A 1970's Mercedes Is an Affordable, Durable, & Fantastic Classic Car!
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
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An old benz is an excellent affordable classic!
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#mercedes
What an elegant machine - down to the marvelous color.
I absolutely love Paul Bracq-era Mercedes and BMWs.
Not a Benz colour. They used to have really horrible colours back then.
@@iHelpSolveIt I have w108 4.5 with this baby blue
@@Uc9uE3pKsS6uQ i worked on them back then and this colour wasnt in the books perhaps they have it specific to one market?
I drove a 1984 Mercedes 300D. 0 to 60 in a week. It's not an exaggeration the car was ungodly slow, BUT when the turbo kicked in it did finally move with authority.
my grandmother had one of these. I remember driving it as a teenager. automatic was geared so low in first it would have pulled a building off it's foundation.
You weren’t boring at all. That was a brilliant review of a beautiful car. It’s so refreshing to hear an expert talking about something which they’ve passionate about. Enjoy your beautiful automobile.
I had a 1968 250 SL . It was my dream car to own during my High school years , and when I did , .... what a wonderful car it was ....
I bought one for 850 not running, spent about 5000 getting to run and drive, very smooth ride and people love it. Parts are expensive. I'm about into for what it's worth, so don't expect to make any money with it. Buy it to drive a classic. Thanks for the video, very nice condition 250C
Benzo coupes from that era are joy to look at
As Robert De Niro once said in one of his mob films 'That trunk can hold a lot of bodies'
A good comprehensive video. Growing up I always viewed MB as ugly cars. Then I drove my first one which a friend owned. 60' 190D, 4 on the tree. When I sank into those butter soft seats I fell in love. Then he let me drive his MB 220D. I was sold. The only thing I have against German cars today is that they are too technology driven. BMW, Audi, VW, MB. To get the higher quality you have to buy an older well cared for and serviced one from an older owner. Usually they recognize the value these cars represent. You're developing your own voice Tommy. Great job.
Yes, most of the German makes today are in a race to provide bleeding edge technology which doesn't do much for reliability
You're right, the new ones are all computerized and not reliable. If you can find one from the 90's or preferably before the biodegradable wiring harnesses in good condition, you can have a forever car if you keep up with maintenance and keep it rust free.
They are not that cheap out here in Germany. We call them 'strich acht' '/8' 'stroke or das eight'.
Man that 2 door design looks amazing
I agree
Slam that door close an listen to the sound of the door latch.
It rings like a safe..
Amazing
Yeah, they're really kinda cute. Mercedes always looked like toy cars to me, but a small 2-door coupe looks very serviceable.
Yes, but the two doors cost significantly more than the 4 door
i have all the coupés but also all four doors models from this era also after and earlier models
Rhe W114, W115 and W116 are my favorite ones but anything before 1990 is a good buy IMO
These are seriously appreciated in Europe. You’d pay double and more than what you paid for an example like yours. Beautiful car.
Officially my favorite TFL channel, great job Tommy!
Thought it might've been a Delta 88 or Grand Marquis. Never see cars like mine on TFL Classics.. Great video Tommy!!😃
That is a beautiful classic Mercedes-Benz coupe! If you're in Albania , you'll be a man amongst men for owning such a classic Benz!
I have a 1972 4 door 250 it’s my daily during spring and fall. Love it
Tommy you have a knack for acquiring adorable cars bubbie.
My dad had a 22o D. It would wake the dead but that never bothered us. And was so comfortable.
I daily drove a 1980 240D (W123) from 2005 through 2012. Slow but reliable is definitely a great way to describe that car. And it was *SO* easy to work on -- servicing that car was a *DREAM!* Those engineers actually *CARED* about how difficult the technicians' jobs were back then!
One particular experience I had really amazed me, with regards to Mercedes-Benz in general... In the summer of 2010, I and my family were out and about one Saturday afternoon, and the door-latch on the front-passenger door broke, so the door would not shut. We were *miles* from home -- but happened to be only a mile or two from a Mercedes-Benz dealer. So we carefully drove over to the dealer, hoping they could help us. Not only did they have a new door-latch in stock, but they installed it while we waited, and we were back on the road in less than an hour!
They had a part in stock for a then-THIRTY-YEAR-OLD vehicle, and were able to get it installed while we waited! Is there any other brand in the world that would keep that kind of stock on-hand?! You can't get parts for most cars that are more than TEN years old, to say nothing of cars that are THIRTY years old! *Especially* at a dealer! Can you imagine driving into a Ford dealership with a 1980 Pinto and asking for a door latch? HA! They'd laugh you right out of there. I was completely blown away by the level of service we got at that Mercedes-Benz dealer that day.
When I first started buying Mercedes 20 years ago, that was the case. But sadly, today, Mercedes dealers are just like the others; parts for old models are rarely available, and never stocked.
@@brianthompson6561 Depends on the country, parts supply from UK dealers is excellent
My daily driver is a 1983 300 sd bought when she was just turning 20 years old for 2,500. Dead simple to maintain.
I'm really surprised they took in a Benz that was older than 20 years old. most euro dealers wont take in cars that are 15 years old or older. simply because of parts and length of time it takes for diagnostics. but then again it was a door latch and probably had a ton of dust on the box it came in.
70s, 80s and 90s were the best Mercedes ever!
When I was 19, I bought a 1971 250CE in London. the injected cars with the 2.5 liter m114 engine had 170hp and could scoot. I was able to hit 115mph in it
My first car was a 76 240d. It was reliable, but man that thing was slow. If you wanted to pass anyone, you had to turn off the a/c.
One thing I remember from back in the day was the Mercedes seats were considered the safest seats to be in in a crash. Some American seats, when rear ended, would fold back and you could be thrown through the rear window. Looking at these in Ecuador there are surprisingly many sedans here in good shape for $26,000. Yes MORE expensive in EC.
I had a 1991 S320 straight 6. Easy to work on. Big engine bay made for a V8 and I had the best engine ever built by Benz a Straight 6 so I had plenty of room to work. That was the beginning of my Mercedes addiction! My last one was a CLS550 twin turbo V8 that got 28-30 mpg on the highway! Around town only 17-18 mpg being careful. Great mpg just don’t Light Up the Twin Turbos! Same 0-60 as my Tesla Long Range model 3. I miss the Mercedes Interior and on the West Side my Tesla is a Dime a dozen like Camry’s!
That pillarless window design is very common of that era. Even 55,56,57 Chevys were available with them known, as hardtops. Buick Electras had 4 door hardtops.
You are probably correct. However, the modern (2005) CLK with its clean pillar-less was awesomely (a word?) safe. Under torque loved to be powered through curves, and even if T-boned. I have pictures. Bought it for 16yr kid when car had 95K miles, just gorgeous in and out. 8yrs later kid driver survived a teenager running a redlight. Chassis did its job VERY well. 2005 Mars Red CLK 320 RIP. Much respect for German engineering.
Almost every American car manufacturer had hardtops starting from mid 50's until mid 70's. Some, like Cadillac, had periods where there were no pillared versions at all, 2 or 4 doors (except the limousines)
17:16. That switch is push pull.
The W123 series is very much a 1970s car, being launched in 1976 but in production for nearly 10 years. It was in many ways a development of the W114/115 shown here, which was launched in 1968.
I like the 22" steering wheel with its 13 turns lock-to-lock!
I love it , reminds me of the Chevrolet- Nova II (duece)
I had 220 with 389 thousand miles I put on it loved it
I got the 250c. Bought back in 2011. It’s a great car to own. I have it in the NJ/NYC Area and drive into the city frequently. People just love this car and will wave, smile and chat with you. Everyone, everywhere. Coupes are super rare to see. Never met one while driving mine, even at meets.
i have one just like this but in red cherry with tinted windows and black leather seats not fake leather that was the most wanted by the buyers at the time ,. for several reasons, but mine as the original front lights than i have a older one with tinier body with a 180 engine ,the smaller grill that is all made of metal ,this one looks better but as those long bumpers as it came from Canada, the beer benches as i call them , in winter time when it´s cold one can seat there drinking a cold beer with warm in our backs coming from the engine
I want one. I really want a 90s V12 SL. I have a 2019 C300, but I'd love to have a convertible.
nice coupe. it was competition for the BMW e9 2500CS and the Opel Commodore coupe. In Europe the W114 platform was often used as a basis for hearse and ambulance conversions.
I loved my 64 220S fintail. And yes, they can be daily driven
After 20+ years of auto auctions I have formed a maxim: "There is nothing as expensive as a cheap old Mercedes." .
3:48
Watch out for those HOT exhaust pipes when you use the trunk!
Ask me how I know?
Hold on. Back up. I missed if the Command screen is touch or center wheel actuated.
Collapsible steering column was mandated standard in all new US cars beginning of '68 I think
That's a nice car, really classic Merc! How's Andre's Buhanka?
Lovely car! Regards from south Sweden.
I don't know why you say unpopular, classic Mercedes Benz cars are highly sought after.
Nice car. A couple of nitpicky details.
They never sold the 200D W115 in the US. Only 220D, 240D and 300D. Also, the coupes only came with gas engines.
