That's actually untrue. These were really built for impact safety with crumple zones and super tough cabins....ie.... running them into concrete walls at 160kmph and then checking if the doors will open.....they did. Very safe cars, comparable to modern standards..... indeed, these set the standard along with volvo and saab in the day.
The 450SEL is a truly beautiful car - and the whole of the W116 lineup. I had the 450SEL (like the one shown here) and the 280S and loved both. Anyone who has ever driven a W116 will tell you its an outstanding driving experience.
Those old Mercedes are so fun to drive, my dad has one and the suspension is so soft and the seats have springs in it so that it feels that you drive on a cloud
My dad got a 1977 450 SE when I was 17. It WAS like riding on a cloud and a dream to drive. I had a 2005 C230 Kompressor for several years but still pined for the 450!
***** Lol, they aren't using V10 engines since the mid 90s and even those had 3.5l. These days they use 1.6 V6s so YOU don't know what you're talking about.
Both magnificent cars!! but there's something alluring and captivating about the 1970's and 1980's Mercs. I really think car manufacturers should consider manufacturing and re-issue their "best classics" alongside their latest models I really think there's a market out there!
Specifically the 124 in my opinion. I'm driving the 1992 300E sedan till this day. Would love to have a brand new one if I could. Maybe they could add a little bit more safety features to meet regulation but nothing that would destroy its classiness.
IF you had put the 300 SEL 6.3 (1969 - 1971), it would have been much faster than the newer diesel. The 6.3 was legendary in Road and Track tests from the era, with a quarter mile in the 14s. Love the series!!!
THE TITLE AND COMMENTARY IS INCORRECT. It's the Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9 which is featured in this video, NOT the Mercedes 450 SEL. The Mercedes 450 SEL is a 4.5 litre V8. The Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9 is the 6.9 litre V8. Thank you.
jimded The 6.9 was actually more expensive than most Rolls Royces of its time. Same with the 600, which the engine is derived from - it cost around two times what a Silver Shadow cost.
That's great performance for a 5000 pound 258 hp turbodiesel It's also great performance for a 34-year-old 4000 pound car Great series I wish they do more!!!
I agree. We need more series like this. Just to see how much we've advanced in 30 ish years. I agree with the looks of the older Mercedes is very stylish and the interior of the new one well, no contest there. But, the old one I bet is made to last.
I love the 450 SEL 6.9. It still looks so strong and imposing after all these years. Plus having such powerful and big V8 is priceless. Fuck diesel. The S Class should have never been fitted with a tractor engine...
All the S Class that i have seen here in Australia are petrol V8's over the years. My parents have had S Class Mercedes Benz and all of them have been petrol.
+E34Benzin it's because EU pussies in Brussel hate petrol and they push car makes to favour diesels and put them everywhere. They only care about CO2, but actually diesel is much worse for our lungs and for nature as well.
I just would rebuild the engine and add a turbocharger or a supercharger....or if someone would be crazy enough, why not both? :D I think, that it would be a reliable rocket ;)
I have two of the 450SEL 6.9's. One is a Euro Spec, in Brown. As in the movie Ronnin. Would not part with it. Its instant torgue off the line at idle, wins most traffic light drags. Long before most modern smaller turbo's engines spool up their turbo, i am long gone. I think the one in the video is the lower compression version, as mine spins both rear wheels if launched, in almost silence.. leaves a few stunned at the lights.
Totally agree for so many reasons. With classics one can do a lot of their own maintenance. Way less complicated, more style, more customization, more character, more individualistic, hold value, and are just cool ;-)
Diesel fanboys always talk about amazing torque of diesel engines and how amazing is an acceleration thanks to that torque, but in fact, every time you compare naturally aspirated petrol with turbo diesel - when petrol has more horsepower, it always wins. No matter that diesel has much much more torque. Somehow it doesn't help to beat petrol with much less torque, but a bit more horsepower.
LOL your comment is retarded, do you have any idea how much heavier the new s class is? Plus dont you think its kind of amazing that we know extract roughly the same power from a 3 liter that used to take a 6.9?
