Mercedes-Benz Banker’s Hot Rods Through History – 300SEL 6.3, 450SEL 6.9 into the Present – Those All Purpose Sedans
What do proper Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts do when two seats are not enough? M-B Engineer Erik Waxenberger’s answer started it all when he dropped a 600 Grand Mercedes V8 into a 112” wheelbase 300 sedan; the 300 SEL 6.3 was affectionately nicknamed the “Banker’s Hotrod” in the 1960s – stealth on the outside, bad-boy on the inside. The idea stuck and each decade since then has seen a new iteration of the concept, the 450 SEL 6.9, the 190 E 2.3-16, the E 500, and in this decade the AMG 55 and 63 sedans, plus a few more note worthies… the C 36, C 43 and C 32. “Practical” sedans, Mercedes-Benz style.
Practical for another reason also. We have a chart titled: A Mercedes for Every Pocketbook (scroll to the bottom of this article) . These high-protein sedans will become M-B’s most collectible 4-door models after they depreciate and plateau in value for a couple decades. This irrational diminution of value is egalitarianism for car enthusiasts… delivering genuinely great driving experiences to every price range from under $10,000 to over $100,000 for the new 63 AMG models. An iconic Mercedes for every pocketbook!
Creating these cars as extensions of established high volume body types makes huge savings possible on what are otherwise very exotic cars. In many cases they rival exotics costing three times more due mostly to their low production. In 1999, M-B expanded the idea to ultra-high performance convertibles, coupés and even station wagons. After acquiring AMG, additional saving has become possible by reversing the tables; by installing the same engines in a half dozen M-B body types. The 5.5 liter AMG V8 was available in no less than five bodies, the E, CLK, CL, S, SL Worldwide training of mechanics and spare part support that suits multiple body types benefits everyone too. When Maserati or Bentley creates a car equal (in theory) to a Mercedes-Benz CL 65 or S 600, it has to cost them 50% to 100% more money. I say in theory, because another thing Mercedes-Benz has going for it is a larger annual research and development budget than all its competition combine, nicely amortized over larger car, bus and truck production. ESP or yawl control is a good example. When introduced in the mid-1990s it was a $4,000 option on the CL
Two years later it was approved for every Mercedes-Benz built. Cost per vehicle dropped to under $700.
| Years Built | Model | Body Type | Likely Price Range $ |
5 Year Potential |
Comment |
| ’73 – ’76 | 250/280C | Coupes | 3,500 – 7,500 | +/- 25% | Distinctive driver |
| ’58 – ’60 | 220S\SE | Sedans | 3,000 – 9,500 | +/- 25% | Funky extra car |
| ’78 – ’82 | 280CE 2.8\6 | Coupes | 3,900 – 12,000 | +/- 0 | Sporty and practical |
| ’69 – ’72 | 300SE/L 3.5 V8 | Sedans | 4,000 – 10,000 | + 15% | Cross btwn 3.0 & 6.3 |
| ’71 – ’72 | 300SE/L 4.5 V8 | Sedans | 4,000 – 11,000 | + 15% | Substitute for 6.3 |
| ’83 – ’87 | 300TD Turbo Diesel | Wgns | 4,000 – 10,000 | +/- 0 | W123 & W124 Vrsns |
| ’83 – ’85 | 300CD Turbo Diesel | Cpe | 5,000 – 12,000 | +/- 0 | Sportiest old Diesel |
| ’60 – ’65 | 220SEb | Coupes | 7,000 – 13,000 | + 50% | Old car lovers drvr |
| ’65 – ’67 | 250SE/280SE | Coupes | 8,000 – 20,500 | + 50% | “ |
| ’58 – ’60 | 220SE | Coupes | 11,000 – 28,000 | + 50% | Great wood & seats |
| ’62 – ’67 | 300SE | Coupes | 9,500 – 20,000 | + 50% | 60’s Hi-tech lxry |
| ’71 – ’80 | 350SL | Rdstr 3.5 w/manual | 7,000 – 18,000 | + 25% | Pre-cat 200+hp mdl |
| ’71 – ’80 | 450SL | 350/450 Rdstr, Atmtc | 7,000 – 17,000 | 0/+10% | Remarkably ageless |
| ’85 – ’87 | 190 16v | Sport Sedans | 8,500 – 20,000 | + 25% | USA & Euro variants |
| ’70 – ’71 | 280SE 3.5 | Coupe, Lw hood | 10,500 – 25,000 | + 50% | Modern, fast old car |
| ’70 – ’71 | 280SE | Coupe, Lw hood | 8,000 – 22,000 | +25% | Old car lover’s driver |
| ’70 – ’71 | 250SE | Convert w/Lw hood | 31,000 – 60,000 | + 35% | Extremely rare |
| ’70 – ’71 | 280SE 3.5 | Cnvrt w/Lw hood | 45,000 – 95,000 | + 35% | Best of the 111 series |
| ’69 – ’72 | 300SEL 6.3 V8 | Sedans | 7,000 – 30,000 | + 50% | Hi fun & maintenance |
| ’81 – ’86 | 500SEC | 4 Pass Coupes | 9,000 – 18,000 | 0/-10% | Euro model, ABS |
| ’85 – ’86 | 300SD/L Diesel | Sedans | 5,500 – 9,000 | +/- 0 | World’s most lux diesels |
| ’76 – ’80 | 6.9 SEL 6.9 V8 | Sedans | 8,500 – 30,000 | + 50% | M-Bs answer to 747 |
| ’63 – ’71 | 230/250/280SL | Roadsters | 17,000 – 55,000 | + 100% | 280, 20/30% higher |
| ’80 – ’86 | 500SL | Euro-versions | 12,000 – 20,000 | 0/ -25% | Euro sleeper w/ABS |
| ’55 – ’63 | 190SL | Roadsters | 15,000 – 60,000 | + 50% | Pst 58, 15% higher $ |
| ’60 – ’65 | 220SEb | 4 Pass. Convertibles | 22,000 -45,000 | + 50% | Old car lovers drvr |
| ’86 – ’89 | 560SL | 2 Pass. Convertibles | 15,000 – 35,000 | +/- 0 | In price plateau |
| ’85 – ’91 | 560SEC | 4 Pass. Coupes | 9,000 – 23,000 | +/- 0 | Great, but young |
| ’65 – ’69 | 250/280SE | Convertibles | 20,000 – 40,000 | + 50% | Hearty Milestone |
| ’62 – ’67 | 300SE | Convertibles | 20,000 – 40,000 | + 50% | Not for novices |
| ’58 – ’60 | 220S/SE | Convertibles | 18,000 – 60,000 | + 50% | Style, wood, leather |
| ’51 – ’55 | 220 | Cpe & Convertible | 40,000 – 85,000 | + 25% | Classy city car |
| ’64 – ’68 | 600 | 5 Pass. Sedans | 18,500 – 65,000 | + 50% | For graduates only |
| ’57 – ’63 | 300SL Ro | Roadsters | 190,000 – 380,000 | + 50% | Ultimate Roadster |
| ’54 – ’57 | 300SL Gullwing | Coupe | 250,000 – 450,000 | + 50% | Ultimate Sports Cpe |
| ’54 – ’56 | 300SL Alloy Body | Coupe | 700,000 – 1,000,000 | + 50% | Rarest Post 40 M-B |