Category: Mercedes Benz

1977 Mercedes-Benz 280SL 5-speed manual

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The late 1970s was a about the halfway point for the R107 Mercedes-Benz SL. Here in the US, the only SL on offer was the 450SL, powered by the 4.5 liter V8 producing 222 horsepower. This engine was teamed exclusively with a 4 speed automatic in the US market. If, however, you lived in other parts of the world, you could order the 182 horsepower, 2.8 liter twin cam inline six and even opt for a manual transmission with four or five gears. In the case of our feature car, it has the desirable combination of the 2.8 liter six with the five speed manual transmission.

1977 Mercedes-Benz 280SL 5-speed manual on eBay

A Mercedes SL with a 5 speed transmission? A rare car in the USA, because it was never directly imported by the Mercedes-Benz factory, but rare even in the home markets, with 1347 produced in 1977. This car was privately imported early in life to California, so has NO RUST and no evidence of accident history. We purchased the car some time ago, with a previous history of a long term owner. We bring our favorite Mercedes-Benz cars right away to a Mercedes-Benz Factory trained technician, for a thorough inspection and repair program.

The car runs great!! The low total mileage of 115,031 represents a large amount of remaining use. Driving feel is fantastic: maneuverable, tight, responsive are all words that come to mind. Most W107 SL cars were produced with V-8 engines, mostly to satisfy the US market. The MUCH lighter twin cam six cylinder engine coupled with a 5 speed transmission gives a completely different feel. The high output engine has a definite growl and the manual transmission is a perfect match. Also, as a technical note: automatic transmissions absorb approximately 35 horsepower, where a manual transmission absorbs only 8 -10 horsepower. It makes for a better feel when the engine starts out with 185 horsepower.

While going over the car, we check over and service the brake system, cooling system, all fluids, electrical systems etc. We are happy to report that all systems are go, only needing basic operations to bring them up to date. As usual, the electrical systems on 107 Mercedes-Benz cars are quite trouble free, and this car has all working gauges, lights horns etc. Air conditioning and heating systems have been serviced and are operating properly. Water temperature and oil pressure all operate at proper levels, as befitting a low mileage car.

Chrome fittings are in excellent condition, including grille, bumpers handles and body trim. Lenses and lights all operate properly, and look great. The no-rust body and chassis is very straight and original, complemented by the blue metallic paint color. We do a polish operation on all of our cars, to bring up a fresh shine, and while the paint is presentable, there are a few chips and nicks etc, as well as varying levels of paint shine quality over the totality of the body panels. Overall, the paint is in good condition.

The red interior of this car is in excellent condition, and also very outstanding visually. All the chrome trims on the sides of the seats are intact, which is a bit rare. Carpets and dash trim look great with only a few cracks on the top of the dash pad (see photos). Also, there is a matching body color hardtop included in the sale, in excellent condition. Please note: the convertible top canvas is not present. The top frame work is stowed under the metal boot lid.

In summary, this is probably the best specification W107 SL to buy, and this car in specific is a recommended buy. It is such a different feel than a regular V-8 / automatic car, the difference is night and day, as well as a great color combination.

Blue metallic teamed with a red interior is a combination not often seen on the R107. The slimmer Euro bumpers also lend a more lithe look to this roadster than the heavy crash bumpers mandated by the US government. The only thing I’d change to finish off the package would be to add the flush fitting Euro headlights. Values of R107s have been rising across the board, as enthusiasts begin to recognize the strengths of the series. This is a nicely kept example for someone who wants a little more sporting of a drive. If this SL could be had for between $12,000 to $15,000, it would be well bought.

-Paul

Black Series 1 of 4 1989 Mercedes Benz 560SEC AMG

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This is the first of four black W126 AMG cars on sale now in a range of prices. Take your pick.

This first one is a Euro spec car sporting only 32,000 miles. The car looks to be a stage 2 AMG model with cosmetic and suspension work. The AMG kit and wheels along with the sleekness of the Euro headlights and body really make this a nice looker. The car includes the taller trunk spoiler, which you don’t always see on AMG cars, more commonly just seeing the shorter lip spoiler. Perhaps this is not an AMG part, but that would seem odd.