They don't drive anyway near the same. The turbodiesel doesn´t have the instant power delivery of a big displacement petrol V8, nor it has its smoothness and amazing sound. My daily driver is a V6 turbodiesel, and I love it, but if money was no object I´d rather get the big V8. They made it that big intentionally. Mercedes could have reached that power figure from a much smaller engine even back in the 70s.
Love the old big block 6.9 and with AMG cams it goes even faster. Just because it's older doesn't mean it wont beat the newer models. At the end of the day there's no replacement for displacement and that old cast ion block will out last newer blocks too. I didn't think the power to weight or gear box proved to be that much better from the diesel anyway. Still, it's amazing what MB does with their new diesel technology. 6.9 undefeated. :)
gold. i don't think he knew about the car though. its a 450sel 6.9, not a stock 450sel. a standard 450 has the 4.5L V8, the 6.9 was a very special car. 20mpg would be stretching it, it hits only ~15mpg though! nice to see it put through its paces. i have a couple of videos on our 6.9s on youtube
Pretty good for the old 6,9 taking into consideration that that had an old GM torqueflite derived MB 3 speed automatic compared to the new S-Class 7 speed unit
The W3B50 Transmission was a Mercedes version derived from the Turbo Hydramtic 400 Transmission since it and the Chrysler Torqueflite were the only few automatic transmissions that could handle the power and the torque of a big engine and technically they are pretty close together, Mercedes made a few changes themselves to the original tranny.
What a beautiful piece of german enginnering! A classic look in this gorgeous blue color. When Mercedes was the best car. Today, only plastic and iPad gauges. Throw away in 6 years. The w 116 will continue to show her grace for a century.
Originally I expressed surprise that the old car was faster than the new. After you pointing out that it was more powerful and me looking up the specs of each, I couldn't understand how it could be faster. Didn't suggest anywhere that the video was fake.
They aren't too bad to maintain. If you opt for the 6.9, then it'll be expensive but not too bad to do. I own a W108 280 SE 2.8 from 1970 and it's pretty simple stuff, albeit it being a Mercedes with fuel injection made in 1970 though.
The emissions equipment doesn't strangle things like in the 70's when the convertors came out. We are talking 400, 500, 600 hp and more now a days, that doesn't seem strangled to me.
Well the 6.9 is a 3 speed auto geared to cruise comfortably at 115-120 MPH. Since it's a 6.9, it takes no time to climb onto the cams where the newer car has to be at pretty high RPM to actually accelerate, so a smaller gearbox would be worse but a bigger bored engine would be better
Old vintage Mercs were just terrific, built like tanks, the build quality was on another level.
SWEET German quality
Not quite tanks compared to modern cars. Panels are heavy, but they crumble to bits in even a modest collision with a modern car.
@@bobbuilder5362 While true for most cars of the era, those old S class will still hold up really well.
That's actually untrue. These were really built for impact safety with crumple zones and super tough cabins....ie.... running them into concrete walls at 160kmph and then checking if the doors will open.....they did. Very safe cars, comparable to modern standards..... indeed, these set the standard along with volvo and saab in the day.
The 450SEL is a truly beautiful car - and the whole of the W116 lineup. I had the 450SEL (like the one shown here) and the 280S and loved both. Anyone who has ever driven a W116 will tell you its an outstanding driving experience.
Those old Mercedes are so fun to drive, my dad has one and the suspension is so soft and the seats have springs in it so that it feels that you drive on a cloud
very true
the seat have spring?
We share the exact same opinion, dude. I always loved the springy seats on the old Mercs.
My dad got a 1977 450 SE when I was 17. It WAS like riding on a cloud and a dream to drive. I had a 2005 C230 Kompressor for several years but still pined for the 450!
Jimi Dean can't beat the s classes they definitely will ride smooth
i love the looks of the SEL's, that was back when cars are slim, square and attractive in general, cars these days look really fat and bulky
@chow tt We got one in blue with the same engine
I could sit and look at that old w126 all day , I wouldn't give the new one a second glance.
@@joebutlersnr7017 It's a W116. The W126 was the following model from 1979 to 1992ish.
