Our love and passion for a Mercedes Benz W116 280S Special 1975 Part 2
The Mercedes-Benz W116 is a series of flagship luxury sedans produced from September 1972 until 1980 2 3 W116 automobiles were the first models Mercedes-Benz officially called S-Class, although earlier sedan models had already been unofficially designated by the letter S for Sonderklasse or special class.
The new S-Class generation development began in 1966, which was only a year after the launch of the W108 09 This was the first berline Mercedes to present the new corporate style theme that was to continue until 1993, when the 190 was discontinued in the design, finalized in December 1969 4 is a dramatic leap forward, with more masculine lines that combine to create an elegant and sporty character the basic concept worn by initially introduced themes about the roadster R107 SL-Class in particular the front and rear lights 1 as for the SL, the W116 scored ribbed lamp covers that kept the distance to dirt accumulation; this should remain a design theme Mercedes-Benz in the 21st century 5 The W116 was the last design Friedrich Geiger for Mercedes-Benz; his career began with the Mercedes-Benz 500K in 1933.
The car was presented in September 1972 The model range initially included two engine versions M110 six-cylinder 2746 cc 280 S using a Solex carburetor and 280 SE injection Bosch D-Jetronic, and the 350 SE, powered the M116 V8 engine with displacement cc 3499 after the fuel crisis in 1973, a long-wheelbase version of the 280 was added to the range.
Half a year later, in early 1973, two new models powered by the M117 V8 engine with 4520 displacement cc were added to the range 450 SE and 450 SEL with 100 mm body more The 450 225 PS 165 kilowatts in most markets, federalized cars offered 190 hp 142 kilowatts while cars of the Swedish market had an EGR valve 200 and PS 147 kilowatts to 1976 5 the 450s received plusher interior as well, with velvet or leather seats instead tissue checkered patterns least the inner door are also of a different design, being pulled up around windows 6.
The most notable W116 was the high-performance, limited production 450 SEL June 9 that was introduced in 1975. This model boasted by far the largest engine installed in a Mercedes-Benz after the war and all automotive non-US production at that time, 7 and also introduced a hydropneumatic suspension self-leveling.
300 SD sedan US market was only a turbocharged 3 0 liter diesel engine line-five developed from the experimental vehicle C111 In September 2013, a 1979 W116 300 SD was campaigning within 24 hours of lemons at Carolina Motorsports Park where he completed 166 laps at an average speed of 54 MPH 8 8 he won the highest prize of the event, index Effluency other problems as light braking and tire wear, no mechanical problems were encountered after many modifications to the handling, the car was running again in February 2014 at Barber Motorsports park in Birmingham, AL he placed 44th, but 281 laps at an average pace of 59 MPH 6 one the main advantages of the 300 SD is its outstanding fuel economy on track, where it burns only 2 May GPH wholesale 18mpg in July 2014, he finished first in class at Sebring is toujour s active in Round 9.
The 450 was named European Car of the Year in 1974, although the range of W116 was presented at the Paris Motor Show in autumn 1972 10 The W116 range became the first production car to use a multi four wheel drive electronic channel Bosch ABS anti-lock braking system as an option from 1978.
Production reached 473.035 units The W116 was replaced by the W126 S-Class in 1979. The W116 was sold throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia.
The input level six cylinders 280 S is the only model in the range to include a carburetor.
In 1975, the W116 has been updated with a new fuel injection system to comply with exhaust emission standards revised European markets a slight power reduction is the result of this update in 1978 a series of updates to the engine restored original performance levels with new fuel injection systems.
The high performance 450 SEL September 6 version of the S-Class was built on its own assembly line by Daimler-Benz in Stuttgart, Germany and based on the long wheelbase version of the W116 chassis model was generally called in society s literature like 6 9, to separate it from the regular 450 SEL.