This being a later model W126 it has some refinements that the earlier models didn’t have inside. This one has an AMG steering wheel and also has a modern radio.It also still retains the 300 kph AMG speedo.

This car looks great, shiny paint, clean interior. The chrome has all been blacked out, black rims, and even blacked out emblems complete the murdered look. Clear corner lenses also help the look.  This is a car for more than just a casual Benz enthusiast, but one who wants a truly nice original specimen. The 300 horsepower engine will provide for easy highway cruising though if the car was pressed into daily service.

The car is up with no reserve and has bids up to $13,000. The low miles, no reserve, and this being the big 5.6 liter engine make for a good buying opportunity. There aren’t too many left out there in this shape, expect a premium for sure. With high mile run of the mill W126 coupes trading hands for less than $5,000 you can expect to see close to 4x that for this one. If you prefer the widebody version of this car there is a nearly identical one in that flavor for sale now too which I’ll post up as well.

1989 Mercedes Benz 560SEC AMG on eBay

~Evan

1998 Mercedes-Benz S600 with 10,000 miles

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This car is sure to set off some comment chatter. There’s been a lot of talk about what it takes to maintain an upper end German luxury car and whether it is worth it in the end. With the W126 S class rising in popularity amongst collectors, the W140 S class has now entered the gray area of not quite collectable but too old to be on most used car buyers’ radar. This example of the flagship S600 has the rare four seat option and has covered a mere 10,000 miles.

1998 Mercedes-Benz S600 on Hemmings Motor News

1998 Mercedes-Benz S600 V12

Another gorgeous Mercedes with just 10,000 miles – everything is in brand new condition
and this too was stored in a heated storage facility for many years. The color combination
is a stunning “champagne beige” color both inside and out. The car has every option available.
Even the carpet looks as though no one has ever stepped foot in the car. You can own this gorgeous car for a fraction of the cost to buy one new.

Offered at $45,000

The asking price of $45,000 is way off the map from anything I’ve seen in terms of W140 values, but this could quite possibly be the lowest mileage S600 available, as only a few hundred were made for the 1998 model year. While $45,000 is a mere fraction of the original $132,000 list price, I could not see this car pulling more than $25,000. The old rule of Mercedes sedans (with exception of some AMG models) not pulling as much on resale as coupes and convertibles is in effect here.

One must keep in mind the complexity of the W140 versus its predecessor, the W126. From the oil and fuel consumption to complex features such as a rear view mirror that is electronically actuated, this is neither an easy or cheap car in terms of upkeep.

-Paul

Rare 1968 Mercedes IMA Universal 200D Heckflosse Wagon

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An uncommon buying opportunity for the vintage wagon lover. This Mercedes isn’t the most visually stimulating car for the untrained eye with the relatively plain front end looks of a W110 chassis Benz and beige paint. The knowledgeable Benz aficionado will immediately recognize the rarity of the vehicle. Mercedes now has a great tradition of building wagons that have grown to cult following status. The W110 chassis fintails converted by Belgian firm IMA were some of the very first.

Update 12.11.2011 – Unfortunately this listing has been ended before we could finish authoring this post. -dc

This two owner car has covered 107,000 miles and is fairly original condition. It was repainted in the 1980s in a slightly different shade than the original. If the car still had its original paint I bet we could’ve seen the price on this go sky high. Even with the repaint though the rest of the car shows great originality and has good service records, and even a Mercedes Universal parts catalog.

I’ve seen some varying figures on the production numbers of the Universal wagons. The seller is claiming this is one of two from 1968, the other being in the Mercedes museum in Stuttgart. The seller states that less than 30 Universals survive  of 300 built in 1966-1967, which definitely needs the old “citation needed” attached to it. I’ve seen numbers given higher than that and most certainly higher if you consider models built in 1965 as well. Regardless of what the actual number is, this is a rare car.