@@karstent.66 Of course it is thanks , both beautiful cars .
as some say.. OLD IS GOLD
450 sel is Real Mercedes!!!
ε κατι κανει αδερφε...
+SSophisticated_GR ks
As the old saying goes "There is no replacement for displacement."
Do you even Formula 1, bro?
***** Lol, they aren't using V10 engines since the mid 90s and even those had 3.5l. These days they use 1.6 V6s so YOU don't know what you're talking about.
***** So your point is?
***** Hybrids are for that category mate.
tavi921
I'm talking about road cars not race cars.
I had a buddy who had the 450SEL and it was one heII of a car. Built like a damn tank.
Wow! The old beast is awesome!
the old car did very well considering it's got a 3-speed automatic.
My buddy had a 450 back in the day. This car was built like a tank. The noise the doors made when they closed was like a bank vault.
I'd take the old beauty every time
Both magnificent cars!! but there's something alluring and captivating about the 1970's and 1980's Mercs. I really think car manufacturers should consider manufacturing and re-issue their "best classics" alongside their latest models I really think there's a market out there!
That is one of the greatest ideas I have ever heard, I would get one in a heartbeat.
Yeah except safety changes mean that it would be impossible since old cars wont stand up to the new rules and regs for cars.
Yep the 124, 129, 116, 201 and 126 series all need a modern rebirth
Specifically the 124 in my opinion. I'm driving the 1992 300E sedan till this day. Would love to have a brand new one if I could. Maybe they could add a little bit more safety features to meet regulation but nothing that would destroy its classiness.
I've been thinking for years...BMW E30 M3
IF you had put the 300 SEL 6.3 (1969 - 1971), it would have been much faster than the newer diesel. The 6.3 was legendary in Road and Track tests from the era, with a quarter mile in the 14s. Love the series!!!
THE TITLE AND COMMENTARY IS INCORRECT.
It's the Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9 which is featured in this video, NOT the Mercedes 450 SEL.
The Mercedes 450 SEL is a 4.5 litre V8.
The Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9 is the 6.9 litre V8.
Thank you.
thanks for the clarification, couldn't wrap my head around it
I noticed that the erroneous title has still not been changed!
You are welcome ,that 6.9 needs a tuneup .
I love the 450 SEL.the old rock never die :)
Damn that older s class still has some kick :)
I love these series. Keep up the brilliant work!
these old mercedes were like german rolls royce but cheaper,
the quality of the interior still impresses
jimded The 6.9 was actually more expensive than most Rolls Royces of its time. Same with the 600, which the engine is derived from - it cost around two times what a Silver Shadow cost.
+jimded And it's exactly the same with the W222 S-Class today.
+JackpodyDK Maybe you have different data but, in 1979, the 6.9 sold for about $52,995. The Shadow II was about $65,400.
Ah, I was speaking on behalf of Danish car prices back then. Due to taxes, the 6.9 was more expensive.
This series is a great idea AE - keep them coming!!
an old S class auto ! even a 450 SEL, i wasn't expecting this too !
Look at how young Mat is here😂
Well, he looks the same to me😁
MY DREAMCAR 450SEL W116 AND S320
Love this segment, keep it up auto express!!
SEL looks all class.
Fun series, keep em coming! :-)
as they say"old is gold"
THE EXPRESSION OLD IS GOLD COMES TO MIND
Wow, I wasn't expecting that. Impressive. Beautiful color on that one as well.
I had a 73 450SEL, I think that was one of my favorite cars ever.
God, I really expected the new one to win.
Good girl the old 450
That's great performance for a 5000 pound 258 hp turbodiesel It's also great performance for a 34-year-old 4000 pound car Great series I wish they do more!!!
They're actually the same weight...the 6.9nis heavier though, but only by 80kg
These w116 mercs were the best car Mercedes ever made.
I´m a 450 SEL fan. Such an amazing car. August, 9, 2020.
what is the color on the 450 sel?
Didn't expect that result... I guess weight played the deciding factor here.
Love these little drag vids. Uber entertaining!