If those really are 15 inch bundt wheels, they are quite rare. Almost all bundt wheels, including on the following W123 and W126 cars, were 14 inch. Bundt wheels were available on W114/115 cars from 1972, but were rarely fitted to US specification cars.
The rear window heater switch is push pull, not twist.
The lockout on the power window switch is for the rear windows to stop kids from playing with them.
The S position on the shifter gate only locks out 4th gear. The L position gives you 1st and 2nd.
I don't see how removing the AC system gives you better access to the front of the engine. The AC condenser sits in front of the radiator.
A couple of cool features you didn't mention. Dual zone heater/vent system, and seat height adjustment.
Curious that the v8 convertible/hardtop SL's are now cheaper than the W123 Coupes nowadays!
Wow that's the car my Opa bouggt in 1975 for $5500
Same colour too!
He sold it in 1995 for $5000, so he lost $500 on a car he drove daily for 20 years!
I feel that tail lamp simplicity and serviceability.
My wife has a modern Mercedes with LED tail lights + turn signals. They look nice, but the stock unit tends to develop leaks in heavy rain and then the LED circuits short out. Instead of a $5 replacement bulb at Autozone, we get to replace the entire tail lamp assemblies at $300 each.
Surprised they're not over $1000 each!
That's why the older analog cars were better. Now they do planned obsolescence and don't even have a drain plug in the torque converter.
That’s EXACTLY why I won’t buy a Benz newer than 1991.
Here comes Tommy and his posse in the Mercedes. THE BABY BLUE WRECKING CREW! Straight outta Hygiene! Hangin with da homes.
11:50 Back in the day, John Gotti switched from Cadillac to Mercedes in about 1978 after the big GM downsizing because he could reliably fit at minimum 5 rival mobsters in the trunk of the S-Class plus a set of golf clubs just in case you had a round at Bushwood scheduled with Moe Greene prior to 1200 noon.
By the way Tommy, Majority of American Cars of that era had the gas filler behind the tag located in the middle of the car, not on the left hand side like Current Automobiles
Love the car! I'd be very happy with one!
I had a plain old 1969 200, 200 had no radio from the factory, 4 cylinder, automatic transmission. I drove that while soldiering in Germany in 1985. Oh it was a 200, period nothing after the number. No American’s have seen a stripper Benz, but I owned and loved the car.
In the 70s Mercedes-Benz was the luxurious car everybody wanted but only some could afford to get. Japanese manufacturers were not around and nobody took them seriously.
They were building cars like you would own for life: Just replace oil and filters periodically, fill up the fuel tank and enjoy your life!
And then managers and engineers started inventing silly ideas like lifecycle management. They wasted their talent to invent parts that would last no longer than 20 years.
It's not only that you get a beautiful car from that lovely period but you also get to sense the true spirit of Mercedes-Benz that was obscured ever after...
Very interesting Tommy, my son had a 1984 Mercedes years ago, I'm really not sure but I believe it was a 300 & I know it was a non-turbo diesel. It was always amazing to me how far advance they were back in the day & that thing was a luxury tank.
That’s what I drive. NICE.
Of course, crash worthiness has come a long way in 55 years.
Was it in the USA? If so, the 1984 300D and 300SD would be a stock turbo. The 190D was a non-turbo in 1984. The 300 was non-turbo through 1981. The 240D was last sold in 1983 and was never a turbo.
@@paulk9985 Euro w 5 speed.
Nice W114. I still think you're going to miss your W123 :)
Reimagined with a wrap .. your favorite color!
Very cool possibilities!
I own a 560SEC, (also 2 door, "88, euro version) THE nicest car I have ever owned and driven for the last 14 years, mech parts are not expensive on par with lots of other makes, cosmetic however is another story. The difference with the 250C and mine is speed, big difference, anything up to and beyond 150mph. It's a car one will, and I have, do 1200mile in a couple of days and get to the destination thinking, "I want to drive more", really! The thing starts to make sense at anything above 75mph, it's an experience very hard to beat. No, not the fastest but the way it does it is just special.
My wife always wanted a red, with white interior ‘65 Mustang. I found a beautiful example at a great price, but it was white with red interior. I had her look at the car, and she said, “no, it’s just not that important anymore.” Instead, I bought her a 560 SEC. She was on ice, slid into the intersection, and was rammed the driver door by snowplow. She turned off the car, climbed over the center console, , and got out unhurt. A few days later, I saw the guy with the Mustang. He said, it’s a good thing you didn’t buy the Mustang, that snow plow would’ve sliced it in half and your wife would’ve been a goner.
Another great review!
"I love my classic 1970's Mercedes Benz! I love it I love it I love it!" *vacuum line leak* "Oh no!"
I thought my '69 250 started in second gear then quickly shifted down to first gear, the the normal progression.
Durability, quality, reliability, AND safety. That was a big selling point of MB when I was a kid in the 70's. Crumple zones, reinforced passenger cabins, etc.
Hey Tommy! Thanks for another great video man. I just love TFL Classics. These old mercs are amazing. I would really be interested in a series about later models which are a little easier to get. For example the W124 (S124/C124), which I consider to be the last real Mercedes, or even the later W210, which are also over 20 years old and can be considered somewhat collectible.
I bought a 250C that was two years old with 18,000 miles. I'm not certain where it had been stored but the car was like new, corrosion free, and an eye catcher. It was darker blue with matching interior. I loved it!
Had to do a head job because the engine was designed for leaded premium fuel, so valve guides leaked when leaded fuel was no longer available. The head job was my first big repair expense, $674 in 1973.
It was in storage before I bought it. EVERYTHING rubber on the car had dry rot, and within a year of ownership a/c hoses, water hoses, boots, weather stripping, tires had to be replaced, another expensive repair that happened right away.
A friend bought the car 1975, took a new job in Boston, and to car was eaten up with rust in no time. Such a shame. The next generation of C Coupes weren't that appealing to me. I ended up with a 1980 S-Class TurboDiesel, and it's still on the road.
The indestructible M-B Tex interior is probably still around somewhere. The A/C was kick ass cold, very important feature when I bought it south Texas.
The paint finish was hard to keep glossy. It would dull in no time. My daily driver at the time was a new Plymouth Satellite Sebring. There was no comparison in quality between the two.
lovely car 😍
You can tell that MB was run be engineers back then; no passenger side mirrors, ashtrays everywhere, not a single cup holder. I had a '90 Merc - ashtrays in every door but still no cup holder and while it had 2 mirrors only one was electric so there were in no rush to change.
There is a time for driving and, a time for drinking. Make the best of both!
I had a mid 70's 230. Not a bad car at all. Wish I still had it :(
My Father bought a 4dr/SL 1972 4dr 220L. This was out of the country. He could not stop telling us: 5 boys and the youngest sister about every safety feature, adding the safety door latches that never jammed or the thumb place in the steering wheel and index fingers…when all my male brothers grew they all have had a MB and two of them currently own one. More modern of course. I almost purchased one but got out of it by being the only brother to own a BMW 5 series. All German made. A lot of stories can be told, in summary, people buying this vehicles bought them for the reasons that you enumerated, in your presentation. Very smart Tommy.
German cars often did not have rightside mirrors because passing on the right is not merely Illegal,
It Does Not Happen
and running out of fuel on the Autobahn ==
Massiv€ Fin€
(ZH powersteering -- have the same now in '95 Land Rover Disco 1)
this guy knows how to buy old school mercedes, this and the W123 were clean as hell
And he lives in the west where salt on the roads in winter is a rare thing
I just bought a 1970 250 (W114) that the previous owner also removed the A/C. Who do you recommend for a reliable parts source for A/C parts?
Great car. The M130 tends to run a bit hot.
My father had 2 of these - one was in that very colour. Among the most charming and best built cars ever. The big steering wheels were unforgettable. Nothing like it today. And certainly not Mercedes.
You made a mistake on the carbies these cars had. They were NOT Solex!! They were Zenith 35/40 INAT carbies, with vacuum operated secondaries. I've owned several Mercedes cars, & still drive one now. As for the wheels, some of the W114 variants DID have factory alloy wheels!! My W114 did.
i really want this model,my father had one with same engine but 4 doors version in 1980s
Thanks for this great report. My first car was a W114 / 250 sedan for 2000 bucks. Mercedes taught the competition how to build solid cars for decades. And it was always a special feeling to drive a Benz. Nowadays, the differences to other brands have become smaller; you don't notice whether you're sitting in a Kia or a Benz.
Ok Tommy, I clicked too see what ya had under camo & thought it's another Benz sedan , woop-d -doo, but then I happened to notice it's actually a coupe or a 2 door , but thought that is pretty damn slick and could be a bad ass looking ride with a few custom touches or upgrades and if done properly, so nice job at keeping me interested 😂
I miss old-school Mercedes. Back when they were still elegant, classy cars. Today, they're gaudy, brash, unreliable cars overladen with problematic technology. Don't get me started on the angry jellybean styling. There's a reason why most Mercedes nowadays are leased, not purchased. It's interesting to me how the thinking at Mercedes changed so little from the early 70s to the late 80s. I briefly owned a 1987 300E. It had the same blue MB tex upholstery. It's a high-quality perforated vinyl that will outlive the human race. It's much better than leather. The gearing in my 300E was also very short, just like in this car. In 4th gear, the automatic always felt like it needed a 5th gear on the interstate, but the higher revs while cruising meant it had a punch of power for passing without hesitation.
