Laguna Seca June 27, 1968 – The new $14,000 300SEL 6.3 debuts in California
Waxenbenberger’s after hours project becomes a reality
Photography from Mercedes-Benz
Legend has it that sometime in 1966 Mercedes engineer, Erich Waxenberger, hatched a plan whereby he would install the 300hp (SAE) 6. 3 liter engine at that time used exclusively for the 600 “Grand” Mercedes into a 300SEL 109 chassis air suspension sedan. Introduced in late 1965, the 300SEL was an opulent, long wheelbase variant of the new 108 chassis but fitted with the aging 180hp M189 series single cam inline six-cylinder.
Massive fuel injection runners dominate crowded 300SEL 6.3 engine bay.
With no formal approval from the passenger car planning brass – notably Rudi Uhlenhaut – Waxenberger completed the first test hack largely on his own time working after hours at the factory. Fitted with a lower final drive ratio (2.85!), larger wheels/tires and upgraded brakes, his creation was predictably a stormer. The legend continues with Waxenberger casually tossing the keys to his secret project to Uhlenhaut and suggesting an innocent test drive. Uhlenhaut didn’t get far before pulling off the Autobahn to lift the hood and determine the source of the car’s endless wall of torque, 434 ft/lb @ 3,000 rpm to be exact.
Impressed with Waxenberger’s neat installation of the massive M100 powerplant and the cars subsequent impressive road manners, the performance oriented Uhlenhaut – he was the driving force behind the all conquering Silver Arrows of the ’30s and ’50s – persuaded the board to produce the car. With sales of the $26,000 Grand 600s understandably low, the board reasoned production of 300SEL 6.3s considerably reduced the amortization costs associated with 6.3 engine (M100) production facilities. Badged 300SEL 6.3, this businessman’s express debuted to the world at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1968.
Press photo of early 1968 6.3 taken against gorgeous Point Lobos, Monterey backdrop.
Today (Summer 2009), muscular V-8 mid-sized saloons (sedans) abound from every manufacturer whether it be Pontiac, Audi, BMW, Jaguar or the originators of the theme – Mercedes-Benz. 500 horsepower is now commonplace for this segment of the market but in Europe 1968, the concept of a large output V-8 powered middle sized sedan was novel.
The press release for the June 27, 1968 west coast debut of this ground-breaking car noted that the entire 1968 model year 6.3 production had already sold out via confirmed orders placed at dealers across the country by eager (and wealthy) clients. Also noted was the fact the new car was “nearly indistinguishable from the normal 300SEL.” Indeed. And so the sleeper “super saloon” was born.
Monterey’s picturesque Laguna Seca Raceway was chosen for the car’s west coast debut and Rudi Uhlenhaut, an extremely competent driver in his own right, delighted – and terrified – the assembled journalists by hurling the new 6.3 around the 1.9 mile course at speeds normally associated with Ferrari GTs than a fully equipped four door sedan. In Uhlenhaut’s the 6.3 could have undoubtedly harried the then new Ferrari 365 GTB “Daytona” around Laguna.
Mercedes production car development chief, Rudi Uhlenhaut, flings a 6.3 around Laguna Seca's fast turn 2. Note small "dog dish" center wheel caps fitted to track car. Standard full wheel covers would all have popped off due to wheel flex after a few laps.
Once 6.3 production ceased in Septemer 1972 (with 6,526 units built), Mercedes-Benz didn’t reprise the concept until the introduction of the Porsche constructed 500E of 1992. The 6.3 stands as a segment defining automobile that is today a rewarding, elegant way to very quickly and discreetly transport yourself over vast distances with minimal fuss (and maximal fuel consumption!).
The author accepting a class win in his fully restored 6.3 at the Hillsborough Concours circa 1998.
Details:
Engine: 6.3 liter V-8 with fuel injection, 300hp SAE
- 0-62 mph : 6.5 seconds
- 0-100 km/h (62 mph): 6.5 secondsâ€
- 0-100 mph : 14.95 seconds
- Standing 1/4 mile : 14.25 seconds
- Top Speed : 221 km/h (137.3 mph)â€
Suggested 300SEL Resource:
Star Motors:607-786-3918
Roy Spencer, editor MercedesHeritage.com
9 Responses to “Looking Back: The Mercedes 300SEL 6.3 debuts in Monterey”
“Once 6.3 production ceased in Septemer 1972 (with 9,483 units built), Mercedes-Benz didn’t reprise the concept until the introduction of the Porsche constructed 500E of 1992.”
That is not correct:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_450SEL_6.9
I understand your logic Edmund and I’ve owned many 6.9s. My rationale on noting the 6.3 concept (big engine in a mid-sized car) was not repeated until the 500E of 1992 was that I considered the 6.3 to have a big engined bigger brother, the 600 series just as the 500E had its big brother, the “S” class cars.
While it’s a stretch to say the 1972 300SEL 6.3 was a mid-size car; compared to the 600 SWB, it was!
Thanks for your comment.
Roy Spencer
Roberto, what a nice surprise, hearing from you and of an ‘old love.’
Ah yes, the dear memories of my 6.3, the dear memories of my shrinking checkbook.
Owning and “keeping” a 6.3 is probably similar to deeply loving a gorgeous woman, yet still referring to her as “that bitch.”
