Chassis No. 116.036.12.001097

Introduced in May 1975 as the flagship of the S-Class range and the rightful successor to the 300 SEL 6.3, the 450 SEL 6.9 was powered by a 6.9-liter V8 derived from the earlier 6.3-liter engine, producing a potent 290 PS and a brutal 549 Nm of torque. The 6.9 also marked a major technical milestone as the first Mercedes-Benz passenger car equipped with hydropneumatic suspension and automatic level control, delivering unprecedented ride comfort and refinement. Naturally, this technical innovation came with a lavish purchase price and attracted the attention of captains of industry, heads of state, and celebrities alike, including Claude “Cloclo” François.

Claude François, a central figure in postwar French pop music, rose to prominence in the early 1960s by fusing Anglo-American influences with meticulously staged performances, helping modernize French pop music. His catalogue produced numerous hits, most notably “Comme d'habitude,” and later achieved international immortality when adapted into English as “My Way,” famously recorded by Frank Sinatra. Beyond performance, François was a disciplined entrepreneur, founding his own label and controlling production, choreography, and image with uncommon rigor. It was only natural for his exacting standards to be drawn to the 6.9.

Originally supplied in Milan Brown Metallic (404), the car was refinished to Claude François's preferred dark blue. Late on the night of 26 June 1977, Claude François narrowly escaped death while behind the wheel of his beloved 6.9. Mistakenly pursued by armed men in a Citroën CX, the car came under gunfire during a 20-kilometer chase that ultimately left the star unharmed, while the 6.9 sustained no less than seven bullet holes. The car was then repaired to his high standards so he could continue using it for the luxurious high-speed sprints between tour stops. Just one year after this incident, Claude François tragically succumbed to a fatal accident in his apartment in 1978, ending a brief but intensely influential career and cementing his status as a lasting cultural icon in France.

The car was then acquired by Alain-Dominique Perrin, former Chairman of the Board of Directors at Cartier International and Cartier S.A. as well as the CEO of the Richemont Group, and his wife Marie-Thérèse Dehaeze. The couple was not only close friends with Claude François, but Dehaeze also worked on his public relations team. With a strong connection to both the car and the singer, the couple retained the 6.9 in their collection until September 2015, when it was acquired by its current caretaker.

In 2018, the 6.9 was brought to Kienle Automobiltechnik where it underwent an extensive refurbishment that included a full inspection and servicing, comprehensive brake system overhaul, steering system rebuild, suspension restoration of the hydropneumatic system, and major fuel system repairs. Copies of the invoices in the accompanying history file detail the complete work rendered, totaling nearly €60.000. Today, Claude François's 6.9 is offered with just 118,074 kilometers at cataloging. Now offered for sale for the first time in more than a decade, this iconic Mercedes owned by none other than the French icon Claude François is ready to once again take center stage in any collection.