A novel Mercedes 300 SEL 6.3 coupe made by the Pininfarina studio on the request of a Dutchman is on the market at a Bonhams public sale on August 18, 2023 in US.
Picture: Bonhams
In 1965 Mercedes introduced the brand new W108/W109 luxurious limousine, the successor to the W111/W112, on the Frankfurt Motor Present. The W108 had an ordinary wheelbase, whereas the W109 had a protracted wheelbase and was in-built fewer examples. The Mercedes W108/W109 vary was an enormous industrial success, promoting in additional than 383,000 examples between 1965-1972 in Europe and 1965-1973 in North America. The perfect-selling fashions have been the W108 sequence with inline 6-cylinder engines (250 S/250 SE and 280 S/280 SE within the W108), which accounted for over 85% of gross sales.
Later, Mercedes take a look at engineer Erich Waxenberger got here up with the thought of putting in the huge 6.3-liter V8 from the 600 limousine in a Mercedes W109. After the idea was introduced to the general public on the Geneva Motor Present in 1968, Mercedes determined to introduce within the sequence manufacturing this high mannequin. Between December 1967 and September 1972, Mercedes produced 6,526 models of the W109 300 SEL 6.3. The highest mannequin accounted for greater than 25% of gross sales of the W109 long-wheelbase model.
On the time of its launch, the 300 SEL 6.3 was one of many quickest limousines on the earth, able to reaching a high velocity of 200 kph (124 mph). In 1971, the Mercedes 300 SEL 6.3 price 39,160 marks.
A Dutchman had the thought of a Mercedes 300 SEL 6.3 coupe
Though a coupe primarily based on the 300 SEL 6.3 limousine might have been a profitable mannequin because of the efficiency of the V8 engine, Mercedes by no means supposed to develop a coupe. However a Dutch businessman, whose identify has lengthy remained a secret, got here up with the thought of a mannequin derived from the W109 limousine.
He despatched a letter to Mercedes and requested if that they had plans to construct a convertible primarily based on the W109 and if they might ship a W109 chassis to him. Mercedes responded negatively to each requests, and an analogous response was given when the Dutchman requested if that they had no plans to provide a coupe primarily based on the W109.
Rudolf Uhlenhaut and Mercedes mentioned NO
The Dutchman then tried his luck and contacted Dr. Rudolf Uhlenhaut instantly, asking him to purchase a chassis on which he might set up a physique of his personal design. The correspondence between the Dutchman and Dr. Uhlenhaut may be discovered within the hooked up documentation. Uhlenhaut didn’t reply favorably to the Dutchman’s request, who mentioned Uhlenhaut “was very cussed”.The Dutchman then determined to contact the Pininfarina studio in Turin, whereas negotiating in parallel with Mercedes the acquisition of a chassis. Since Mercedes refused to promote him simply the chassis, the Dutchman purchased a W109 300 SEL 6.3 and despatched it to Pininfarina in Turin to show it right into a 2+2 seater coupe.
Pininfarina settle for the Dutchman requierements
Initially, Pininfarina refused to tackle the venture, believing that the chassis was not inflexible sufficient and that it must be shortened by Mercedes. After many discussions, Pininfarina agreed to rebuild the automobile if the Dutchman would deliver the automobile to Turin. The Dutchman introduced the automobile to Turin and agreed to Pininfarina’s asking worth of 10 million Italian lire. In 1971 10 million Italian lire was equal to 56,300 DM. Contemplating that the value of the usual automobile, in black, with grey cloth upholstery was 39,160 DM, the Dutchman paid over 100,000 DM to make his dream come true.
However the Dutch businessman additionally had some particular necessities, as was talked about within the correspondence with Pininfarina. Among the many necessities, the Dutchman wished it to sit down up excessive like a Rolls-Royce and the glass space to be restricted, so that you don’t really feel such as you’re in a fishbowl. The Dutchman didn’t need a middle console within the again and wished further sound insulation in comparison with the manufacturing limousine.
Pininfarina fulfilled all the Dutchman’s needs and introduced this distinctive instance on its stand on the Paris Motor Present in 1970. In one of many correspondences, the client wrote “he appreciated it immensely”. On 10 February 1971, the Dutchman’s driver picked up the automobile in Turin and drove it to Holland.
However the Dutchman’s spouse was not too happy with the automobile, and in 1972 she determined to promote the automobile by contacting Auto Becker in Germany. The automobile had solely 10,000 km on board, and the vendor described it as “probably the most unique automobile on the earth with the perfect efficiency”.
Becker was skeptical of the vendor’s asking worth of DM 70,000 and can’t discover a purchaser. Later, in 1973, the Dutchman managed to discover a purchaser in Holland.
Wanting on the physique design, it’s fairly controversial, and personally, I don’t suppose it’s one among Pininfarina’s most profitable works. The Turin-based coachbuilder has made many different distinctive works which can be way more spectacular. In distinction, the inside is characterised by wonderful high quality materials.
Though the estimated worth is between 400,000 and 600,000 USD, the automobile wants a restoration of the bodywork and mechanical components. If the automobile might be reconditioned, its worth might improve because of the truth that there’s a one-off instance.
