Think AMG Invented the Super Saloon? - Meet the Mercedes 300 SEL 6.3

Think BMW M or AMG invented the super saloon? Think again. In 1968, Mercedes-Benz created something extraordinary: the 300 SEL 6.3. A luxurious, understated four-door saloon with the enormous M100 6.3-litre V8 from the Mercedes-Benz 600 squeezed beneath its bonnet. The result was a car capable of carrying five adults in comfort while embarrassing contemporary Ferraris, Porsches and Jaguars. But the reason it exists is even more interesting. After Mercedes-Benz engineer Erich Waxenberger was accused of building “granny cars”, he set about creating something very different. An experimental 6.3-powered Pagoda came first, but when that proved a little too wild, attention turned to the 300 SEL. What started as an engineer’s hot rod caught the attention of Mercedes-Benz development chief Rudolf Uhlenhaut, and ultimately became one of the most remarkable performance saloons ever built. 137mph. 0–60mph in around 6.5 seconds. Air suspension. A 6.3-litre V8. And room for the family. Its story would also become intertwined with the beginnings of AMG and one of the most recognisable racing saloons ever created: the legendary 300 SEL 6.8 “Red Pig”. Today, it’s understood that just over 20 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3s remain in the UK. Three of them are here, together, at SLSHOP. One has just been sold to a collector. One is heading to one of the UK’s leading automotive journalists and YouTubers. And the third? Its for Sale! Disclaimer: This video is created for educational, historical, and entertainment purposes. All information is based on publicly available sources and historical research believed to be accurate at the time of production. Any images, video clips, or other media used are either licensed, used with permission, in the public domain, AI-generated, or used under the principles of fair use for commentary, criticism, education, and historical documentation. SLSHOP Unit 1a, 2, 3, & 4b Drayton Manor Drive Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37 9RQ T:01789 337 070 info@theslshop.com parts.theslshop.com/ https://www.theslshop.com/ #mercedesbenz #300sel #classiccars #slshop