6 9 has been shown to the automotive press at the Geneva Show in 1974, and produced between 1975 and 1981, very limited, it was presented as the standard bearer of the car line Mercedes-Benz, and successor Mercedes-Benz s high performance original sedan, the title additional option costs SEL 300 6 3 6 9 s successor upscale 500 SEL continued September 6 of the self-leveling suspension hydropneumatic remarkable.
6 9 was the first Mercedes-Benz to be equipped with the hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension system introduced by Citroen in 1954, unlike 600 6 3 that uses air suspensions using a combination of liquid-filled struts and pressure vessels filled with nitrogen or replacement batteries conventional dampers and springs, the system was pressurized by a hydraulic pump driven by the engine timing chain with respect to the new system Mercedes-Benz, Citroen s has been belt-driven, just as a conventional power steering pump; failure of Citroën system could well lead to a loss of suspension Conversely, all units of the 6 9 came with hard rubber dampers emergency that served as temporary sources and allowed the car to be driven in case the failure of hydraulic special hydraulic fluid required by the system is stored in a tank inside the engine compartment the system not only completely auto-tuning, the ride height can be changed by a push-pull knob on the dashboard under the speedometer which raised the car an additional two inches 50 mm ground clearance.
The suspension system gave the car 4200 pounds 1900 kg the advantages of both a smooth ride and handling that allowed him, in the words of automotive journalist David E Davis tossed like a mini car also presented a W3B model 050 three Box automatic single differential speeds to 6 9 and a limited slip ZF standard both for handling improved performance on dry pavement and better traction in inclement weather.
Four disc brakes wheels and suspension with four independent wheels were standard on these high-end models M100 engine is a V8 cast with a single head camshafts which was a larger version of the also used engine in the Mercedes-Benz 600 and Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6 notable 3 is the injection of fuel electromechanical Bosch K Jetronic-forged crankshaft, connecting rods and pistons, and a lubricating system of the engine to dry sump consequently the engine itself -even was no gauge to check the oil level rather, the gauge is set inside the Accessible tank filler cap from the engine compartment and the oil level has been verified with the engine running and the operating temperature of the non-US market trim version of 6 9 l 6834 cc or 417 in Central was rated at 286 PS 210 kW to 405 lb ft torque 549 Nm helping compensated er 2 65-1 the final drive ratio required for sustained cruise at high speed dry sump system also have the advantage of prolonging the oil change interval to 12,500 miles 20,000 km This, along with valve lifters water that did not require adjustment and special cylinder head gaskets, which eliminates the need for periodic tightening of bolts, made September 6 relatively easy to maintain and service for the first 50,000 miles 80500 km 9 June some basic services other than coolant, placing the minor point required oil changes, and replacement of the air, fuel filters and electric power steering oil.
Top speed was factory rated at 140 mph 225 km h, but some journalists testing the car saw speeds approaching 150 mph 241 km h These journalists were Brock Yates Yates was approached by the factory to write the promotional literature 6 9 for advertising he agreed on condition that he could list the car's defects and its positive aspects and create a truly comprehensive review Daimler-Benz agreed to turn and Yates received a US specification market 6 9 to drive from Manhattan to the Road Atlanta high price race track in Georgia It Yates driving the car in the condition arrived at a running speed for 40 full rounds or just over 100 miles 160 km Its complaint the long drive on public roads is that the magnetic antenna CB blown out to 130 miles per hour the only change to the car on arrival at Road Atlanta was an adjustment of tire pressure driving 40 laps was a difficult task for the full-size street legal luxury sedan designed primarily red and gea for comfortable cruising Autobahn 6 9 has not suffered major mechanical problems and on average a respectable 72 mph 116 km h throughout the test, by supplementing with a little more than the excess of dust on the body of Michelin radial street tires on which the car was conducted in Atlanta Yates was so comfortable 6 9 driving around the track that reported having run at least one turn with the sunroof open and the radio, but the high price of the car made him think better of this risky behavior and ended the test with radio and both hands on the wheel 12.
