Note the title, it’s the seller’s suggestion, not mine! Now that I’ve got that matter out of the way, let’s consider the case of this 1965 Mercedes 220 Sb. The seller also suggests that it possesses the vibe of a rally car too but even that seems a stretch. Regardless, Mitchell G. found this Van Nuys, California subject for us, so let’s pick it apart and see what’s here.
This Benz is a W111 designated platform which is a full-size four-door sedan, though a two door coupe and cabriolet were offered too. Existing between 1959 and 1968 (’71 for the two-door variants), a total of 370K, all body styles included, were assembled. The seller claims to be the third owner and says that this sedan sat, untouched, in a mechanics shop for twenty-seven years. Also stated is the existence of registration documentation dating to 1968, a time when it was driven to the Mexico City Olympics that year.
The listing states, “I kept the car as it looked, with the patina paint, dings and scrapes here and there, and dash board looking as is. I think it looks cool this way and is a time stamp piece. It was the perfect contender to turn into a vintage rally car look-a-like.” The white painted steel wheels, a displayed door number, and a faded roof bearing the inscription, “better late than never“, in Spanish, doesn’t seem to constitute the basic guts of a rally car or a rat rod. Patina? You tell me, it seems that most of the comments that I get regarding that topic, consider it to be an over rated characteristic (the rust splotches on the roof are fake). The body of this Fintail is a bit banged up but it looks legitimately solid with just the driver’s side fender revealing rust.
Powering this 79K mile (114K kilometers) S series sedan, is a 110 HP, 2.2 liter, in-line, six-cylinder powerplant which drives the rear wheels via an automatic transmission. The seller tells us, “It has been my daily driver for the last 6 months. It runs well but could do with a carburetor tune-up.” There is an extensive list of parts and repairs that have been facilitated, be sure to check the listing to get a full accounting.
The interior, which has been reupholstered to the tune of $2,500, does look like new and we’re told that it was done with originality in mind. The cloth upholstery, not leatherette, mimics European model W111s. As nice as it is, it seems incongruous in what would be considered typical for a rally car.
This Mercedes is a tough one to classify, it’s neither fish nor fowl. A fun car? Maybe, I know I appreciate creativity and owners should do what they want to do to further their motoring interests but my thought is that this M-B may have some difficulty finding a new home. It’s available, here on craigslist for $10,000 though the seller claims an investment of $12,500 to get it into its current condition (and that doesn’t include the price of purchase). Anyway what’s your thought, is there some marketability here or is this 220 Sb a little too narrow for mass appeal?
Hi my name is Jane Hickey I’m interested in the Mercedes my number is 6.0 732 7918 call me anytime thank you
You need to contact the seller, via the listing, directly.
JO
A beautiful car, and the interior is well-done. Cool story, too. It may very well be worth what he is asking, but that feels high for me.
Interesting find. Maybe it’s the “flying piglet” spawn of the “flying pig” Mercedes rally car?
So that’s how they look complete?
I’m close to scrapping a 1964 that a friends father took parts from 40 years ago. I helped cleanout his father’s barn and buildings.
I like it a lot..as is. I enjoy driving in The Breakfast Club Rally here in the Sonoma area every month and this car would fit right in and be really enjoyed by everyone.There is a guy with a later model MB that is a total hot/rat rod.Do remember that these were legitimate rally cars and did well especially in the East African Safari rallies
I co-drove a ’61 from CT to Texas, almost non-stop except for gas and necessary bodily functions in 1966. You could not have asked for a better road car in 1966. Started to miss in Oklahoma, 500 miles from nearest dealer, one in St. Louis, one in Dallas, but, it cleared up on its own. Blew a brand new Cooper tire, bias, before radials were common (we had been driving at about 80 in 100 degree weather) when almost there. Put on spare. Stopped for gas, in Atoka OK, needed a quart of oil, good ole boy at gas station put the oil can on the fender and jamed the spout into it, leaving two semi-circular dents on the fender. He was big. We just paid and got out of there. (This was the time of the civil rights marches and we had CT plates and knew better than to drive in Mississippi or Alabama and, I guess, some people in OK were not fond of northeners either.) But these are great cars.
Carburetor tuneup? The only thing that will fix those zenith carbs Is a conversion to Webers. I put up with mine for over 25 years before I gave up. My 65 to 220 S Runs better than ever. As for value, mine was totaled after a garage fire recently and after 140 hours of body and paint It’s almost ready to go again. I guess some people just have not taste.
Love everything about this unit, wouldn’t change a thing cosmetically. I’d consider fixing the rust hole in front of the drivers door, maybe leave the area in primer for add to the patina.