Produced between 1972 and 1980, the W116 was the first car from Mercedes to officially bear the name “S-class.” Representing the pinnacle of luxury, safety and German engineering in the period, American customers could choose from several gasoline-powered V8s: a 3.5 liter unit in the 350SE/L, a 4.5 liter unit in the 450 SE/L and a gargantuan 6.9 liter unit in the infamous, high performance 6.9 SEL. But in Europe, the car was also available in base spec as the 280S, powered by a carbureted (rather than fuel injected) version of the M110 2.8 liter straight six.
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280S on UK eBay
Year: 1979
Model: 280S
Engine: 2.8 liter inline-6
Transmission: 3-speed automatic
Mileage: 130,000 mi
Price: £4,995 Buy It Now (~$6,434)
Very original and incredibly rare base spec S-Class Mercedes in Thistle Green
and lovely period check interior. Recently discovered in a West London residential garage this wonderful car has been lightly recommissioned by ourselves and given a 12 month MOT with no advisories.
The eye-catching interior is in amazing condition, a real testament to Mercedes built quality of the time and 70’s fashion. Outside the classic lines are free of major dents or scrapes. Super rare “poverty spec” with manual windows, but still has a luxury feeling with deep pile carpets, wood veneer and half leather seats.
Runs and drives great.
Released In 1972, Mercedes-Benz introduced the W116 line, the first to be officially called the S-Class.
Produced from 1972 through 1980, the series featured a four-wheel independent suspension and disc brakes.
This was a groundbreaking car for Mercedes-Benz, and for the first time and the overall design incorporated numerous safety features developed from the safety research vehicles in the mid-to-late 1960’s.
Runs and drives great.Good tyres and brakes, excellent chrome, sunroof. Don’t miss this one of kind Mercedes, come along for a test drive today.
service@autodroma.co.uk 01784 392515 / 07795 488849 www.autodroma.co.uk
The idea of a poverty spec S-class might seem like a contradiction in terms. But I found this example – located in England, but LHD nonetheless – to be so charming that I couldn’t resist writing it up. You might have to crank your own windows (which is very un S-class-like) and there’s no air conditioning, but at least there’s a sunroof (manually operated, presumably). The car comes in a fetching and very period-fitting Thistle Green, with matching checked cloth seats with leather bolsters, and benefits from the slimmer bumpers that grace European spec cars.
Described as a “barn find” (really a garage in wealthy West London, it sounds), the car looks lovely in the photos. The selling dealer says that it has been lightly recommissioned, runs and drives well, and has passed its MOT (the British government’s emissions/roadworthiness test). The buy it now price roughly equates to about $6,400, which is not a lot of money for a nice W116, even with 130,000 miles on the odometer. Of course, interested US buyers will have to have it shipped across the Atlantic, which raises the question of whether such a low spec car is worth the money and the hassle. Still, I hope someone saves it and drives it.
-Craig
