@fintail - I'd love to have that '73 220 - something to use like you do with your fintail.
That's really cool. You could park it in my extra space. :laughing:
Oh, man. That is tempting, since I've got no room at my house.
Now, to convince the wife that I want to spend $6K on a 40+ year old MB and drive it back to CO. Where the altitude will habitually mess with the carb settings and it will never run right.
Oh, man. That is tempting, since I've got no room at my house.
Now, to convince the wife that I want to spend $6K on a 40+ year old MB and drive it back to CO. Where the altitude will habitually mess with the carb settings and it will never run right.
That 300SD is handsome with nice colors. Seems odd to drop $20K on all that work and sell it for $3995 asking shortly thereafter though. A red flag.
The 200SX is a long-forgotten relic of Nissan's atomic cockroach styling era. Can't recall the last time I saw one of those. A better example is probably worth preserving, assuming any still exist.
Of the Detroit iron featured, I like that Dodge station wagon and the Madman Muntz Lincoln. Note the video player and dashboard TV on the latter.
That's what an old 300SD is worth in "good driver" condition. That's the market. What you spent on it....the market doesn't much care, because every car needs an engine, or door locks, or a heater, or whatever else you spent money on. Repairs are rarely "valued added" items, is what I mean to say.
@fintail - I'd love to have that '73 220 - something to use like you do with your fintail.
This car is so slow it would frighten you, really. But they are great little cars. Too bad it's an automatic.
You're kidding, right?
My folks owned a '72 220D when I was in HS - you'd need a sundial to measure 0-60.
I would think the gas version would be a little better.
You're right. The gas version is probably a little better than the diesel. Until you drive it home to Colorado and then you find all those painful HS memories slowly returning.
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
I think the W115 220 wouldn't be too bad in town - it only puts out about 100hp (old hp, and it is a 4, not an I6 like older 220s), but it is not too heavy of a car. At altitude, all bets are off.
I think that example a nice looking car, many of them were neglected and discarded. That was the base model MB in the early 70s. You'd want to buy one in good shape like that rather than fix up a heap.
And Shifty is right about the W140 - a car is assumed to have a working powertrain and a heater, anything you put into it to get those working generally won't do much to help the value. Even if it had an engine built by a known shop with warranty, it would only do so much.
@fintail - I'd love to have that '73 220 - something to use like you do with your fintail.
This car is so slow it would frighten you, really. But they are great little cars. Too bad it's an automatic.
You're kidding, right?
My folks owned a '72 220D when I was in HS - you'd need a sundial to measure 0-60.
I would think the gas version would be a little better.
You're right. The gas version is probably a little better than the diesel. Until you drive it home to Colorado and then you find all those painful HS memories slowly returning.
They were painful - literally. The throttle spring on that 220D was the stiffest I ever encountered. And, no cruise control.
I remember taking a family trip from SoCal to Sacramento in that car - Interstate 5 at 55 MPH with no cruise and a throttle that did not want to be depressed. My leg hurt after a few hours of that.
I wouldn't want this as some sort of car to drive at speed. Just a nice classic to take to Cars & Coffee each month, the occasional MB meetup and just drive it to enjoy.
OK, I got it. So I'd be looking for a '72 280E. I'd have to have both the 6 and the fuel injection, and '72 would have less of the pollution controls and no messed up bumpers, I'd guess.
I am not sure if those were sold here that early, or if many made it over at all. I have seen W114 280CE and 280 sedan, but I don't have any memory of seeing a fuel injected sedan. I have seen numerous W123 280E.
OK, I got it. So I'd be looking for a '72 280E. I'd have to have both the 6 and the fuel injection, and '72 would have less of the pollution controls and no messed up bumpers, I'd guess.
@fintail - I'd love to have that '73 220 - something to use like you do with your fintail.
This car is so slow it would frighten you, really. But they are great little cars. Too bad it's an automatic.
You're kidding, right?
My folks owned a '72 220D when I was in HS - you'd need a sundial to measure 0-60.
I would think the gas version would be a little better.
The 220 gas engine with a stickshift would be the one to get in that model. They are unicorns, but they'll run a long long time and are fairly simple to maintain by Benz standards.
260E is a W124, a modern car compared to a W114/115. 260E would be MY 1987-90, and I have seen more than one with a 5-speed, kind of unusual to imagine today.
The MBCA magazine "The Star" often features one owner or family heirloom type cars. This month has an unrestored Adenauer convertible in the same family since 1957.
A quick check shows a 260E about 5K less than a 300E (37K vs 42K), base, in 1988. It had about 20 less hp, I think. I don't think they sold well - it later became the 300E 2.6, something which confused people and was a harbinger to the sometimes meaningless numeric designations seen today.
For some STRANGE reason, I like this car! Low miles and it's the top of the line with the stainless roof.
It's a 1981 which means it has the one year only 4-6-8 engine which is better than the miserable HT 4100's that came the next year. I remember a lot of shops would clip some wire that made them run only on 8 cylinders.
For some STRANGE reason, I like this car! Low miles and it's the top of the line with the stainless roof.
It's a 1981 which means it has the one year only 4-6-8 engine which is better than the miserable HT 4100's that came the next year. I remember a lot of shops would clip some wire that made them run only on 8 cylinders.
If it runs, drives, stops and is not stolen then it looks like a cheap and fun beater. But I'm not really sure what the seller has for sale. I mean those pics don't show either a 1991 Eldorado nor a 1981 Eldorado convertible.
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
I'm not awake at this hour to correct Craigslist seller copy errors, but, since I am awake...
This is not a Grand Torino for sale at 9 Grand. I think that in the first model year of the Ford Elite, it was called the Gran Torino Elite.
And this car is also not "a replica of the infamous Grand Torino seen in the very popular "Starsky & Hutch" TV series." The paint job is similar but wrong car, wheels, and what's with that "infamous" tag?
I had an interesting talk with a couple EMT's from Dayton today and to me their ambulance was a closer "relative" to the original Starsky and Hutch car than this.
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
For some STRANGE reason, I like this car! Low miles and it's the top of the line with the stainless roof.
It's a 1981 which means it has the one year only 4-6-8 engine which is better than the miserable HT 4100's that came the next year. I remember a lot of shops would clip some wire that made them run only on 8 cylinders.
Anyone?
https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/d/1981-cadillac-eldorado-for/6472001856.html
If it runs, drives, stops and is not stolen then it looks like a cheap and fun beater.
But I'm not really sure what the seller has for sale.
I mean those pics don't show either a 1991 Eldorado nor a 1981 Eldorado convertible.
Looks like an '81 to me. Not a vert of course, but I see no mention of vert in the ad. What am I missing?
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Looks like an '81 to me. Not a vert of course, but I see no mention of vert in the ad. What am I missing?
It says it's a convertible over in the sidebar to the right, under the map. Clearly it isn't, so someone probably just checked an incorrect box when posting the ad.
The white Eldo does look quite presentable, although I suspect it sat outside for a long time, given the build up of grime on the badging. However, I am a little suspicious - why no plates, in a place where plates stay with the car? It appears to have an eastern WA AAA sticker. For the money, and if you are into that kind of thing, probably worth a gamble.
The diesels are OK (although slow, all non-turbo), but the gassers can have issues, I think MY 75-77 are especially known for it. Emissions issues and quite thirsty, maybe not a good mix.
The diesels are OK (although slow, all non-turbo), but the gassers can have issues, I think MY 75-77 are especially known for it. Emissions issues and quite thirsty, maybe not a good mix.
The diesels are OK (although slow, all non-turbo), but the gassers can have issues, I think MY 75-77 are especially known for it. Emissions issues and quite thirsty, maybe not a good mix.
If it has been cared for, they are good cars. Of course, with something of this age, that can be a big "if". Be very leery of waste oil conversions and hippie cars. You want the gem owned by a old guy who is a MBCA member and is thinning out his herd. 1981+ 300Ds are probably the best pick (I think 1983 is viewed as the best year) due to being turbo, 240D automatic will be hilariously slow.
I have a friend with a 240D manual - even with a stick, the fintail is like a Veyron in comparison.
If it has been cared for, they are good cars. Of course, with something of this age, that can be a big "if". Be very leery of waste oil conversions and hippie cars. You want the gem owned by a old guy who is a MBCA member and is thinning out his herd. 1981+ 300Ds are probably the best pick (I think 1983 is viewed as the best year) due to being turbo, 240D automatic will be hilariously slow.
I have a friend with a 240D manual - even with a stick, the fintail is like a Veyron in comparison.
You're killing me. I would love to pick up a clean W123 from that era to have as a fun car.
My W123 diesel was a fantastic car. It was slow, though. One time, I parked with the nose uphill right near the top of Independence Pass outside Aspen. (12,000 feet). I got in the car, put it in drive and floored it---and it simply didn't go anywhere. It couldn't move. I had to roll backwards, make a u-turn, go downhill, make another u-turn, and charge the top of the pass.
My friend Jay Lamm tells a similar story about his W123 wagon. He was crossing the Richmond Bridge in SF, in the right lane, and came upon some construction. He didn't have time to swerve into the middle lane, so he stopped and waited for a clear shot into the high-speed traffic whizzing past him. He knew that with such poor acceleration, he'd need a large opening. Apparently he got trapped for what seemed like 15 minutes, not daring to stick his nose out for fear of being rear-ended. He sold the car soon after and bought a Porsche 996.