The conversion is not some hack job. These were well thought out and produced. The new design took into consideration the fintail profile and made sure not to lose that identifying feature.  The wood load floor in the back with cargo sliders significantly upped the practicality of owning a Benz sedan. The slick split fold flat seats with a third row bench are the type of features that you see advertised today in SUV and minivan ads like they are new inventions.

The car shows use and expected wear, just the right amount. A new owner could restore it to trailer queen status with an all the way re -freshening or leave it as is. If it had original paint the choice would obviously be leave it alone.

Mechanically things seem to all be in order. The 2 liter diesel has legendary reliability status and if something does need fixing it would not be a huge challenge. A four speed automatic should also provide trouble free stately transportation.

The auction has no reserve so we are going to be able to see what the market says about price. The auction is already heading towards $11,000 with plenty of bidding. Seeing twice that will not surprise me at all. If the Von Trapp family were 30 years younger I can easily see them picnicking in the Alps with this ride.

1968 Mercedes I200D Heckflosse Wagon on eBay

~Evan

2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 4matic estate

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Here’s a low mileage example of the final year Mercedes-Benz E500 7 passenger estate. I tend to refer to these as Hamptonmobiles, as German estates are the vehicle of choice for those who live and vacation in the far east reaches of Long Island. Armed with 302 horsepower, this wagon can hit 60 in just under six seconds. Additionally, the 4matic all wheel drive makes this a particularly attractive choice for Northeast customers without reverting to the de rigeur SUV.

2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 4matic estate on eBay

2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 4Matic AWD Wagon, Original MSRP: $71,085

* Premium Package (Originally $3,550.00)
– Power Tilt/Sliding Glass Sunroof, Includes 1-touch open/close and memory
– harmon/kardon LOGIC7 Surround Sound System, Includes 12 speakers (including dual surround speakers plus a subwoofer) and 7.1 channel amplifier.
– 6-Disc CD Changer
– DVD COMAND Navigation
– Active Ventilated Front Seats
– Heated Front Seats
– Rear Side-Window Roller Blinds

* Hands Free Communication System (Originally $1,450.00)
– Includes Voice Control

* Lighting Package (Originally $990.00)
– Bi-Xenon Headlamps w/Active Curve Illumination, Low and high beam.
– Headlamp Washers

* Automatic Power Liftgate (Originally $520.00)
* Sirius Satellite Radio (Originally $420.00)
* 3rd Seat 7-Passenger Package

PEDIGREE:

* Extremely Clean and Well Cared For Inside And Out.
* 1 Previous Owner
* Clean CarFax & AutoCheck Vehicle History Reports. 100% AutoCheck and CarFax Certified. No Reported Accidents, Issues, Problems, Etc.
* Amazingly Well Serviced and Maintained at Mercedes of Melbourne, FL
* Tires in Very Good Condition, Tires Measure 7/32nds Rear and 6/32nds Front – App. 60% to 70% of the Tread Remaining. All Matching.

Normally I wouldn’t be so enthused about a car for sale in Chicago but it appears this one was sourced from Florida. It certainly appears as such. While the V8 engine isn’t the most economical choice for the times, the color, practicality and condition make this a good choice for long distance travels. If in fact the extended warranty on offer can be honored at Mercedes dealers, it would be a wise choice, as one could enjoy this estate for a little while longer while mitigating repair costs at a fraction of its cost when new.

-Paul

Graham Rahal’s Supercharged CLK63 Black Series for sale

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If the owner hasn’t nicknamed this car the “White Rhino” yet, he should. Featured in this month’s european car, it has the fear-factor, chromatic simplicity, and rarity of the aforementioned horned beast. We love rare cars here at GCFSB, but this one is a babushka doll of rarities. Start with the nice-but-mundane Mercedes-Benz CLK. Add 6.2 liters of howling V8, and you get the CLK63. Pile on uprated suspension, brakes, decreased weight, and massively flared fenders, and you get the magical Black Series. Drape it in a rare color. Still too run-of-the-mill for you? Let’s strap a supercharger on the top and add a celebrity owner. This is, as one of my favorite Onion articles so hilariously put it back in 2004 (pre-Gilette Fusion), going Five Blades. With just under 9k miles, I guess the previous owner, Indycar driver Graham Rahal, got distracted during his quest to make the most badass CLK Black Series ever (perhaps organizing funds for the new one?), but his ADD is someone else’s gain. Before he was done with it though, he added a Weistec supercharger to help crank horsepower to over 600 at the crank, along with some ultra-lightweight rims and exhaust. It still weighs 2 tons, but did you see that last sentence? 600+ horsepower. See ya.