All this technology has come at a very high price at a time when each listed to about 16 000 most expensive Cadillacs medium size Seville and Cadillac Fleetwood Series normal size Sixty-five limousine, on 6 9 listed as about 40 000 more than the Big Three, but less than most Rolls-Royce When the car was officially introduced into the north American market for model year 1977, the price was well past 40,000 and was 52,995 at the end of the production well September 6 that was undeniably a luxury car, it was rather austere compared to pure opulence available in a Rolls-Royce or Cadillac full-size inside was the same as the cheaper models, except for the control button push-pull suspension just below the speedometer, a warning LEDs low pressure suspension and height adjustment of the dashboard and wood trim f ini walnut veneer burled on the dashboard console and the rest of the W116 range was packed zebrano striated plating.
6 9 does not have expected luxury touches such as exterior mirrors, electrically adjustable front seats or even if a single electric rear seat heated seats and even orthopedically designed front seats were the option buyers outside the North America could also opt for windshield and headlight washers and headlights or with a special link operating under vacuum whose objective could be adjusted to the dashboard depending on vehicle load There was also a new feature standard in 1976 most Mercedes-Benz cars this year were equipped with a sophisticated electronic air conditioning system developed for the Chrysler Corporation in their top models the system to turn on the heating, air conditioning or both, depending on the setting of the thermostat and the ambient temperature, maintain automatically regardless tempera ture of the driver selected the compressor was an American import as well, provided by the Harrison division of General Motors.
Much more modern than contemporary Cadillac, which still had a live rear axle and both faster and more inside that is the Rolls-Royce or Cadillac, September 6 were indistinguishable from its stablemates W116 save a modest September 6 badge on the decklid and wider tires 13 American models were also different rubber bumper mounted on the park bench as impact absorbing bumpers discrete badge that was, it could be ordered removed with option 261 omission of the figure moving on the trunk lid at an additional cost for those who wanted to avoid the attention of drivers or other high performance cars or enforcement in the words of David E Davis on June 9 was a year 50 000 go fast.
But for fans of the end of Series 6 3 or for those who simply have a car that car and the driver claimed to be the largest Mercedes-Benz ever built, it seemed that the money did not matter to its launch in 1975, the 450 SEL 6 September cost DM 69,930 in the last year of production in 1979, the car was available at a price of DM 81247 Although it was far from cheap, courage strategists Mercedes-Benz the launch of the car on the market has paid total of 7,380 units were built in 1980, and most of them have been exported to the US This volume is quite respectable given the general trend of sales powerful luxury cars after the 1973 energy crisis.
In a poll by Classic Sports Car magazine Britain and printed in its April 1999 edition, Mercedes-Benz June 9 ranked fourth on their list of the greatest shows in the world edition 14 May 2004 another British publication the Mercedes magazine Passionate, filed September 6 number fifteen on their list of top twenty all-time great cars Mercedes-Benz Even with these braces, a June 9 is a collection of automobile despite its rarity at a reasonable price nada in online Guide for use list a value greater than 40,000 at present, the cars of this type market is a little soft, and an example can be had for much less, as is often the case with old cars that contain the engineering exotic and unique pieces for a model, however, running and maintenance costs for a June 9 can quickly overshadow a low initial purchase price.
Specifications Mercedes-Benz W116 15 Manufacturer's figures, unless otherwise stated.
The S-Class W116 built a wide range of safety innovations Mercedes.
Four-wheel antilock brakes were first introduced as an option on the S-Class W116 1978 This system prevents the wheels from locking during braking The system improves steering control during hard braking situations, and shorten distances braking.
Strengthening the body structure The W116 featured a more stable safety cell with a high strength and stiff roof pillars roof frame structure carries, as well as other reinforced areas, the improved condition protection of vehicle occupants .
Deformation zones crumple zones at the front and at the rear.
A padded dashboard, deformable switches and controls, and a four-spoke steering wheel with shock absorber and broad impact cushion to reduce occupant injury in a collision.
The fuel tank was not mounted at the rear, but was now placed above the rear axle for additional protection.
Wraparound flashing it is easier to communicate with drivers nearby.
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