At the Geneva Motor Show in March 1968, Mercedes equipped the “compact” 300 SEL (still 5 meter-long, or 197 in.!) with the 6.3-liter V8 borrowed from the 600 Limousine. This 300 SEL 6.3 was produced until 1972, but its successor was launched in 1975 only: it was the 450 SEL 6.9. The SEL was basically a Mercedes SE, whose wheelbase and rear doors were lengthened by 10 cm.