Mercedes-Benz Supercharged CLK63 Black Series owned by Graham Rahal for sale

The listing description is less enticing than the ec article, but here it is:

This CLK 63 AMG Black Series was previously the “Safety Car” for Formula One Racing. With only 300 produced and approximately only 30 in white, THIS IS ONE RARE FIND!!!!! It’s Arctic White over Black and comes with over $35,000 in performance upgrades! Upgrades include; 3M Clear Bra, Weistec Supercharger, Evosport Full Exhaust (including Headers and X-Pipe Headers), Evosport Intake Upgrades, Performance Air Filters, Vorsteiner Carbon Front Splitter, MaCarbon Full Carbon Interior Package (including Custom Steering Wheel, Door Trim, Glove Box Trim and ect…) and 19″ Volk G2 Wheels. Also, comes loaded with Navigation, Harman Kardon Logic7 Digital Surround Sound Stereo, Satellite Radio, Bi-Xenon Headlights, AMG Premium Leather Upholstery and much more!

So, is this white rhino worth it? For starters, next to the going rate of $80-90k on eBay for used Black Series, the $104k asking price seems well worth it for the extra rhinoness and provenance compounding the rarity of the car. I’m an Audi/VW/BMW guy (aka, less of a Mercedes or Porsche man), but when I think about $100k sports cars, I’m not sure I can think of one I’d dig more than this. Go ahead, I’m sure some will hate on the white paint or nitpick something else on it. To me, this is a big game trophy worth bagging.

-NR

2001 Mercedes Renntech C38 Scarce car and color

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This interesting car falls into a strange place in the Mercedes line up.

It started life as a run of the mill 225 horsepower C320, albeit one with a not that common cobalt blue metallic paint. The cobalt blue color is a really nice subdued blue that looks elegant, but not as boring as black.The car was sent to Renntech where the 3.2 was boredout to 3.8 and some additional enhancements, such as exhaust, intake, and rims were added. All completed the car is running a significant bump in horsepower all lag free and normally aspirated. Specs aren’t given, but I beleive the 3.8 is rated at 291 bhp and 305 lb-ft of torque and the cost of that increase from Renntech was $19,000. That is a lot of cash for the same amount of horsepower to be had from a 50 shot of NOS. Total upgrades on the car according to the seller total $25,000.

What makes this a bit of an odd duck, is unlike other monster horsepower Renntech vehicles the horsepower isn’t huge, and the gains put it right into competition with the AMG C32 that also came out in 2001. The C32 pumps out 50 more horsepower from its supercharger making this Renntech model a bit superfluous.

The car is listed on eBay at $13,900. With 92,000 miles on it you can find a C32 with that kind of mileage for the same price. I noted that the same car is listed elsewhere on the net for $11,900. Not particularly flashy or powerful, but a unique ride that cost way too much to convert when  new.

2001 Mercedes Renntech C38 on ebay

~Evan

 

 

 

 

2007 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Wagon

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Zac emailed me to let me know about this special piece of inventory: a 2007 E63 Wagon. Not only does this monster possess 507hp, it knows how to use them. Check out this Car & Driver drag race between a Mercedes E63 wagon and an Audi R8 V8:

On to the car in question, let’s let the pictures do the talking:

2007 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Wagon

quote from seller’s listing:

