While my Mercedes-Benz “crush,” if you will, is a Fintail (or Heckflosse) from the 1960s, it’s easy to fall for this 1970 250 sedan, offered by prolific eBay sellers “Rawhide Youth Services Sales” in New London, Wisconsin. They’re always posting interesting project cars, and this one is rock solid, something one doesn’t typically say in the same sentence as “Wisconsin.” Being a project car, there will be a list of tasks to accomplish this winter, but by spring, you could be driving around in a classy dark green Mercedes. The high bid is currently a paltry $856.
The pictures of the undercarriage and trunk show that this Mercedes has never seen salt, and it’s possible that the 63,357 miles on the odometer are honest. We can see from underneath that the 250 has Mercedes-Benz’s own four-speed automatic, which was not an overdrive unit as one might expect. Gear ratios were as follows: First, 3.98:1; Second, 2.38:1; Third, 1.46:1; and Fourth, 1:1. The sellers mention that the driveshaft center bearing support is torn and needs replacement.
The 2.5-liter inline six runs (there is a video attached), but it has a “large oil leak” and the carburetors need rebuilding; there should be two two-barrel Zenith units under the air cleaner. In the video, the narrator also mentions that it will probably need a top-end rebuild at least, but I didn’t hear much clattering, and it seemed to be running on all six. Buyer beware, of course. The 2.5 is an overhead cam unit that produces 146 gross (130 net) horsepower; it can (in good working order) propel the 250 to sixty in about 12.5 seconds and on to a top speed of over 110 miles per hour, according to Mercedes literature.
The interior appears to be in immaculate condition; to me, few interiors measure up to the luxurious simplicity of a Mercedes or BMW from the 1970s. Notice that the shift lever is on the column in this example. There are a few issues the new owner will have to sort out; the “HVAC vent” selector doesn’t work, nor does the air conditioning (yes, it has air). Also, the car is missing its windshield wipers, radio, and spare tire.
Perhaps the nicest thing about this Mercedes, aside from its handsome but buttoned-up looks and solid body, is the fact that it’s not a huge sedan. The total length is 184.5 inches, just a little longer than a 1965 Mustang. People will argue that there’s no such thing as a cheap Mercedes, and they might be right, but you might get away with a relative bargain with this neat little W114. Well, unless it needs a top-end rebuild.
Restoring/ maintaining a Mercedes A/C system can be both challenging and expensive. They are no match for a G.M. a/c car, in my experience.
-in any way- was referring to factory a/c.
Wisconsin and no rust. Seeing is believing. I bought this car’s sibling in Richmond, VA for $1500 and found all sort of hidden rust in the headlight area and rockers. A GM heater blower was $35; the MB blower was $225 and I had to remove the entire dashboard to replace it. That engine is a horse and the dual 4 barrels really make it go. I also replace the tranny with a used one for $150 (LOL, good luck with that today). Frankly, it was a great driving car….powerful, comfortable, handled well, and had the tightest turning radius of any car I’ve owned. I also appreciate how MB kept this body style for years with minimal change. Why ruin a good thing?
No rust in Wisconsin is a big claim …like being a Wisconsin native who’s vegetarian and lactose intolerant…not possible.
I bought a 1972 115 in the mid 70’s from a neighbor in NH (looked just like this, same body, but with a 4 cylinder and a standard 4 speed) It was our “extra car” – both of our girls learned to drive in that car, my wife and I both used it as a daily driver when needed and the kids eventually took it to college with them in the 90’s. I’ve got to say that it was, without a doubt, one of the most reliable cars that we have ever owned. We could could leave it parked in the garage for a couple of years then, when needed, throw a battery in it and it was good to go. The only work that I can remember doing on it was replacing the support bearing on the drive shaft (nasty job without a lift laying on a cold garage floor) and fixing the window regulators (a chronic MB issue). Finally ended up trading it for a seasons worth of yard work in the early 2000’s – great car!
Nice writeup. Thank you sir. I had no idea you have a fondness for finbacks. After 30 years of ownership of mine I seem to have developed a fondness for them as well.
Thank you! I don’t know when Fintails got on my radar, but I call them “list adjacent,” meaning that they’re not Plan A when it comes to the next car I’d buy, but if the right one came along at the right time, uh oh! :)
The only Mercedes sedan body style I like. Finding a rust free car in Wisconsin is like winning the lottery. I have no use for it. (I would be tempted to cut the roof behind the drivers door, move rear quarter glass up to the back of the front doors. And have a Mercedes Ute. Classic straight lines send me into Ute mode. I know it’s a sickness. But know one has come up with a cure yet.) Good luck to the buyer!
If this were a diesel with a manual then I’d be all over it, but as a gas with an automatic it’s not for me.