I looked it up. The 6.9 is actually around 80 kgs heavier.
I have to say, when i saw the cars, i thought that it's a pointless test, the S would obliterate the SEL but DAMN! That old Merc is fast!
Classic car. Stunning condition.
450sel and s65 6.0 v12 are the same?same motors?same injection?etc...it s65 old car??
What MPG does the S350 get you didn't say?
I agree. We need more series like this. Just to see how much we've advanced in 30 ish years. I agree with the looks of the older Mercedes is very stylish and the interior of the new one well, no contest there. But, the old one I bet is made to last.
I love the 450 SEL 6.9. It still looks so strong and imposing after all these years. Plus having such powerful and big V8 is priceless.
Fuck diesel. The S Class should have never been fitted with a tractor engine...
exactly!! like the coupe version,CL only petron never diesel
All the S Class that i have seen here in Australia are petrol V8's over the years. My parents have had S Class Mercedes Benz and all of them have been petrol.
+E34Benzin it's because EU pussies in Brussel hate petrol and they push car makes to favour diesels and put them everywhere. They only care about CO2, but actually diesel is much worse for our lungs and for nature as well.
+Free Thinker You're totally right.
I just would rebuild the engine and add a turbocharger or a supercharger....or if someone would be crazy enough, why not both? :D I think, that it would be a reliable rocket ;)
I have two of the 450SEL 6.9's. One is a Euro Spec, in Brown. As in the movie Ronnin. Would not part with it. Its instant torgue off the line at idle, wins most traffic light drags. Long before most modern smaller turbo's engines spool up their turbo, i am long gone. I think the one in the video is the lower compression version, as mine spins both rear wheels if launched, in almost silence.. leaves a few stunned at the lights.
I have owned both of those cars now. Technology has certainly moved on, but there is nothing quite like driving the oldies
6.9=king
what's the name of the music
That is a quick diesel. Damn.
(Sweeet 6.9, that color!)
Awesome!
these series are great
That 450 SEL is beautiful (though the interior of the new one is better). I love old Mercs
That is pretty impressive. Those old S-classes just rule.
So what's the mpg figure for the diesel. Ii would like to see how you got 20 mpg out of the 6.9... I think 14mpg would be a more realistic figure
US MPG is different then UK's MPG.
hahah :)) Better to use litres per 100 kilometres. No more confusion :)
"Pitting old performance cars against some far more economical models from today". He says it in the start.
I dont think 3000cc is economical
@@gta4crashesmods212 Did you check how old the video is before commenting?
My Grandma had that car! I only rode in it a few times...don't remember much. They sold it in the 90's because it had engine problems.
You can't improve on perfection.
I did not see that one coming I must admit, quite surprised.
The 12V socket didn't work? No chance. You didn't engage it correctly when you opened the ashtray door.
Cool, did not expect the 70's S to hang with the new 350 TDi, impressive!
I assume it weighs considerably less though, like half the new one :)
There's a reason why C'était Un Rendezvous and Ronin was so awesome... ;)
What about a 190 E (2.3 cossworth) vs a modern C220 CDI?!
Didn't expect that!
I wasn't expecting this :)
Totally agree for so many reasons. With classics one can do a lot of their own maintenance. Way less complicated, more style, more customization, more character, more individualistic, hold value, and are just cool ;-)
It felt sooooo good seing that SEL win
I very like these new videos.
Gut who invented it should get a bonus.
6.9 V8 286 HP vs 3.0 V6 235 HP...
7 speeds vs. 3.
The 70s vs. the XXI century.
Yes, exactly.
Diesel fanboys always talk about amazing torque of diesel engines and how amazing is an acceleration thanks to that torque, but in fact, every time you compare naturally aspirated petrol with turbo diesel - when petrol has more horsepower, it always wins. No matter that diesel has much much more torque. Somehow it doesn't help to beat petrol with much less torque, but a bit more horsepower.
LOL your comment is retarded, do you have any idea how much heavier the new s class is? Plus dont you think its kind of amazing that we know extract roughly the same power from a 3 liter that used to take a 6.9?