Only 67 E63 AMG Wagons were sold in the US in 2007 and this is quite possibly the only one ever in Barolo Red Metallic. They are almost always black or silver, I have seen only a couple of sedans in this color and never another wagon. POSSIBLY 1 OF 1 IN THIS RARE COLOR. AMAZINGLY FAST WAGON, Loaded with every option, Navigation, Suede Headliner, Steering Wheel Paddle Shifters, 3rd Row Seating (seats 7), Harmon Kardon Sound, Satellite Radio, Heated and Air Conditioned front seats, variable suspension, the list goes on!! 6.2 liter V8, 507 hp @ 6800 RPM, 465 lb-ft @ 5200 RPM. Only one senior owner from brand new, this car was a special order direct from Germany. Fully serviced only at Factory MB Dealer, last service just two months ago. The Car is stunning and needs nothing except a new owner. Both keys, manuals, mats etc. Rare opportunity. These cars are highly coveted among the AMG enthusiast crowd. They don’t hit the market often and when they do, they always bring a big following. Pics are not the best and dont do the car the justice it deserves, i will take better ones this week the first dry day we get. No paintwork or accidents, clean Title / carfax. Must be seen and driven in person to be appreciated. These things are very rare, even rarer to find one with this color combo, options and low mileage. They almost have a cult following in the car world, not a lot of car companies make a sporty wagon these days, definitely not many making a 507 Horsepower V8 Monster that seats 7 people!!! This thing will embarrass most Italian Supercars, a real sleeper, keep them guessing!!!

I must admit that I typically prefer the modern classic Merc’s, but this is one bad ass ride and a spectacular color combo. Good luck to the seller and I hope it finds a special home.

dc

Reader Ride: 1984 Mercedes 500SEL AMG 5.4

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Carlton emailed me over the break with his stunning 500SEL AMG. While this car has mileage befitting it’s age and the patina to match, it is being sold as an authentic AMG equipped vehicle. The best part is that it is a NO RESERVE auction! With a little over a day to go, it’s currently at a bit over $8k!

1984 Mercedes 500SEL AMG 5.4 for sale on eBay

quote from the seller’s listing:

All I can say this is one fantastic Mercedes! I have owned many rare and unique cars and I can honestly say this one might be one of the neatest cars I have ever owned. I get many thumbs up. This AMG has presence! It has been a southern car for a majority of its life, hence no rust at all. For being 28yrs. old it is in very good condition. The paint is in fair shape and has a couple of flat spots in it. Also if you look at the front fender it has a spot of cancer the size of a half dollar. The rear window is delaminating, which is common with this vintage. This is a real AMG with all AMG parts stamped and verified. I have done all preventive maintainance and have added some performance inhancements. This particular Mercedes has the AMG catalog thrown at it with a no cost approach from the original purchaser. Below is a list of AMG options installed and the maintainance I have done. **********euro vehicle, eBay does not recognize VIN. It’s a 1984*************

AMG Options

AMG Areodynamics

full body kit

rear spoiler

Performance

tubular exhaust headers

5.4 liter modification to version lll

Suspension

lowering kit

AMG 3pc Areo’s(new Toyo tires)

Interior Apointments

full leather treatment including dash and all surfaces your body touches

steering wheel

Recaro Ideal C seats(fully functioniing)

matching wood console

shift knob

full door wood kit

AMG rear logo

champaigne cooler center console(not working, but cool non the less, all parts there)

Maintainance

timing chain, rail, guides and tensioner

plugs, wires and valve adjustment

interior restoration

recharge A/C and replace belts

all fluids flushed and replaced

battery

stainless 2.5 exhaust with X pipe into dual Magnaflow exhaust

As good as the pictures came out, this AMG is 28yrs old and shows some pantina. The exterior shows well, but I was going to have it painted. The dipped chrome trim has some paint flaking off, along with the front grille. The front spoiler has a crack in the middle, holding up well, but needs repair. The interior has been restored to like new condition. The leather is in fantastic shape with minimal wear. Most of the interior wood is in decent shape, excluding the dash trim pieces. To make this stand tall next to the leather I would have all wood restored. Mechanically this car is strong! I took it out the other day and ran with a Mustang GT. The top end seems endless! All service has been performed by a Mercedes Master tech and is spot on. This summer I took it to Atlanta and back with temps pushing 90 with the A/C blowing cold and the temp needle holding steady. There are a couple problem areas that will need attention. The first is the transmision. I’ve had it looked at and the tech said it is fine, it just shifts a little soft for me, I hear you can adjust it. Never tried. The vaccum needle bounces around at idle. Probably a vaccum line some where. Also the driver side and passenger side window switches are going bad. They work, but require a little force. This AMG is a piece of Mercedes history and I guarantee it is one of few optioned like this. It deserves to be restored and driven and definately appreaciated. There are a couple reasons I’m selling it: I dont get to drive it like I should or have the time to put into restoring it, secondly I’m buying a car I sold years ago and it’s for sale again, you know how it goes, wife say’s I can only have so many toy’s. Who ever wins this auction will be gettiing a great car and a piece of Mercedes and AMG history!

