Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
The Mercedes-Benz W123 is one of those few cars that blends luxury and practicality in one stoic package. If a W123 could play a round of poker, you probably would have a hard time getting a read on it. These are cars that go the distance with little complaint. While many have been run for hundreds of thousands of miles, some looking worse for wear than others, this 1979 300TD for sale in New Jersey is a remarkable survivor.
Over the last couple weeks a bunch of Mercedes-Benz 560SELs with low mileage cropped up, prompting us to feature a few of them. There’s no doubt that these were one of the most loved S class generations of all time. Advanced for their time, they also offered plenty of classic Mercedes style and durability to go along with the package. While I am a big fan of the flagship Benz of the period, I’ve maintained that my choice would be a short wheelbase 300SE, with the 3.0 liter inline six. It won’t win any races, but it’s a smooth engine and with less length, a more manageable drive around town.
For some reason, certain cars just don’t catch on in the US. Every since trading my 2007 Mercedes-Benz C230 Sport (sans fold down rear seats) for an MINI Cooper S, I’m happy that once again I have a hatchback and a car with some useful cargo capacity. It baffles me then, why those in the US don’t take kindly to hatchbacks. Plenty of folks drive around SUVs with a rear hatch, so why not transfer this versatility onto something a smaller, more efficient and in most cases, more fun to drive? Also, a rear trunk doesn’t look that good on certain small cars. Yes, Mercedes-Benz CLA, I’m looking at you.
Mercedes tried its hand at the hatchback formula shortly after BMW exited with it’s E36 based 318ti Compact. The new C class Sportcoupe, as it was known, debuted for 2002 and was experimenting in uncharted territory for the brand. This was positioned as the most affordable vehicle in the lineup, available from the outset with a supercharged four cylinder engine mated to either a 5-speed automatic or 6-speed manual. Later, a 3.2 liter V6, also available with automatic or manual gearboxes, arrived. This C320 is of the six cylinder variety and has covered just over 11,000 miles, originally ordered by an executive of the company.
Whenever I spot a Mercedes-Benz C36 AMG with low miles, they inevitably get snapped up in short order. Just witness the one we featured last week if you need evidence. If you don’t need the power and persona of an AMG variety Benz, then a C280 like this one for sale in New York could be just the ticket. This car is barely broken in with just over 20,000 miles on the clock and represents the last year of the inline-6 in the W202.
Want to go fast but be stealth about it? Mercedes-Benz AMG models have always been a great way to have practicality mixed with insane amounts of power, but today’s models are a bit more telling on their outward appearance with regards to their mission. Their forebears were a bit more conservative, though. Witness this 1997 Mercedes-Benz C36 AMG for sale in Florida with less than 60k miles on the clock. This year was the rarest for what was the first AMG collaboration after the tuner was brought in-house by Mercedes, with only 236 units produced.