1972 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 4.5
This 1972 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 4.5 was refurbished prior to being purchased by its current owner on BaT in December 2017, and subsequent work has included top-end engine service, overhauling the air suspension, and refinishing the wheels and interior trim. Additionally, the air-conditioning compressor, tires, and brake lines were replaced, along with the steering box, exhaust system, fueling and cooling components, and more as detailed below. Finished in Silver Gray Metallic over black leather upholstery, the car is powered by a 4.5-liter V8 mated to a three-speed automatic transmission. Equipment includes 14″ steel wheels, self-leveling suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, front bucket seats, a Becker AM/FM stereo, power windows, and central locking.
Factory-finished in Silver Gray Metallic (180), the car was repainted in 2017 and received paint correction in 2022. H4 headlights and a replacement windshield and town-and-country horns were fitted in 2022, and other exterior details include wrap-around bumpers, a driver-side mirror, front vent windows, “4.5” rear badging, a Standing Star hood ornament, bright trim, a power antenna, and butterfly-style windshield wipers.
Refinished 14″ steel wheels wear bright-finished covers with body-color centers and were mounted with 205/70 Vredestein Sprint Classic tires under current ownership. The car was equipped from the factory with a self-leveling suspension with front and rear air-spring bellows and torsion-bar stabilizers. Braking is provided by power-assisted four-wheel discs. Other work after 2020 has included refurbishing the air suspension and replacing its compressor and level-control valve along with the steering box, bump stops, sway-bar bushings, and brake hoses.
The front bucket seats and the rear bench were reupholstered in black leather under prior ownership, and the headliner and carpeting were replaced. Refinished wood trim accents the interior, and additional appointments include power windows, central locking, a Becker Europa II AM/FM stereo, Coco-style floor mats, and air conditioning. Additional work during the owner’s time with the car has included repairing the driver’s seat mount, rebuilding the left-rear window regulator and blower switch, and adding a digital amplifier and Bluetooth to the radio along with fitting inertia reels to the seatbelts and replacing the following:
Air-conditioning compressor
Combination switch
Door-lock actuators
Left-front window regulator
Heater valves and cores
Dome-lamp delay (also relocated)
The R12 air-conditioning refrigerant was recharged in March 2026.
The refurbished two-spoke steering wheel features a chrome horn ring and frames VDO instrumentation consisting of a 160-mph speedometer, a rebuilt analog clock, and a combination gauge for coolant temperature, fuel level, and oil pressure. The five-digit odometer shows 31k miles and is believed to have rolled over, with approximately 1k miles added under current ownership. Total mileage is unknown.
The 4.5-liter M117 V8 features Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection and was rated at 198 horsepower and 264 lb-ft of torque when new. Service after 2020 has included extracting broken manifold bolts, adjusting the valves, and flushing the fueling system along with replacing the following:
Cam oilers
Various gaskets and hoses
Thermostat
Engine mounts
Injector seals
Fuel lines
The most recent engine-oil change was carried out in March 2026.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic transmission. The subframe mounts and the shifter and differential-mount bushings were replaced under current ownership, and a stainless-steel exhaust system and replacement muffler were fitted.
