Rare Car Archive

Makes › Mercedes-Benz Germany › 300 › 300 SE long wheelbase (W 112) · Rare specification · 1963–1965 Rare

Mercedes-Benz
300 SE long wheelbase (W 112)

Long-wheelbase version of the air-sprung 300 SE fintail saloon.

IDENTIFICATION CARD · MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SE LONG WHEELBASE (W 112) 1963–1965
No licensed photograph yet. Photographs are published only when their licence permits it.
1,546BuiltFactory reported
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
1,546 Built
Years
1963–1965
Engine
front-mounted, longitudinal inline six · 2,996 cc / 3.0 LFactory: 2,996 cc
Power
119 kW / 162 PSFactory: 160 hp · converted
Top speed
180 km/hFactory: 180 km/h
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The 300 SE long wheelbase (W 112/3) is the stretched version of the top fintail saloon, shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1963. It added 100 mm of length purely for rear-seat passengers, with more legroom, wider doors and an optional internal partition with an electrically operated window. The factory archive counts 1,546 saloons built from 1963 to 1965.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityRare 1,546 · Built1,2
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Factory package productionsaloons 1,5461,2 Factory production Factory reported

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

The standard 300 SE saloon was introduced in August 1961 with 4-speed automatic transmission, power steering and air suspension, the first on a Mercedes-Benz. The long version followed at Geneva in March 1963, and both could then be had with a four-speed manual gearbox at DM 1,400 less. The archive gives pre-production from December 1962 and standard production from March 1963 to August 1965, and 170 hp from January 1964. Fintail production of the 3-litre models ended in July and August 1965 when the new generation 300 SE took over.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard 300 SE long wheelbase (W 112).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeM 189 I / 189.984; from 01.1964: M 189 V / 189.9861
Layoutfront-mounted, longitudinal inline six1Source: Configuration "front, longitudinal; vertical"; cylinders "6 / in-line; light-alloy block".
Cylinders61
Displacement 2,996 cc / 3.0 LFactory: 2,996 cc1Tax classification: 2975 cc.
Bore 85 mmFactory: 85 mm1
Stroke 88 mmFactory: 88 mm1
Compression ratio8.7; from 01.1964: 8.81Value as printed in the source.
Valvetrain1 overhead camshaft; camshaft drive: double roller chain1
Fuel systemmanifold injection, mechanically controlled; Bosch 2-plunger injection pump, from 01.1964: Bosch 6-plunger injection pump1
Power 119 kW / 162 PSFactory: 160 hp · converted1Rating: manufacturerSource gives: 160 hp at 5000 rpm; from 01.1964: 170 hp at 5400 rpm
Power at 5,000 rpm1Source gives: 160 hp at 5000 rpm; from 01.1964: 170 hp at 5400 rpm
Torque 251 Nm / 25.6 kgmFactory: 25.6 kgm1Source unit is "mkg". Source gives: 25.6 mkg at 3800 rpm; from 01.1964: 25.4 mkg at 4000 rpm
Torque at 3,800 rpm1

Transmission & drivetrain

Gearbox4-speed automatic transmission (planetary gear system)1
Gears41
Gear ratiosI. 3.98; II. 2.52; III. 1.58; IV. 1.0; R. 4.151
Final drive3.92 (3.75 optional)1Source gives: 3.92 (3.75 optional)
Driven wheelsrear wheels1

