1973 MERCEDES-BENZ 280 SEL 4.5WHEN YOU GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A 1973 MERCEDES-BENZ 280SEL SUCH AS THIS ONE, IT DOES NOT TAKE LONG TO REALIZE HOW ADVANCED THE TECHNOLOGY AND LUXURIOUS TOUCHES WERE FOR THE ERA. NOSTALGIC CLASSIC QUALITIES PAIRED WITH RELATIVELY MODERN PERFORMANCE AND COMFORT MAKE THE 280SEL A SOUGHT-AFTER COLLECTOR CAR, AND IT IS FAIRLY RARE. THE MERCEDES-BENZ W108/W109 SEDANS INTRODUCED IN THE MID-SIXTIES GOT JUST THE KIND OF BOOST AMERICAN BUYERS WANTED WHEN A V8 ENGINE BECAME AVAILABLE A FEW YEARS LATER. THIS 1973 MERCEDES-BENZ 280SEL 4.5 OFFERED HERE WAS THE LAST OF ITS LINE AND ONE OF ABOUT 8,200 MADE OVER A TWO-YEAR SPANTHIS CAR WOULD HAVE COST ABOUT $11,000 NEW, WHEN A CADILLAC SEDAN DE VILLE STARTED BELOW $7,000. THIS 280SEL 4.5-OFFERED AMPLE ROOM WITH A STRONG DOSE OF ATHLETIC ROAD FEEL, ALONG WITH "BANK VAULT" SOLIDITY FOR WHICH THESE CLASSIC MERCEDES MODELS WERE RENOWNEDCALIFORNIA CARCLEAN TITLE IN HANDWHITE EXTERIOR OVER A RED INTERIORTHE ODOMETER SHOWS 01770 MILESPOWER WINDOWS AIR CONDITIONINGUPGRADED SOUND SYSTEM WHITELINE TIRES THE LUXURY SEDAN'S 4.5-LITER SOHC V-8 ENGINE, RATED AT 190-HORSEPOWER FROM THE FACTORY, IS SAID TO BE ORIGINAL AND RUNS STRONG WITHOUT LEAKS.