MERCEDES · MERCEDES 450 · Cars
MERCEDES 450 Rare
As of 2026 Q2, 957 MERCEDES 450s remain registered in the UK — a genuinely rare sight on today's roads. That's down from a peak of 958 in 2026 Q1 — only 100% of the high-water mark, a loss of about 1 cars. Unusually, the numbers are actually rising — up 2 (0.2%) over the past year, as imports and barn-finds rejoin the register faster than cars leave it. Tellingly, 53% are declared SORN — kept off the road in garages and barns rather than driven, the signature of a car being looked after rather than used up.
Survivors over time
How rare is it?
Rare — fewer than 1,000 remain (957 in the latest data).
Rarer than 36% of the 2,315 UK car models we track.
Fuel breakdown
Trend
About the 450
The Mercedes-Benz W 116 is a series of flagship luxury sedans produced from September 1972 until 1980. The W 116 automobiles were the first Mercedes-Benz models to be officially called S-Class, although some earlier sedan models had already been designated unofficially with the letter S for "special class" (German: "Sonderklasse"). The W 116 was selected as European Car of the Year in 1974.
MERCEDES 450 — questions & answers
How many MERCEDES 450 are left in the UK?
As of 2026 Q2, 957 MERCEDES 450 were still registered in the UK — 447 licensed and on the road, plus 510 declared SORN (off-road). The figures come from official DVLA vehicle licensing data.
Is the MERCEDES 450 rare?
The MERCEDES 450 is rare — fewer than 1,000 remain (957), making it rarer than 36% of the 2,315 UK car models we track.
Is the MERCEDES 450 increasing or decreasing?
Over the last year the number of MERCEDES 450 on UK roads rose by 2 (0.2%).
What fuel do most MERCEDES 450 use?
Most MERCEDES 450 run on petrol — about 100% of those still registered, with the rest split across diesel.
When did the MERCEDES 450 peak?
The MERCEDES 450 peaked at 958 registered in 2026 Q1, and was first recorded in the data in 2014 Q3.