1972 Mercedes-Benz SEL 280 W116 - Restoration (Wiederherstellung)

The Mercedes-Benz W116 is a series of flagship luxury sedans produced from September 1972 until 1980. The W116 automobiles were the first Mercedes-Benz models to be officially called S-Class, although earlier sedan models had already unofficially been designated with the letter 'S' – for Sonderklasse or "special class." The W116 was selected European Car of the Year in 1974.
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 Mercedes saloon to feature the brand new corporate styling theme which was to be continued until 1993 when the 190 was discontinued. The design, finalized in December 1969 was a dramatic leap forward, with more masculine lines that combined to create an elegant and sporty character. The basic design concept carried through the themes originally introduced on the R107 SL-Class roadster, especially the front and rear lights. As for the SL, the W116 received the ridged lamp covers which kept dirt accumulation at bay; this was to remain a Mercedes-Benz design theme into the 21st century. The W116 was Friedrich Geiger's last design for Mercedes-Benz; his career had started with the Mercedes-Benz 500K in 1933.

The car was presented in September 1972. The model range initially included two versions of the M110 engine (straight-six with 2746 cc displacement) — the 280S (using a Solex carburetor) and the 280SE (using Bosch D-Jetronic injection), plus the 350SE, powered by the M116 engine (V8 with 3499 cc displacement). After the 1973 oil crisis, a long-wheelbase 280SEL was added to the model range.

The larger 4.5-litre M117 V8 engines were developed in response to the US emission regulations and initially fitted to 350SL and 350SLC for the US market in 1972, which was renamed as 450SL and 450SLC in 1973. Mercedes-Benz introduced 450SE and 450SEL for both US and international markets in 1973. The 4.5-litre models were available with three-speed automatic gearboxes only while the models with smaller 3.5-litre V8 engine could be ordered with four-speed (and later five-speed) manual gearbox. The 450SE and 450SEL received a plusher interior with velour or leather seats rather than the checkered cloth of the lesser models. The door cards had the velour or leather inserts.

The 4.5-litre M117 V8 engines had 225 PS (165 kW) in most European and international markets, 190 hp (142 kW) for the US market, and 200 PS (147 kW) for Swedish and Australian markets. The 450s received a plusher interior as well, with velour or leather seats rather than the checkered cloth of the lesser models. The door cards were also of a different design with pads being pulled up around the windows.

The W116 had independent suspension and disk brakes on all four wheels.

The most notable W116 was the high-performance, limited-production 450SEL 6.9, which was introduced in 1975. This model boasted the largest engine installed in a post-war Mercedes-Benz (and any non-American production automobile) up to that time, and also featured self-leveling hydropneumatic suspension.

Exclusive to the North American and Japanese markets the 300SD, the world’s first passenger car with turbocharged diesel engine, was introduced in 1978. This particular model was never offered in Europe where diesel engines were well-received and had tax advantages until 1991 when W140 300SD was finally introduced in Europe and international market.

The 450SE was named the European Car of the Year in 1974, even though the W116 range was first introduced at the Paris Motor Show in the fall of 1972. The W116 range became the first production car to use an electronic four-wheel multi-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS) from Bosch as an option from 1978 on.

Production totaled 473,035 units. The W116 was succeeded by the W126 S-Class in 1979. The W116 was sold throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia.