The Production Time-line

The W108/W109 line was the upper class model of the New Generation or /8 Mercedes family in 1967. It was introduced two years earlier in 1965 with the 250S/SE and the 300SE/SEL, but never the less served as the S-Class member of the stroke-eights for the first production years. It's predecessor was the "Fintail"; or "Heckflosse"; W111/W112 and the successor was the W116.

The 280SE 4.5 sedan mode its first appearance in early 1971, just few months after the new 4.5 litre engine had made its debut. It was available at the same time as the 3.5 litre engine sedan, and gave the buyer another option in power for his car. It was however never very popular. The 280SEL 4.5 sedan was produced at about the same time as the regular length sedan was available. Again this longer wheelbase car was identical to the other model, and the extra ten centimetres gave the rear-seat passengers additional space to stretch their legs.

The 300SEL 4.5 was introduced the same year. While the actual performance data compared with the 280SEL 4.5 model was identical, the owner of the 300SEL 4.5 sedan experienced the feeling of driving a car with truly unsurpassed readability, the very best available model in every respect.