Mine was a 1971, 300 SEL (L for long wheelbase) 6.3. Bought it from Jon Ward, a local race car driver builder, I used to pit for occasionally (open & closed wheel cars) in 1972. He ran it through Bonneville himself and clocked 144 mph, He ran a successful TV commercial house as well and had a spare (and perfectly polished) 6.3 engine designed as the support for the glass table top in his conference room. It was bitchin!
Let’s see, sooooo much torque that I could not restrain myself. To the point of cracking the frame at the motor mounts. Blew a 3rd member, but got saved because I knew someone in Germany that purchased and shipped it somewhat reasonably.
Had the tranny rebuilt at least twice. The last time the mechanic hadn’t quite figured out how to adjust the harshness of the shift, but I had no complaints about “chirping” into 4th when under full throttle. A personality reveal, I’m afraid. I’m getting whip-lash remorse just thinking about it.
My jaw did drop once when I was in the dealers parts department, and witnessed a M.B. 600 owner order his fourth (or so) heater box (temp control) at a cost of $600 (that’s 1973 $$$$), which was also used in the 300 SEL.
The parts guy began describing how many parts were of the “hand made” variety.
These are expensive cars to maintain. Better to test drive one owned by someone else.
I can’t imagine the cost of repairs not to mention the wait for parts nearly 40 years later.
The ultimate stealth-sleeper. Boy was it fun dusting Porsches and Vettes.
Can’t wait to read others experiences.
Hi Roy, interesting info about Uhlenhuat driving the 6.3 in the US.
The were only 6526 6.3′s built actually ( not counting the 2500 odd 600 engines in the W100) . The fist 3 6.3′s went to Hong Kong ,one is still there and the last is in Germany and was owned from new by a member of the Thyssen family. I have one of the rarer versions ,one of the 790 RHD 6.3′s built.#1675.
You are right to distinguish the 6.3 from the 6.9.
I tell people that the 6.9 was/is a thoroughbred stallion,perfectly behaved in the hands of an expert and capable of being driven quickly by a novice,but the 6.3?…well it’s best to associate the 6.3 with a barely broken Colt,wild and almost untamable and with the potential to bite .
According to Autosport und Motor in 1972 ,the 6.3 is almost the equal of 365 Gt Ferrari ,the Ferrari beating it on cost and higher top speed. The Mercedes being both less expensive and better built. How Many 365′s are used today as daily drivers whereas a lot of 6.3′s still are?
I’m glad to see that these cars are finally getting the attention they deserve, from folks outside the vintage Mercedes orbit. They are one of the greatest cars ever created. Frank Barrett said “a good 6.3 will make you grin ’til your cheeks ache”, and he was right. I have a good one, and it is a delight. Fast, comfortable, and with timeless styling that looks better every year as everything else on the road continues to get more and more ordinary. Paul Bracq’s styling and Waxenberger’s imagination made a real winner.
Thanks for an interesting and informative article on an amazing car, but I disagree with two points within the quotation below.
“Once 6.3 production ceased in Septemer 1972 (with 9,483 units built), Mercedes-Benz didn’t reprise the concept until the introduction of the Porsche constructed 500E of 1992.”
First, the total production figure for the 300 SEL 6.3 is 6526, not 9483. Maybe you accidentally (but slightly incorrectly) quoted the production figure for the 300 SEL 3.5 whose correct figure is 9583.
Secondly, despite your response to Edmund, he actually did raise a good point. The W 108/109 S-Class (1965-72) was the big car of the day as was the W 116 S-Class (1972-80) in its day. The corresponding mid-sized cars to those were the W 114/115 (new generation or /8) and the W 123, respectively. The 600 was a limousine-like car even in its short wheelbase version. It was just super large. In addition, your contention that the 6.3 could be considered mid-sized simply because of the comparison to the 600 is incorrect because remember that the 600 remained in production until after the 6.9 had ceased production. The production of the 600 (1963-81) spanned in time from before the 6.3 (1967-71) began to after the 6.9 (1975-80) ended. By your logic, then, the 6.9 should also be considered a mid-sized car, thus making the 6.9 equivalent in concept to the 6.3. I think that both the 6.3 and 6.9 were large cars and the 600 was super large. The 500 E is similar in concept in that it is the product of stuffing an engine from a larger car (S-Class W 140) into a smaller car (W 124, later called E-Class), but the novelty with the 500 E was that for the first time in Mercedes history, the mid-sized car became factory powered by a V8. The 6.3, 6.9, and 500 E are, in fact, very similar in concept.
Daniel
Thanks Roy. I never get tired of reading about the 6.3
Regards,
BenzHead
I think Edmund was queerying the production figures.
6526 6.3′s were built not 9483. 702 of them in RHD (the rare 6.3)
Regards C.T.
Ooops,
Yes, big error on production figures. My tired eyes picked up figures on the 300SEL 3.5. Thanks for the correction. The article has been changed to reflect the 6,526 units constructed.
My logic of regarding the 6.3 as a mid-size car (in relation to the 600) is falling to bits! A 6.3 engine in a 114 sedan – now that would be a scary proposition! The 600 could certainly be considered a super sedan, a car outside MBZ’s normal production hierarchy. Thanks everyone for these suggestions.
Roy Spencer
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