Knowing exactly what to do with a find can be a bit a challenge sometimes, at least when it’s something like Tom’s Mercedes. You see, it runs and drives, but it has rust and other issues that need to be addressed. If it were an extremely valuable car the decision to fix it up would be a no brainer, but these 4 doors aren’t terribly valuable. He is asking just $1,200, which makes it more tempting! But what do you do with it? Do you just do what is necessary to make it a comfortable driver, part it out or try restoring it on a budget? If you have a good idea for it, we would love to hear about it and if you are interested in owning it, be sure to contact him via the form below.
From Tom – This Mercedes has been sitting in a field since it was taken off the road about a decade ago due to a failed ignition switch. I dragged it home, replaced a few fuel lines and cleaned out the gas tank, then jumped the factory ignition switch with one from RadioShack (No stock wires or connections were cut or altered). Surprisingly, it started right up! The engine runs well, and the transmission shifts fine, too. The brakes work, but are a tad sticky–sometimes the pedal doesn’t come back up without a little bit of persuasion with your foot. I’ve driven it around the neighborhood at about 40 mph, but it really needs fresh fluids and tires before it goes much further. I don’t need it, but I do need it out of my yard. Come and get it!
Body Condition: Has rust in the usual places–rocker corners, floors, trunk, etc. But not bad compared to what many of these cars look like. Body is fairly straight otherwise, with the exception of the one bad dent (seen in photos) on the right front. Nothing structurally deficient as far as I can tell, but you will need to do a little bit of welding if you’re planning on a restoration.
Mechanical Condition: Runs, stops, turns fine. Transmission and engine seems healthy, and it doesn’t overheat even if you leave it running a long time. Needs a new ignition switch back–the keyed part is fine, but the plastic electrical part is worn out.
Interior Condition: Gauges seem to work fine. Radio is missing, seats are torn up, door panels and headliner are surprisingly good. Windows and door latches all work. Glass is good, and it comes with spare side windows. Spare trim, taillight, alternator, distributor, window mechanisms, door latch mechanisms, door cards, and more, too.
This really is a tough call. The rust issues could be fixed without spending a ton of money and since it’s white, it wouldn’t be that hard to match the paint. The interior on the other hand is an issue and would get expensive to fully restore. Personally, if I were going to make it into a driver, I would find some seat covers, clean it up really well and drive it. As I came across interior parts and money allowed, I would fix it up. I’d love to hear your thoughts though! Is it something you’d restore or do you think this one is nothing more than a parts donor?
Special thanks to Tom for listing with us. If you happen to have a classic that just needs to go, please consider listing it with us!
Asking Price: $1,200
Location: Ormond Beach, Florida
Beautiful car! I would get the mechanicals up to speed and maybe redo the seats and carpet after fixing the floors, and just drive it.
This is a tough one. This needs a hard working teenager, who could learn a lot and have a car that will last a LONG time .. .. And I appreciate a seller who gives an honest description, doesn’t say it is 1 of 1 or make up some story about who it MIGHT have been owned by! Good luck with it!
That was my thought, take it to a vocational school and have the interior done. The whole thing as a matter of fact. You will create a new generation of Mercedes experts.
Make a deal with a teenager in your area, if they fix it they can have it. With the stipulation that they can’t sell to make $. You find the car a good home and you help a kid out, win/win situation.
A couple questions; who pays for materials, and where is the work to be done? If it ends up in their name, I guess they have the right to sell it. Although it’s a nice idea, it may get complicated. Sorry to be the devils advocate!
Truth be told….
A friend of mine had one of these back in about 1972 – just an old used car then. His was a 1960 with a ’61 engine he said. The most remarkable thing about it was that when I sat in it I couldn’t tell if the engine was running. There was virtually no vibration.
I was impressed.
Nothing ventured nothing gained, we all know someone with little money and a lot of heart. It’s not that hard to find someone who would fit the bill. The car is not worth much and he would be rid of it. Nuff said.
The nice thing about this one is it is injected…..I much prefer it to a carbureted version. These are magnificent cars that are selling for good money these days. You could increase the value greatly with a couple of weekends of plain old elbow grease and polishing pads. These engines have few problems…..probably could be running in short order.
Hi all, I’m the seller and figured I should chime in. Whether you want to restore this, fix it up and drive it as-is, or make a LeMons car, I think you’ve got a solid base here. I was going to make a race car out of it, mostly because of my fond memories of my father’s ’66 230S that we drove from Florida to Michigan and back, but I just couldn’t talk myself into ruining this one.
Inspiration for whoever buys it:
https://classicmotorsports.com/project-cars/1966-mercedes-benz-230-s/
Additionally, I have a clear title for the car, and would be happy to help with shipping logistics if necessary. I have a trailer and love road trips, too, so I may be able to deliver depending on where you live.
Tom, thanks for chiming in! Enjoy the magazines :-)
Thanks, Jamie. We try real hard to make the best magazines we can. And if it isn’t obvious, we aren’t faking–I’d be playing with cars the same way even if we hadn’t found a way to make a living doing it.
If I were a little mnore comfortable with working on MBs…
Fix the rust,install some late model MB leather seats,paint it black, dark tint the rear windows and hire a driver…:)
These are great cars to both drive and work on. Good car to learn on. This one may even be late enough in the series to have disc brakes in front. Price is high as parts are $$. Hmmmmm. Glad I have the MB 220 shop manual. There is good club support.
Yes, they’re easy to work on, have great club support, and drive quite nicely. No, they aren’t fast, but the general level of comfort is much more like something from the ’80s than something from the ’60s.
And yes, IIRC this one does have front disc brakes.
I hope the photo uploaded. But how about this?
It’s a very, very good thing I gave away those extra mud tires that were sitting in the corner of the garage….
….from what has been said by the driver it sounds very much like the car itself really wants to get going again ! It’s had it’s rest-wants the open road now !
I believe is a 220 SE and NOT an SEb which the ‘b’ designates as one of the hand built and much more valuable (and attractive) 2-door coupes type, cheers, greg
I don’t know much about the year-by-year specifics of these cars, and pretty sure I submitted it as an SE, but I think that by ’64 the SEb means fuel injection, not two-door coupe.
A buddy and I renovated one of these in 1967-68 in a former chicken coop behind his mother’s house. Even that soon, Ohio winters had dissolved the rockers and chunks of the fenders. We put about 4 gallons or more of bondo into that car – no kidding – and did an Earl Schieb paint job. His mom sewed up new seat covers for us from a bolt of remnant upholstery. The engine ran great, and it had an electric clutch manual transmission. We drove that car like bats from Hell through the northern Ohio farm country for another year before he sold it. It drove great. I’ll bet we only had $500 in fix up costs. Plus nights after school in the chicken coop. What a great car. What great memories. Good luck to the new owner – this car will be worth every dime you put into it.
I’d buy the car because both the car and I are 53 years old this year. For a Benz
I think this is a good restoration project.
Looking at the interior I don’t see a clutch pedal. Is this an automatic or is it I just can’t see the clutch pedal? As for disc brakes, they are solids and only in the front. The same body shell for a ’64 MB 300 SE had air suspension and disc brakes front and back.
I love these old Mercs, and id be all over it, but the blue interior… I just cannot get myself into a blue interior. Leather or vinyl just has to be tan or gold for me, or green in the case of some 70s cars.
it’s likely that you’d have to replace the entire interior. So it doesn’t have to be blue in the end. SMH