I am eternally envious of those forward thinkers who can measure their land in acres. As a city dweller myself, I have to get a little creative with storage; I’m doing better than most, but life is still a struggle against my worst impulses. Because of this, I have to think twice before I bring something home, in addition to consulting my lovely bride (it’s in our vows, although I’ve broken that one a time or two). The list of cars that I would deem storage-worthy has become limited compared to what it was even ten years ago, and the Fintail Mercedes is on that short list. Ah, the Fintail…I don’t know if it’s that Bond villain image or that Mercedes aura of indestructibility, but I’m hooked…perhaps not on this one, but it’s neat enough that I figured I’d share it with my fellow Barn Finders. I found it on Marketplace in Brighton, Michigan, and although it will be a project, it’s an inexpensive and relatively solid one.
The seller minces no words in telling you, the potential buyer, that you need not apply if you’re not up for spinning a wrench or two. It ran when parked two years ago (what didn’t?), but it has had “lots of new parts” tossed its way over the last five years, including but not limited to a gas tank, water pump, tune up components, a valve cover gasket, a muffler, new belt, radiator hoses, and a fuel pump and lines. The engine itself is a 1897cc four cylinder (gas, not diesel) with 90 horsepower, and it’s backed by a four-speed manual on the column. It’s good for 93 miles per hour and 20 mile-per-gallon fuel economy.
The pictures of the interior are few, but I imagine it will need some work here and there; however, it will be worth it just to sit behind the wheel and watch that vertical speedometer. What a neat piece of midcentury instrumentation; I once thought of buying a non-running Diesel Fintail just because of the speedometer. Come to think of it, that’s why I got into Fintails – that’s all it took, like love at first sight across a crowded room.
I wish that the seller would have included a few pictures of the undercarriage, although it has “solid floors, quarters, and rockers,” and the pictures seem to verify that it’s not a rust bucket at the very least. The seller says that it needs a complete restoration, but I wonder if a cheapy driveway paint job in a light color and some mechanical ministration will leave you with a fun driver. The seller’s only asking $1,800, and that’s the $1,000 of a decade ago. If you’re as hooked on these Benzes as I am, let us know if you take the next step.
I recently drooled over that gorgeous 200D heckflosse that just sold on BAT for a fortune. It was just like Dad’s & I drove it as my own for quite some time. What I loved was your shout out to, “Some Enchanted Evening.” 😄
“You may see a stranger…” :)
I was watching that auction, too. That’s a lot of money for the slowest car ever, but it was a nice car.
I watched that auction too, and the occasional 220D and 240D cars that appear and all I can do is say “Have any ot these bidders actually DRIVEN or OWNED one of these cars in the past?” I could understand the BAT auction result if it had been a gasoline version like this car but a diesel? Way too slow and hard starting in the winter, combined with the need to change oil and filter much more often than the gasoline version, plus, at leas where I live, diesel fuel can be 20 to 40%more expensive than gasoline! But this little gasoline car is way to rough to be saved, it’s best use will be as a parts car, or a donor to convert a very fine condition diesel 190 to gasoline – a move that makes sense!
Circa 1967, my dad bought a project Merc, a Ponton-era two door.
The project stalled very quickly, so he donated the car to the local high school’s auto shop class.
A few days later, he got a call from the school, telling him that they’d sell the car back to him. When he asked why, he was told that the school didn’t have metric tools…
Originally Mercedes didn’t have a dealer network set up here in the US. So they struck a deal with Rambler to sell Mercedes Benz vehicles at the same locations. I think it worked out better for Mercedes than it did for Rambler
It was actually a deal with Studebaker, but either way…it worked out better for Mercedes! Some people think that the grilles on the Hawks and Larks had a bit of a Mercedes vibe, perhaps because of that connection on the showroom floor.
I say buy it and put it on a Chevrolet S10 frame with a lift kit and off road tiers the take it to Texas Red necks with paychecks event and flip it for a decent profit
Put a big block anything in it and beat it like a rented mule. I would try for a license plate of “PANZER”
CT Dave
I long for the days of 2mm sheet metal, add a big honking set of Solex’s and you have a 190SL power plant. The GM master cylinder is a little out of place but much cheaper then the correct “ATE”. Back in the day the Germans built cars to last forever. I’m holding out for a UNIMOG,but that’s just me.
The most expensive car I ever owned was a cheap Mercedes. Actually, several : I was a slow learner.
You’re in good company, Richard. Buy high, never sell anything, go broke storing it…that’s my motto.
so many different models of MOGs. I like the lill early one.
AND…
ABANDONED BaT several yrs back (replaced w/pertoliscious). I’m
not yellin @ the screen any more, now smiling with/@ it.
This is MB’s good era. I’d daily it (all must earn their lace in THIS
garage) and do on-frame total restore (weekend fun). Rather the
W123 or “300TDi” almost a usa only issue for auto wagon (their
1st in-house) and so would sell/trade this for one. Like gettin rid
of that Car’n Driver owned auction-house (all under Hurst Corp),
I ama lot happier boy. Yrs ago? “Yes”, today? a B I G “No”~ dont
wanna give em even my one (or more) click to count !
My old dad was assigned to duty in Addis Ababa Ethiopia when I was a kid. One of our friends there was the general manager of the Mercedes import company there, and one of his perks was driving a new Mercedes every year. I rode in one of these and was awed by the vertical speedometer. As the car sped up, the line rose and changed color the faster you went. Green at first, then yellow with red stripes, then red, as I recall. If I were closer, I would consider this car.
Love it— — —Wanted— — — —Can’t afford to repair it.
I almost bought a beautiful Mercedes Years ago But the parts Were too expensive and I couldn’t afford The upkeep.
My college roommate in college had one just like this in the late 60’s. i have fond memories of it having borrowed it frequently. It was very easy to work on. If the rust isn’t too bad it would be a great project for someone who is handy with wrenches and has access to an affordable paint job.
I have owned, and driven a 220D, 240D, and a 300D Turbo. The 220D and the 240D were slow, especially when cold. When warmed up, and up to speed, they are very competent road cars. If you can’t deal with that, you should consider buying something else.Not being “snooty”- They just is what they is. I ran each of them up to about a quarter million miles before selling – still running and driving, of course.
I actually bought an identical car to this one, besides color. The prior owner got over his head with the machine work needed for a full engine rebuild. I bought it, sight unseen, got it together, and sold it to an employee. It was a neat car- but it wasn’t a diesel. 😉