I followed a 240D onto the freeway, quickly passed him (he was doing maybe 40). Four miles later, here he came, he had gotten it up to 75 and passed me, smoking all the way!
Once you get 'em rolling, they're okay, but a steep and long incline will sink you for sure. You could manage a 240D in the modern world if you were a highly anticipatory type of driver.
Acceleration and smoke might be issues with some of those cars. Cars like a fintail or ponton can get away with a bit of slowness or fumes, as they look old, are not seen every day, and they charm people - the cars seem to be treated with a little respect or deference. But I think a 123 doesn't have the same effect on people, and it might be met with ire on an on-ramp etc.
I think period German cars in general were built to travel for long periods at close to their top speed (which may not be extremely fast), and even a slow diesel can at least keep up with trucks for hours on end. It'll just take a while to get there - a 220D automatic is probably no faster than around 25-30 seconds 0-60.
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Now, to convince the wife that I want to spend $6K on a 40+ year old MB and drive it back to CO. Where the altitude will habitually mess with the carb settings and it will never run right.
Sigh.
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The 200SX is a long-forgotten relic of Nissan's atomic cockroach styling era. Can't recall the last time I saw one of those. A better example is probably worth preserving, assuming any still exist.
Of the Detroit iron featured, I like that Dodge station wagon and the Madman Muntz Lincoln. Note the video player and dashboard TV on the latter.
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My folks owned a '72 220D when I was in HS - you'd need a sundial to measure 0-60.
I would think the gas version would be a little better.
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I think that example a nice looking car, many of them were neglected and discarded. That was the base model MB in the early 70s. You'd want to buy one in good shape like that rather than fix up a heap.
And Shifty is right about the W140 - a car is assumed to have a working powertrain and a heater, anything you put into it to get those working generally won't do much to help the value. Even if it had an engine built by a known shop with warranty, it would only do so much.
I remember taking a family trip from SoCal to Sacramento in that car - Interstate 5 at 55 MPH with no cruise and a throttle that did not want to be depressed. My leg hurt after a few hours of that.
I wouldn't want this as some sort of car to drive at speed. Just a nice classic to take to Cars & Coffee each month, the occasional MB meetup and just drive it to enjoy.
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W114/115 distinction is a little unusual - W114 is 6cyl cars, W115 4cyl and diesel.
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I have some NADA and KBB guides from 1976. No listing for 280E.
The MBCA magazine "The Star" often features one owner or family heirloom type cars. This month has an unrestored Adenauer convertible in the same family since 1957.
Not much of an effort to sell by the seller:
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=92119&referrer=/cars-for-sale/searchresults.xhtml?zip=92119&startYear=1981&sortBy=derivedpriceDESC&firstRecord=0&endYear=1994&modelCodeList=JET&makeCodeList=VOLKS&searchRadius=25&startYear=1981&numRecords=25&firstRecord=0&endYear=1994&modelCodeList=JET&makeCodeList=VOLKS&searchRadius=25&listingId=475344850
It's a 1981 which means it has the one year only 4-6-8 engine which is better than the miserable HT 4100's that came the next year. I remember a lot of shops would clip some wire that made them run only on 8 cylinders.
Anyone?
https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/d/1981-cadillac-eldorado-for/6472001856.html
But I'm not really sure what the seller has for sale.
I mean those pics don't show either a 1991 Eldorado nor a 1981 Eldorado convertible.
This is not a Grand Torino for sale at 9 Grand. I think that in the first model year of the Ford Elite, it was called the Gran Torino Elite.
And this car is also not "a replica of the infamous Grand Torino seen in the very popular "Starsky & Hutch" TV series." The paint job is similar but wrong car, wheels, and what's with that "infamous" tag?
I had an interesting talk with a couple EMT's from Dayton today and to me their ambulance was a closer "relative" to the original Starsky and Hutch car than this.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
grime on the badging. However, I am a little suspicious - why no plates, in a place where plates stay with the car? It appears to have an eastern WA AAA sticker. For the money, and if you are into that kind of thing, probably worth a gamble.
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I have a friend with a 240D manual - even with a stick, the fintail is like a Veyron in comparison.
My friend Jay Lamm tells a similar story about his W123 wagon. He was crossing the Richmond Bridge in SF, in the right lane, and came upon some construction. He didn't have time to swerve into the middle lane, so he stopped and waited for a clear shot into the high-speed traffic whizzing past him. He knew that with such poor acceleration, he'd need a large opening. Apparently he got trapped for what seemed like 15 minutes, not daring to stick his nose out for fear of being rear-ended. He sold the car soon after and bought a Porsche 996.
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I think period German cars in general were built to travel for long periods at close to their top speed (which may not be extremely fast), and even a slow diesel can at least keep up with trucks for hours on end. It'll just take a while to get there - a 220D automatic is probably no faster than around 25-30 seconds 0-60.