While this car needs some attention to be perfect, it is a great looking period piece and I hope it finds a loving new home. Good luck with the sale Carlton.

If you have a car that should be seen on our site, please email me!

dc

1985 Mercedes-Benz 280SE

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The 1980s were a boon time for gray market importers. This period left us with a lot of Mercedes-Benz models in the US that were not normally sold here. Such is the case with this 1985 280SE sedan. This model featured the M110 inline six, which was the final year for this engine in the S class, a powerplant which debuted in the 1974 R107SL.

This particular 280SE presents well with its low mileage, slimmer bumpers, flush headlights and tasteful velour interior.

1985 Mercedes-Benz 280SE on eBay

Presenting today: an exceptional 1985 Mercedes-Benz 280SE W126. This car has NUMEROUS outstanding attributes so we will start with some obvious ones… First, the 69,940 mileage total guarantees decades of use remains with the car. Second, the obviously garage-kept condition means that this car is FRESH. Panel fit, paint quality and chrome condition are above excellent. This car is a European delivery car, so it has the smaller integrated bumper system. Please note the original covered glass headlights: a superior lighting system that was usually removed during the importation process has been retained here. The paint has a truly deep luster, even better in person. The body condition shows a long-term high level of care, with an absolute minimum of chips or other minor imperfections.

Lighting, lenses and other body fittings are as good as the day this car rolled out of the factory. Tire and rim condition are near perfect and ready to roll. The transmission shifts perfectly through the gears, The brakes, suspension and steering are in top operating condition. Road handling remains exemplary. We bring our Mercedes-Benz cars to a Factory Trained Technician for evaluation, and he came up with first off a clean report, and also some interesting observations.

This car is equipped with the Twin Cam M110 six cylinder engine. 1985 is the last year of production for this engine and it’s 185 horsepower rating is the highest for this engine series, allowing the car to achieve a genuine 130 mph top speed. For comparison sake, the efficiency of this engine, due to the pent-roof or near Hemi combustion chamber, exceeds the output of V-8 engines with a full liter more displacement. A very similar valve arrangement can be found in the 911 Porsche engine, which accounts for the high performance characteristics of both engine families.

The long term previous owner was also a petite person, and thus the seats have NO sagging or other wear abnormalities. The dash is in near perfect condition. The console, carpeting, door panels and headliner along with the wood and instrumentation are almost pristine. European market cars came with a velour interior, that has comfort levels UNATTAINABLE with leather or MB-Tex coverings used in USA market cars. The feel is best described as perfection in seating. Carpeting is as new. All interior fittings (wood, door panels etc) retain a near unused condition. All mechanical, electrical and climate control systems are in proper working order. All windows operate and function properly. The air condition works like it should and blows strong cold air.

The problem with many cars from the 1970s and 1980s is that the color combinations can be rather loud and/or dated. I’m a big fan of this burgundy over tan combination; tasteful for the period. When I was shopping around for my first car about 15 years ago, I test drove a gray market 1981 500SE sedan. It was metallic green in color and I was amazed how solid the car felt with 80,000 miles on the clock. It was as if I stepped into a new car. Ultimately, I selected a 1988 BMW 325is over the S class, but that driving experience has stayed with me all these years. These W126 S classes are quickly gaining stature with collectors. Examples like these are getting harder to find, and with a little less than a week left in the auction, I’m curious to see where the bidding will end.

-Paul