I once bought a Mercedes-Benz 230, much like this one, but it was a 1969 model. Someone had gone medieval on its dashboard, resulting in a huge hole. I think I paid $500 for it. Not my best Benz by any means, but I think it was my first one. Here we have a much nicer 1975 230 sedan that’s list here on eBay in Kingston, Pennsylvania with just 61,840 miles on the odometer!
All the signs are positive. “No rust, very straight body, great chrome and glass. Runs as good as it looks. Everything works! All gauges, AC, horn, heat, stereo, blinkers and lights work as they should.” In an interesting note, this car was featured in the Benz club’s The Star magazine back in 2019. The previous owner discussed an object falling on the driver-side rear of the car, but not wanting to repaint because the original finish was otherwise perfect. The blemish is still there.
A big plus on these cars is the MB-Tex interior, which is incredibly hard wearing. This one looks pristine, but even cars with 300,000 miles on the odometer often have clean interiors. These 230s were ubiquitous as taxis in Europe back in the day, mostly in diesel form. They routinely achieved huge mileage and earned a reputation, like Chrysler’s Slant Six, of being unkillable. One 1976 240D, which looks just like the car on offer, achieved 2.9 million miles in the hands of a Greek taxi driver. It was donated to the Mercedes-Benz Museum, and is probably second in the world to the three-million-plus-mile 1966 Volvo 1800S of Irv Gordon (now at Volvo’s museum in Sweden).
The gas versions were pretty tough, too, though finding someone to fix the mechanical fuel injection, if equipped, is tricky. I know this from my 1989 300TE wagon. The 1975 230 could be ordered with fuel injection. The Benz designation for these cars is W114, and after my car the 230 got a facelift in 1973 with a lower hood line and grille (which also got broader), a single front bumper, distinctive ribbed taillights and bigger side mirrors. The engine was the 2.3-liter inline-four M115, producing all of 93 horsepower. They’re not ready for Lime Rock.
The car was recently fully serviced, including fluids and plugs. It comes with receipts, books and the service manual, as well as a pair of keys. It’s a family car, owned by an elderly uncle, and has reportedly received the best of care. Collectors might not be too interested, but this is a 50-year-old car you could drive every day, and even not break the bank at the gas pump. Hagerty puts a good example at $11,500. This one might go for much less than that.
Those big, ugly bumpers – Yuck!
Combine that with one of the least flattering paint choices (code 430H) and you’ve got a got car you don’t want to look at. Google search reveals that 430H is “Harvest Beige” or Herbstbeige in German (translates to Autumn Beige). Double Yuck!
Google AI goes on: “Herbert Standox” was a paint supplier to Mercedes-Benz in the past, alongside Glasurit. Their paint codes were designated with the letter “H”. The other variation would be a paint code of “DB 040 G” indicating that Daimler-Benz color 040 (black) was originally supplied by Glasurit.
Funny, but I really like that color. Good rides, do an inspection.
Daimler-Benz did make one featuring Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection in a European only model, the 230 E. If you see one on this side of the Atlantic it is a grey market import. And, you’re right the 230 had leisurely acceleration but compared to the 240 D Diesel it was brisk.
the 5 digit odometers on these old 70s and 60s cars mercedes built never worked for long. so if there is not documentation proving miles, and if the odometer works consistently (they typically would work intermittently which is convenient it if cooperates when you sell one with mid 50s miles on it). and unless there is documentation, be careful.
I bought a 300D just like this one for $500 in 1994. It was fun and somewhat reliable! I didn’t like the automatic trans but you can’t have everything!! It would run fine and then all-of-a-sudden it would billow smoke for a while, then go back to running fine! Needless to say, I got my money out of it and sold it the next year for $1500!
The minister of our church had one of these, diesel powered. My father proclaimed it the slowest accelerating car he’d ever driven. Then he said something like – “…well, acceleration isn’t the right word; it gathers speed very slowly.” This more entertaining with the gasoline engine. And bank vault style architecture.
In regards to acceleration: When I test drove the car in my previous comment with the owner, he slammed my leg onto the accelerator and said to ‘floor it’ from a standing stop! That actually helped the diesel to ‘gather speed’! Once I got used to doing that, the car wasn’t so sluggish!
From the era where a Mercedes could easily be the last car you’d have to buy, no matter what your age. Unlike the disposable junk they build today.
The bid is up to $9600, so this won’t go cheap.
Worth reading the magazine article in the EBAY listing.