subject that Erich chose: a 300SEL W109. What transpired was the creation of one of Mercedes-Benzs best performance sedans: the 300SEL 6.3. Waxenberger, as the story goes, invited Mercedes-Benzs chief engineer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, to drive his creation. Impressed by driving dynamics and power of the car, Rudolf opened the hood at the first streetlight to figure out how big the engine was and how all of the supporting equipment was squeezed into the engine bay. Shortly afterwards, Mercedes-Benz pushed it into production. The factory German muscle car with four doors was displayed proudly at the 1968 Geneva Motor Show, helping enhance Mercedes-Benzs image for performance vehicles (having lacked any major sports-oriented vehicles since the 300SL). Its 6.3-liter mechanical fuel injection engine produced 250 horsepower and 369lb-ft of torque, which in 1969 was pavement ripping. The 300SEL 6.3 boasted a host of technological wizardry onboard that set it apart from many vehicles of its time. Standard features included air suspension, ventilated 4-wheel power disc brakes, power windows, central locking and power steering. With a subtle exterior, only those in the know knew what lurked underneath that sloping front hood and what the seemingly-pedestrian 4-door sedan was capable of. With more power and torque than many performance cars of its era, it was a threat at any stoplight and any long stretch of road. This 1969 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3s story begins with Dan Smith, a Mercedes-Benz enthusiast who in 1990 was seeking the best 300SEL 6.3 in the world. He acquired this Mercedes and employed marque expert MBI Motor of Portland, Oregon to completely restore the car to the highest level, no matter the cost. Taking several years, many new-old-stock (NOS) parts were used that many of which are now unavailable today. The original engine was rebuilt and was upgraded tastefully for maximum performance. Using 10:1 compressions pistons, port-matched and angle-cut cylinder heads, AMG camshafts, and custom exhaust headers, increasing rear-wheel horsepower substantially. The transmission and rear axle were rebuilt; the front suspension and steering box were replaced; and 15 wheels were fitted (the original steel wheels and hubcaps are included). The body was stripped and repainted for a show-quality finish. New glass, seals, and wood were installed, and the leather interior was re-trimmed. The 6.3 was purchased by a son for his fathers birthday in 2013. Used sparingly in the span of 4 years, the most recent owner, a well-known and one of the foremost car collectors in the world, purchased the car in 2017. He immediately brought the car to Canepa to be inspected and serviced to ensure that every system was in perfect working order. A substantial amount of work was performed over the course of 3 months including: new brake rotors and brake pads, fluids change, engine tune up, air conditioning sy
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Location: Scotts Valley, CA, United States
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