Chassis, body & dimensions

Chassisfloor assembly1
Front suspensiondouble wishbone; air-spring bellows, torsion bar stabiliser1
Rear suspensionsingle-joint swing axle with level control; air-spring bellows, torsion bar stabiliser1
Brakeshydraulic dual-circuit brake system with vacuum booster, acting on front- and rear wheels; four-wheel disc brakes1
Steeringrecirculating-ball steering1
Body constructionsteel unit body1
Wheelbase 2,850 mmFactory: 2,850 mm1
Length 4,975 mmFactory: 4,975 mm1
Width 1,795 mmFactory: 1,795 mm1
Height 1,455 mmFactory: 1,455 mm1
Front track 1,482 mmFactory: 1,482 mm1
Rear track 1,490 mmFactory: 1,490 mm1
Kerb weight 1,615 kgFactory: 1,615 kg1DIN 70020: ready to drive, including fuel, spare wheel and tool kit.
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 180 km/hFactory: 180 km/h1Source gives: 180 km/h; from 01.1964: 185 km/h (RA 3.92) resp. 195 km/h (RA 3.75)
0–100 km/h 11.5 s1Source gives: 11.5 s; from 01.64: 10.7 s (RA 3.92) resp. 10.8 s (RA 3.75)
Fuel tank 82 LFactory: 82 L1
Fuel consumption 14.5 L/100kmFactory: 14.5 L/100km1Mercedes-Benz archive figure in litres per 100 km: 14.5 l; from 01.1964: 13.7 l (RA 3.92) resp. 13.0 l (RA 3.75) (DIN 70030: at 3/4 of top speed, not more than 110 km/h, plus 10 %)

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The factory type is 112.015 (design name W 112/3). Wheelbase is 2850 mm, length 4975 mm, width 1795 mm and height 1455 mm, with a kerb weight of 1615 kg and an 82-litre fuel tank. The visible difference from the short 300 SE is that the long car has no decorative screen in the C-pillar, because the extractor ventilation is arranged differently and the openings are missing. Standard gearbox is the 4-speed automatic with 3.92 final drive; tyres are 7.50 H 13 on 5 1/2 JK x 13 B rims.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    300 SE long wheelbase / W 112/3, 1963 - 1965 Level A Mercedes-Benz Public Archive (Classic M@RS)
    • Units produced : 1546 saloons
    • Engine type : M 189 I / 189.984; from 01.1964: M 189 V / 189.986 (Specifications)
    • Number of cylinders / arrangement : 6 / in-line; light-alloy block (Specifications)
    • Total displacement : 2996 cc (tax classification: 2975 cc) (Specifications)
    • Bore x Stroke : 85 x 88 mm (Specifications)
    • Compression ratio : 8.7; from 01.1964: 8.8 (Specifications)
    • Valve operation : 1 overhead camshaft (Specifications)
    • Fuel system : manifold injection, mechanically controlled; Bosch 2-plunger injection pump, from 01.1964: Bosch 6-plunger (Specifications)
    • Rated output : 160 hp at 5000 rpm; from 01.1964: 170 hp at 5400 rpm (Specifications)
    • Rated torque : 25.6 mkg at 3800 rpm; from 01.1964: 25.4 mkg at 4000 rpm (Specifications)
    • Gearing : 4-speed automatic transmission (Specifications)
    • Gear ratios : I. 3.98; II. 2.52; III. 1.58; IV. 1.0; R. 4.15 (Specifications)
    • Final drive ratio : 3.92 (3.75 optional) (Specifications)
    • Driven wheels : rear wheels (Specifications)
    • Frame design : floor assembly / steel unit body (Specifications)
    • Front-wheel suspension : double wishbone (Specifications)
    • Rear-wheel suspension : single-joint swing axle with level control (Specifications)
    • Brake system (foot brake) : hydraulic dual-circuit brake system with vacuum booster, acting on front- (Specifications)
    • Steering : recirculating-ball steering (Specifications)
    • Wheelbase : 2850 mm (Specifications)
    • Length : 4975 mm (Specifications)
    • Width : 1795 mm (Specifications)
    • Height : 1455 mm (Specifications)
    • Front / rear track : 1482 / 1490 mm (Specifications)
    • Kerb weight : 1615 kg (Specifications)
    • Maximum speed : 180 km/h; from 01.1964: 185 km/h (RA 3.92) resp. 195 km/h (RA (Specifications)
    • Acceleration 0-100 km/h : 11.5 s; from 01.64: 10.7 s (RA 3.92) resp. 10.8 s (Specifications)
    • Fuel tank: position / capacity : in the rear / 82 l (Specifications)
    • Fuel consumption : 14.5 l; from 01.1964: 13.7 l (RA 3.92) resp. 13.0 l (RA (Specifications)
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    Mercedes-Benz Classic M@RS archive – 300 SE long wheelbase Level A
    • 1546 saloons
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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