This hard-to-ignore pistashio green Mercedes-Benz 219 sports what looks like original paint in a very memorable shade along with a beautifully trimmed interior. It’s been for sale off and on for a few years now, and it’s hard to figure out why: these are easy-to-live-with classics, and aside from the seller’s list of price of $7,500 here on eBay being a touch high, I can’t find much to fault – and they’re open to best offers.
The 219 presents very well up and down the sides, with last-straight body panels and corresponding paint underneath the hubcaps. The chrome bumpers appear excellent, along with any of the ornamental chrome strips up and down the body. Lenses look practically new and the car is said to wear new tires with fresh brakes and the carbs recently rebuilt.
The interior has to have been redone at some point; it’s just too nice. But Mercedes do have hard-wearing interiors, so there’s a chance it’s original. Either way, the carpets suggest it’s always been this deep oxblood color which is simply stunning (if not shocking) agains the pastel green exterior. Thankfully, this 219 has the row-it-yourself option which will make the most of the 100 b.h.p. on tap.
As a 219, I believe it has a 2.1L inline-six. The 219 is a part of Mercedes’ W105 family of sedans, and while not terribly valuable, they do represent a good value in entry-level classic ownership while still providing that bank vault quality that vintage Mercedes are known for. I’m not sure why this has been lingering on pages like Hemmings since 2014, but hopefully it finds a forever home soon.
The 219 is a very little known car, think of it as a 6 cylinder 190 and your’re closer to the mark than those who call it a simplified 220S as from the firewall on back it is identical to the 190 even though it has the front fenders and hood of the 220 so as to fit the six-cylinder engine. I had a 219 many years ago, original owner was the nefarious John Erlichmann of Watergate fame. Mine had the clutchless “Hydrak” transmission which I foolishly converted to a conventional clutch pedal set-up. I say foolish as the semi-automatic still functioned properly so really should have been left alone for historical accuracy) I also fitted a 220S head, cam and twin-carburetor set-up. That was a change than made sense. In my mind, it did everything a car should do – accelerated quickly, handled curvy roads like a sports car and delivered decent mileage. The separate heaters for driver and passenger was great too as my wife never knew what the correct temperature should be so she could have her side a different temperature than mine! I always regarded it as the most nearly perfect car I’d ever owned, and for it’s time period it probably was, not a computer or electronic relay in site! As late as the 1980’s I’d regulary commute from Portland, Oregon to Santa Fe, New Mexico and back. It never let me down, never had a mechanical failure or incident.
So why did you part w It?
Was unemployed, needed money.
Looks quinticentially Mercedes….
Looks like some primer spots around the rear tail lights – possible rust repair?
These were the Mercedes rally cars of there day……would make a great vintage racer.
So, apparently sold in the last 9 hours. Auction is no longer a valid page. I hope it goes to a good home.
While I’ll probably never get over the old mans rule “No German, Italian, or Asian cars in his driveway” baloney, ( which was a shame, he missed out on the best cars in the world) I would break that rule with one of these. Relatively simple, indestructible, smooth, best cars in the world. Now, what about parts? While I heard German cars retain the best parts availability, gonna cost ya’.
Howard, my dad was the exact same way. Being a snotty nosed teenager I didn’t understand and brought them home anyway. My first car (at age 14) was a ’59 Mercedes 180A, found under a pine tree for the illustrious sum of $95.Once the pine tar was gone, the original paint buffed out like new and the red leather responded well to saddle soap. Despite hating “Kraut buckets”, my dad rebuilt the engine twice trying to get rid of a ticking sound he thought was a rod bearing. During the process of rebuilding, I learned a whole new non politically correct vocabulary. Turned out it was just valve train interference and could have been fixed by just removing the valve cover. Due to the memories of an identical looking car being my first, and the nice feature of a larger engine, $7500 looks like nothing to me for this one. Had it been nearby, I would have had to have it.
I suspect that even today, parts availability and affordability should be no problem. Components such as generators, starters, carburetors, water pumps, fuel pumps, wheel cylinders, master cylinders etc you rebuild them, no need to replace them. For many years, the Portland, Oregon Mercedes dealer had a German parts manager – Paul. You simply told him what you wanted and he walked to the back and returned with it – no need to look it up in a computer or even a book – he knew it all, the dealer, Rasmussen, had it all and even for a 30+ year old car, nothing was ever out of stock or no longer available. But yes, that was some time ago. And the cost was less than new Toyota or Volvo parts.
When I was an uppity teen (early 1960’s) I read the Oregonian classifieds for sexy foreign cars– found an ad for a Mercedes SLR no less! Was something like $5-6,000 which was serious bucks then. Tried to talk dad into buying it, but we were on a dinky family survival farm etc etc. Coulda shoulda woulda at it’s very extreme!
My defiant younger brother, age 16, brought home a lime Beetle (sometime in the ‘80’s) he bought with his own money. My Dad has it back in the farmer’s yard from where it came not more then an hour later. Never even ask for the $200’s back. This is a true story as is the fact my brother drives a GTI today.
Pistachio over oxblood is brilliant. I would break the rule for this.
With that color it would be a snap to find it in a parking lot.
Greetings All,
I bought one of these in 1978. Paid $100.00. I had been driving a series of Fintails when this one fell into my hands.
Over the years a few mods. It now has triple carbs and custom intake manifold replacing the single Solex. It’s a 4-speed, though not a column shift. I think it may have had an SL mechanism adopted, when I fo future metal work and pull the carpet and find out.
The phenolic trim and dash replaced with wood and a 220 instrument cluster. Managed to find a correct period AM/FM/SW stereo radio, still had the mono sum plug in it.
I have new fiberglass plenum but the others are still intact and work well as long as I clean them every season of their winter residents.
It’s a pity more of the Fintail stuff didn’t fit, the block especially. Otherwise it would’ve been fuel injected. It does have 14″ wheels now.
Finally off the road, have to do some metal work that I put off from years back. They make panels now.
My GrandMother took a shine to this car and it was at her house for at least 4-5 years. For some reason my 300SE Fintail didn’t interest her, when I asked why, she said it reminder her of a cab, a very nice cab, with a sunroof but a cab?!?
I always thought the ponton lines were pretty clunky, but I liked the sunroof and floor shift.
Unbelievably durable car, just need to figure how to get a Kuhlmeister AC into it and maybe a Fintail four-speed automatic. Impressive car for the era, though it could use a few more horses.