Introduced in 1965, the W108 and 109 series Mercedes S-Class was hailed by contemporary motoring journalists as the finest luxury saloon in the world. Built to a standard that other manufacturers could only gasp at, it set an over-engineered benchmark that has not been surpassed to this day. Allied to this bank vault solidity was an aura of restrained Teutonic opulence that made it an instant hit with the diplomatic corps from Moscow to Mombasa. The mix of chrome, wood and leather still oozes a cigars and champagne class that makes you feel like a Cold War dictator every time you drive it.
The two chassis designations - 108 and 109 - referred to the vehicle's suspension system: 109s had air-suspension while the 108 had coil springs on all four wheels. The smallest engine available was the 2.5-litre in-line six in the 250S and 250SE models, and the largest was the 6.3-litre V8 in the legendary 300SEL 6.3. The S versions had carburettors, the SE versions were fuel injected, and SEL versions fuel injected with longer wheelbases. Got that?!
Barring the 300bhp 6.3 which was produced in very small numbers and was strictly for tycoons and film stars only, the top of the range model was the V8 fuel injection-engined 300SEL 3.5, introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1969. It's natural habitat was the fast lane of the autobahn where it could cruise all day at over 120mph, it's imperious front grille and stacked headlamps daring lesser cars to get in it's way. It shared various technological features with the 6.3, including the air suspension system.
First registered in March 1972, this car is one of very few 3.5-litre cars made in right-hand drive and was recently featured in an issue of Mercedes Enthusiast magazine. It has a fully stamped up service book from new until 1978, at which point it had covered 66,200 miles. It is now showing 115,700 miles on the clock, a total which is backed up by a large number of old MOTs in the history file.
In the last five years the car has had about £10,000 spent on it by the previous owner including a full brake and suspension overhaul in 2003; new fuel pump in 2005; new windscreen in 2006, and a full gearbox rebuild in October 2007. With an MOT until June 2009 and still retaining it's original owner's handbook, the car is said to drive beautifully with an impressive turn of speed.
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