Maybe keep a modern speaker in the dash and cover the speaker, not the grill, with speaker cloth to hide it. Not all Mercedes diesels are slow. At least I don't consider mine, a '91 350SD, slow😀 Looking forward to the next video 👍
Retired Coast Guard mechanic/marine engineer just likes the sound. Not quite the same as the classic 2-stroke GM 671 in the 30 and 40 foot patrol boats, but close enough.
Great car and a excellent find, these W114 are beautiful.
Nice review Tommy. I know your probably sick of wearing glasses but if you did get surgery to correct your eyes, it's probably a good investment to wear sunglasses to protect them. The good thing is the sunglasses can be a regular thickness. Unlike my coke bottle glasses if I didn't have contacts👍
My friend has a 300d from 1978 with 85k miles for $1500. He still drives it today, with almost 500k miles. He bought it In 1994. It also had like 65hp and 0-60 in 11 minutes. But 40mpg
Those W123 Bodies are tanks. The finicky bits are the vacuum power locks and the floors tend to rust out.
What did the previous owner use to lower the car? (You may end up mentioning it. I'm 1/3rd of the way through the video).
Is that steering wheel original, I have a distant memory of a wheel with a metal ring. The one with four spokes is for mercedes with round central vents.
OK, I haven't actually watched all the video yet, but I did read the description, where it says "They Chevy S10 is a fantastic truck, well maybe not this one…" 🙂
I put six hundred thousand miles on one... then I sold it, still working perfectly.
owned a 560 SEC for 5 years. found out the hard way how expensive they are to maintain. when they hit around 15 yr old they start to fall apart and every time you visit the mechanic some more parts have worn to the point of needing replacement. Never got out of the mechanic shop for less than $2000.00. Drove like a dream. The trans felt like it was built by Rolex. Keeping it in great shape was a financial nightmare.
My father bought a brand new 1975 300D with the 5 cyl. engine and automatic. It road firm but not harsh. Fuel mileage avg. 42 on the Hwy. His older 190D had over 300k when he sold it.
Hell yeah, I had a black W 114 280 C Coupe. And 4 other Benzes. Lotta car for sure.
Love this auto. I have a 1974 450 SE
Absolutely awesome car
I had a 240 dl it came with after market conditioning because the Germany one was cold but not very Strong. I would recomend vintage air .
My 240d had great factory air, very cold. But you had to shut it off if you wanted to accelerate at all!
I owned a 280 C from 1973. What a wonderful ride and how elegant it was! I changed to a white rim backelite steering wheel which suits it better.
Sweet solid cars.
My uncle had a string of them, all Diesels, late 1950s through 1970something. My older brother was impressed by them.
He found a 1961 model 190D in a barn in the 1960s, totally worn out (which must have taken a LOT of miles). He bought and rebuilt it and he and his wife did a lot roadtripping explorations, autumn leaf viewing etc. Diesel fuel was cheap then.
Having gotten a degree in computer science, he got a job with a hospital system's data center, and bought a new, basic 1968 MB 240D. Same front clip as the beastie in the video. They drove it to Alaska pulling a pop-up camper.
Later, an Army truck ran a red light and T-Boned the passenger side, totalling it. He had no serious injuries.
He then bought a used 1968 model 240 in prime condition with all the options he could want. That he had until his death.
My eldest son has a 1977 model 300D he is rehabbing in the garage.
If and when adding to my vehicles becomes viable, I'm considering looking for a TD (Turbo Diesel)...
The turbo diesels were not that slow. All of them handled great.
Mercedes lost their way at the end of the 90s. I have owned two 90s cars and a 2004 SL and 2015 SL . I still have the two 90s cars the other two a distant memories
These are cool, but I am an even bigger fan of the 280SE 4.5 and it's noticeably stronger fuel injected V8 engine. They have decent ac that blows cold if kept R12. While they can be tricky to service (few mechanics with the needed knowledge are still living), yes, they can be daily driven. Even today!
I imagine an engine swapped 250C would be quite interesting. If only someone out there with DEEP pockets would attempt it.
You're missing the point. Rock steadt good looks and mechanics for cheap.
Yeah these mercy’s are pretty cool. I prefer the W123 though
Another kid falling in love with the Mercedes tractor.