They don't drive anyway near the same. The turbodiesel doesn´t have the instant power delivery of a big displacement petrol V8, nor it has its smoothness and amazing sound.
My daily driver is a V6 turbodiesel, and I love it, but if money was no object I´d rather get the big V8.
They made it that big intentionally. Mercedes could have reached that power figure from a much smaller engine even back in the 70s.
يسعد دينك , قديمك نديمك لو جديدك أغناك :)
Bearing in mind the old 450 has fewer ratios with wider gaps between them it is even more impressive.
i think this is mat watson first drag race video recorded in youtube
Why not mk2 GTI 16V ? ??????
I love that S350. The 450 SEL'S for the states looked great.
anyone noticed the hydraulic suspension on the 6.9 at the start? it is just to cool...
Love the old big block 6.9 and with AMG cams it goes even faster. Just because it's older doesn't mean it wont beat the newer models. At the end of the day there's no replacement for displacement and that old cast ion block will out last newer blocks too. I didn't think the power to weight or gear box proved to be that much better from the diesel anyway. Still, it's amazing what MB does with their new diesel technology. 6.9 undefeated. :)
gold. i don't think he knew about the car though. its a 450sel 6.9, not a stock 450sel. a standard 450 has the 4.5L V8, the 6.9 was a very special car. 20mpg would be stretching it, it hits only ~15mpg though! nice to see it put through its paces. i have a couple of videos on our 6.9s on youtube
Really didn't expect that
I'll live and die in Lexus cars but that old Benz - that car does something to me - so much character , absolutely beautiful
Pretty good for the old 6,9 taking into consideration that that had an old GM torqueflite derived MB 3 speed automatic compared to the new S-Class 7 speed unit
Pretty sure it had Mercedes own automatic transmissions, as Mercedes made their own transmissions since 59.
The W3B50 Transmission was a Mercedes version derived from the Turbo Hydramtic 400 Transmission since it and the Chrysler Torqueflite were the only few automatic transmissions that could handle the power and the torque of a big engine and technically they are pretty close together, Mercedes made a few changes themselves to the original tranny.
Very nice!
What's song name please 😊😊😊😊
Wow... I wasn't expecting this...
The 450 SEL is a legend.
What a beautiful piece of german enginnering! A classic look in this gorgeous blue color. When Mercedes was the best car. Today, only plastic and iPad gauges. Throw away in 6 years. The w 116 will continue to show her grace for a century.
very unexpected! Awesome!
Originally I expressed surprise that the old car was faster than the new. After you pointing out that it was more powerful and me looking up the specs of each, I couldn't understand how it could be faster. Didn't suggest anywhere that the video was fake.
There's the 450SEL and there's the 450 SEL 6.9. Which one are you on about, Auto Express?
W116 Merc-Benz will always be a hero car for me....
Wow, I didn't expect the 450 to win that at all!
Nice 👍
They aren't too bad to maintain. If you opt for the 6.9, then it'll be expensive but not too bad to do. I own a W108 280 SE 2.8 from 1970 and it's pretty simple stuff, albeit it being a Mercedes with fuel injection made in 1970 though.
The emissions equipment doesn't strangle things like in the 70's when the convertors came out. We are talking 400, 500, 600 hp and more now a days, that doesn't seem strangled to me.
انشهد انها كارثه هالمكينه سقس بوي ناين
Didnt expect that
Jeeeezzzzzuuussssss!!!!! How I would love to own one. They ride so smooth that I would say they are superior to modern Benz ride quality.
Would the new Merc benefit from skipping gears?
That diesel has a lot of torque..
Well the 6.9 is a 3 speed auto geared to cruise comfortably at 115-120 MPH. Since it's a 6.9, it takes no time to climb onto the cams where the newer car has to be at pretty high RPM to actually accelerate, so a smaller gearbox would be worse but a bigger bored engine would be better
Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 what a beutiful name :)
ohh yes the good old cars
is that guy from carwow
yes
AE could do 2 races, so they will be able to do test with changed drivers.
Well, the 450SEL looks in Comparison kind of slower but - i didn't expected that^^