Mercedes-Benz 300SEL

During the late 1960's Mercedes managed to mislay its logical model designation numbers due to its confusing size-range and engine choice. One such example was the 300SEL 3.5. Normally Mercedes would have named this model "350SEL" (because of its approximate engine size, 3.5 = 350), but instead chose to highlight the engine size separately.

The bodyshell was visually similar to that of the 280SE but was in fact 4 inches longer. The other difference was of course the addition of a 3.5 litre V8 engine. The V8 made this one of fastest saloon cars and was happy to blast its way down the German Autobahns unhindered for many years.

A contributor to Motorbase advises the following:

The 300SEL first appeared in 1966 as a W109 Chassis car. They had air suspension, same floor pan design as the W112 but a completely different body style. There were several different engines, the 3.0 six, M189, the 2.8 litre six, M130, the 3.5 litre V8, M116, 4.5 litre M116 and the M-100 6.3 litre V8 of which just over 790 right hand drive cars were built. The last one built was in 1972.