What a great story this 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280SE has – so great, in fact, it’s surprising that it was left for dead in the seller’s barn. It’s not like it was involved in a bank heist or smuggled a pop star across state lines, but it did begin its journey with the seller in 1986 when it was purchased during an Air Force tour. It actually belonged to a German bishop and has curtains in the back window per his preferences; the seller used the car in Europe before shipping it home and using it up until 1996. The Mercedes is a true European-spec model and is listed here on BF Classifieds for just $1,900.

The 280SE is a six-cylinder model, but more importantly, it has those gorgeous chrome bumpers and European headlights. Refreshingly, the seller notes that when they brought it stateside, they did “minimal conversion” to meet U.S. roadway requirements. It’s always nice to encounter a seller who knows that for a German car fan, finding one with all of the overseas markets goodies still attached is a must-have. Now, I don’t quite understand why a bishop needed curtains in the rear window, but I’m guessing it’s because they were considered borderline royalty back in the day and demanded the same level of privacy as an elected official.

Like a true European market car, the Mercedes has cloth seats as opposed to the MBTex that came standard in most U.S.-delivery models. The steering wheel is covered in mold, a common plight for long-standing cars, but the cloth buckets appear to be in good condition. A matching blue dash cover has hopefully protected the dash from developing any cracks and the windshield looks surprisingly clear. Perhaps there’s still a three-pointed star in the corner, signifying that it’s original to the car. Like the MBTex material, the cloth upholstery is usually fairly robust as well.

The seller’s description includes references to both automatic and manual gearboxes. The six-cylinder engine would have been a natural fit for having three pedals, especially in Europe where manuals are far more prevalent. The passenger-side fender has clearly taken a hit and while the seller doesn’t explicitly state that it has rust, Pennsylvania can be a cruel climate for vintage tin (ask me how I know – my junkyard rescue Mercedes 190E Cosworth came from Pennsylvania!) The seller says that they will help you load it up and take it away, which seems like a strange way to say goodbye to a car that they’ve held onto for years. Regardless, it looks like a deserving project with a great story to tell.