This seems like an incredible deal for a running classic Mercedes-Benz that is largely solid and still presents very well despite ten years in storage. The seller notes he has lost his storage arrangement since discovering this 1973 280 and beginning its reconditioning, so he’s listed it here on the Barn Finds Classifieds to help it find a new home. There are some isolated rust spots and the seller notes it will need a carburetor rebuild. That said, it’s the last year for the prettier small bumpers and the first year of the twin-cam engine, and it still goes into all the gears as it should. The asking price is just $1,995 and it’s located in Plummer, ID.

The W114 sedan may not be the most sought-after car on the food chain of vintage Mercedes, but that doesn’t make it any less attractive as a fun winter project. The 280 just needed its gas drained and a fresh fuel pump before the seller was able to fire it up once again after its decade-long sleep. The interior still looks quite handsome, with that unmistakable MBTex upholstery tha seemingly survives even the worst of conditions. The wood trim on the dash and glovebox has clearly seen better days and often perishes after prolonged exposure to the sun, moisture, or both. The Mercedes features a column-shift arrangement, which I believe was up to the customer’s choosing whether they wanted the shifter here or on the floor.

The engine bay is very presentable, and overall, this 280 sedan presents as a car that wasn’t necessarily neglected before going into storage. The seller reports there is no smoking on startup and that the engine warms up without issue; while he doesn’t go into specifics about the carb faults, it’s pretty easy to guess why he recommends a rebuild or replacement. It’s a good opportunity to upgrade to a Weber, or perhaps skip the carb altogether and switch to an electronic fuel injection system like the Holley Sniper EFI kit. The good news is you won’t spend much time chasing rust, as it’s limited to the areas behind the front and rear wheels.

Those smaller bumpers make all the difference on these compact sedans, which also got smooth taillight lenses as opposed to the later design with the ridges. I actually sold a set of those lenses off of a junkyard car for a pretty penny a few years back, and always kicked myself for not grabbing the bumpers, too! The seller is including some desirable spare parts, such as new door seals, front and rear windshield seals, trunk seal, and window channel seals, along with a new windshield. This is an easy-to-revive project that doesn’t need much to be a classic European car you can begin enjoying almost immediately once the carb is sorted out.