The Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 was a high-performance version of the S-Class luxury sedan. Built on its own assembly line by Daimler-Benz AG (now DaimlerChrysler) in Stuttgart and based on the long-wheelbase version of the "W116" chassis introduced in 1973, the 6.9, as it was generally referred to in the company's own literature to separate it from the regular 450SEL, was first shown to the motoring press at the Geneva Auto Show in 1974 and produced between 1975 and 1981 in extremely limited numbers. It was billed as the flagship of the Mercedes-Benz car line and the successor to Mercedes-Benz's original high-performance sedan, the 300SEL 6.3. The 6.9 also has the distinction of being among the first vehicles ever with optional anti-lock brakes, first introduced by Mercedes-Benz and Bosch in 1978. Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes%2dBenz_450SEL_6.9 Today's selected anniversaries: 1939 Soviet forces invaded Finland, starting the Winter War, but were stalled at the Mannerheim Line. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_War) 1954 In Sylacauga, Alabama, a meteorite hit Elizabeth Hodges, bruising her thigh, in the only unequivocally known case of a human being hit by a space rock. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteorite) 1979 Rock band Pink Floyd released the mega-selling rock opera The Wall. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wall) 1999 Tens of thousands converged to protest the World Trade Organization at their meeting in Seattle. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Organization) Wikiquote of the day: "Find the good -- and praise it." ~ Alex Haley (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alex_Haley)