1972 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL
This 1972 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 4.5 was sold new in Tennessee and remained a Southern owned car until undergoing an extensive refurbishment in 2017 while in the care of Dean Laumbach. The refurbishment included a top-end engine service, air suspension overhaul, and refinishing of the wheels and interior trim. Addition work included a new air-conditioning compressor, tires, and brake lines, along with the steering box, exhaust system, fueling and cooling components, and much more. The current owner acquired the car from Dean Laumbach in December 2017 and has performed additional work over the years as outlined below. Finished in Silver Gray Metallic (180) over Black leather upholstery, the car is powered by a 4.5-liter V8 mated to a three-speed automatic transmission. The most recent service in March 2026 included an AC R12 recharge and an engine oil service. Equipment includes 14″ steel wheels, refinished interior wood trim, self-leveling suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, front bucket seats, a Becker AM/FM stereo, power windows, and central locking.
Factory finished in Silver Grey Metallic (180), the car was was fully repainted in 2017 and the process included the removal of all bumpers, trim, and moldings. All anodized aluminum trim was polished prior to reassembly and new body and grill molding strips were installed in place of the originals. Rust repair was not required at the time of the repaint and the original sheet metal and weld points remain present in the areas typically known for rusting. More recently, the paint was professionally corrected in 2022 to maintain the shine and quality. Additionally, H4 headlights and a spare windshield were also installed along with city and country horns. Other exterior features include a driver's side mirror, front vent windows, an electric antenna and butterfly wipers.
The factory 14″ steel wheels were refinished and wear bright-finished covers with body-color centers. Vredestein Sprint Classic tires measuring 205/70 were mounted under current ownership. The factory-optioned self-leveling suspension features front and rear air-spring bellows and torsion-bar stabilizers. Braking is provided by power-assisted four-wheel discs. Service performed since 2020 includes refurbishing of the air suspension and replacing its compressor and level-control valve, along with a new steering box, bump stops, sway-bar bushings, and brake hoses.
The seats, headliner, and carpeting were all replaced during the 2017 refurbishment, along with all wood trim fully redone by Madera Concepts. The seating surfaces are finished in Black leather and additional features include power windows, central locking, a Becker Europa II AM/FM stereo, Coco-style floor mats, and air conditioning. Most recently, 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 including 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 due to the five-digit limiter.
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. The refurbishment in 2017 included all new fluids, filters, belts and inspect and replace hoses as needed, new distributer, cap, rotor, wires and plugs, new engine and transmission mounts, new muffler, new Behr fan clutch, and a transmission service among other items. Service after 2020 has included extracting broken manifold bolts, adjusting the valves, and flushing the fueling system. Additionally, the car received new cam oilers, various gaskets and hoses, a new thermostat, engine mounts, injector seals and 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 were replaced under current ownership along with the shifter and differential-mount bushings. A stainless-steel exhaust system and replacement muffler have been fitted.
