OK folks, it’s Gullwing Motor Cars time! And today, instead of the usual Aston Martin or Porsche, we have a 1967 Mercedes-Benz 200D estate or kombi (or station wagon as we usually call them). This very sharp-looking wagon is a rare breed and is offered for sale here on eBay for a classified ad price of $56,500 with a make an offer option available. It can be found in Astoria, New York.
As the listing states, Mercedes didn’t include a production station wagon until the late ’70s. Prior to that, all estates constructed from 1964 until 1973 were built by a Belgian company known today as I.M Malines. They produced much of the unique sheet metal that was necessary to assemble the station wagon’s body that would then blend into the established lines of the 200D sedan. These station wagons were known as the Mercedes-Benz “Universal”. While M-B built about 160K 200D’s between ’65 and ’68, the number that were estates seems to have not been recorded. And unfortunately, little is stated about this car’s past, specifically, as to whether it is a survivor or the recipient of a restoration. It looks fantastic with its clean, uncluttered lines and plain adornment. The color isn’t in keeping with buttoned-down MB of this era but this estate wears it well. It doesn’t appear to have a scratch, nick, ding, dent, or certainly any sign of rust. The distinctive Mercedes grill is perfect and the chrome bits shine with a bright, deep luster.
The powerplant is a 54 HP, 2.0 liter, inline four-cylinder diesel engine that works through a four-speed manual transmission. The seller claims, “This particular example runs and drives well“. He further adds, “This shift-on the column diesel would make for a fun and unique addition to any collection”. I’m down with the “unique addition” part, but the “fun” quotient of these ’60s Mercedes diesel-equipped cars is fleeting at best.
The interior is only represented by one image and it shows a typical Germanic and taut M-B interior that is upholstered in durable black leatherette material. It looks as spectacular as the exterior. The carpet, door cards, dash, and instrument panel appear to be flawless. But wait, there’s more! This 200D comes with genuine Mercedes luggage! Unfortunately, no mileage recording is revealed.
This is a rare and important piece of Mercedes-Benz history and considering the station wagon craze that is so pervasive today, this example shouldn’t have a problem finding a new home. I would prefer a non-diesel version but as someone who I greatly respected said to me at one time, “Beggars can’t be choosers”. So tell me what you think about the price, just right or not quite?
Wow.
Translated into German, this is known as the Nein-Mad.
Dad’s ’67 200D, which I loved, could barely move.
This wagon will even be slower!
I once got pulled over. It was a rural-ish road, no curves. I happened to be wearing the seat belt/harness. To retrieve my license I needed to unlatch the “straight-jacket.” It was surely quite a show for the cop. When he told me I’d been speeding, I laughed!
He just gave me a warning.
Actually, normadesmond, the standard ’67 200D and this “Universal” weighed within 50 pounds of one another and would have made little difference. The price tag however, put the “Universal” into the upper “S” range price wise at around $4200 European delivery. My Father ordered a ’67 200D sedan which I eventually received after it had over 300,000 miles on it and a ’67 200D “Universal”. Considering the “Universal” was nearly twice the cost of the sedan at that price it would never has sold here in the states. Price on this one very much on the high side. $28,000 would be more like it.
One too many zeros for me:-)
Beautiful…A fin tail estate and red…
Hey Harvey…you got that right!! Gullwing buys for pennies from those that lack market pricing and then add $$$$$ profit. They lack the professionalism of that of true auto enthusiasts. They are there for one thing only….the almighty buck! This should be a reasonably priced MB ; not an inflated non-collectible at outrageous pricing. I feel for the auto enthusiast because of the greedy dealers like Gullwing.
A dealer is in the business to earn a profit. To harp on about how terrible it is that someone would have the balls to ask more than he paid for it, is stupid. Of course they buy low, THEY aren´t stupid. They follow the time honored principle of capitalism – buy low, sell high. Get over it already. Aside from that, a 200 Diesel is slower than a 100 year old pedestrian. Why on earth would anybody buy this?
Way, way overpriced..When I see these kinds of dealer prices – I make an offer of about 15% of what they are asking..Never accepted – but someday…
On this one offer him half, he’d probably take it.
I owned an earlier Mercedes 190 wagon. These were done by coachbuilder “Binz”. They started with a standard sedan and chopped the rear portion of the body off and attached the hand formed wagon panels. There was a choice of rear door configurations (barn doors, single lift gate, or split upper and lower tailgate arrangement). Mine was a “field find” that I picked up sitting in a SoCal commercial nursury!
Not a fan of that color. Their asking price must be based on rarity, not practicality, as this hunk o’ metal has same horsepower as a dual port VW. Nein-o-mite!
Hey Fredrick…please re-read. I am all for profit but not ludicrous! That is what this dealer has the reputation. Please read properly, think, then comment. Thank you!
I see that thing lowered, with 18’s and V-6
As I get older I’ve started to appreciate these quirky types of vehicles. Would I own one? Sure! But only if I could move it on when I’ve had enough without taking too big of a financial hit…………
Very unusual color for a M-B kombi. My first thought was perhaps it was a fire chief’s car, but I realized that with the little diesel motor, the chief would arrive on the scene of a fire as his fire department was finishing up!
I’m w/sonny, wrong company to shop with.
The universal, binz etc were great cars. I prefer the fin-less of this era or even more the older:
https://www.mbca.org/star-article/september-october-2012/manor-born-1957-binz-built-station-wagon-300c-chassis
Stiff german design in an absolutely lewd shade of red. This is like seeing your great-aunt in a leopard-print bustier….
Is it wrong that I find this… kinda appealing?
Gerard Frederick has it right, Sonny. Carried to an extreme perhaps, but the concept doesn’t change.
I believe in capitalism but not excessive greed. However, it is way easier to negotiate down than up. And if you start high, it is possible that someone has to have it, and will pay.
I always try to be fair with my pricing when I sell one of my toys. Sometimes I make a few bucks, other times I lose a few bucks. In the end, I figure it evens out.
In the end, I don’t care, as long as I enjoyed the car.
This is a car I could enjoy, even if it is slow as molasses. 4 speed on the column? I wanna try that! Besides…it looks like a small red hearse!