15k: 1972 Mercedes-Benz 250C
We just couldn’t resist posting another vintage Mercedes and this time we are going to push the higher end of our budget with a 2-door. We like 4 door cars because they are always cheaper when fully depreciated and they almost never become “Barrett-Jackson” inflated to ‘rich dudes only club’ levels…but the 2 doors are always better looking. This 1972 Mercedes-Benz 250C is for sale in Costa Mesa, CA for $17k asking, via craigslist.
This Mercedes is offered for sale from a dealer in Orange County, and regardless of his assertions that it is a “C-Class”, this car is a W114 MBZ 250C — C is the designation for coupe. However, in the seller’s definese – the W114 was a lower end Merc positioned and priced below the W108 chassis (similar to today’s C and S class cars).
This W114 is powered by a carburetor equipped M130 2.8 liter inline 6 cylinder gasoline engine putting out 128 horsepower and 158 ft-lbs of torque – and thankfully for us this is mated to a 4 speed manual transmission with shifter on the floor. We would have given this car the ‘minty clean’ badge -because it is ‘surgery room’ free of dirt under the hood – but the stock battery hold down bracket is missing, the windshield washer reservoir looks to be free to bounce around with the battery and the coil looks non-OE.
Inside this vintage MBZ looks great – down to its original Becker AM/FM radio and thin rimmed steering wheel with chrome horn ring. We especially love the vintage gauges – but wish they could have provided a tach from the factory. The interior looks like it was upholstered in George Hamilton’s skin -and it has weathered the years well. The vinyl material they used for seats in this era (MB-tex) is legendary for its ability to look great after years of use.
We do like this car…but we aren’t sure that surrounding it with vintage porsches will make some of that price appreciation rub off. We would try and talk the seller down a few thousand of dollars because these cars really don’t have a huge rich collector following, but how often can you find a well loved original like this with a 4 speed on the floor for the price of a new Honda Fit.
See another set of MB-tex in perfect condition inside a clean body? email us here: tips@dailyturismo.com
~ the 4 speed, and the excellent condition really make the car appeal to me. the most sought after are the SLs and larger coupe and cabriolet. these seem a comparative bargain.
The W114 was more comparable to a current E-class, while the W108 was considered the higher-end comparable to a current S-class. The seller's misreading of "C" for C-class is entertaining though.
Other than a relatively clueless seller, this car has a lot going for it. Appealing colors, European headlamps and trim, manual transmission, good condition, etc.
It was recently featured on GCFSB ( germancarsforsaleblog.com/1972-mercedes-benz-250c/), and it's now now to a more reasonable BIN price of $15K on ebay ( cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150874252000#ht_74074wt_1165).
Well worth checking out if you're in the market.
Always loved that b-pillar less design. No one has this kind of aesthete anymore.
Reading the 'C' in 250C as in C-class only spells out that the seller knows squat about these cars.
The cleaned up engine bay is amazing, but that alone is not worth the asking price.
Too bad no sunroof, and the dashboard must not be original, but rather a replacement from the /8 'B' line, meaning: MB had a W114/5 high line (6cylinders or goupes) and the low line 4cylinder and diesels. I have never seen a 250C until now without the wood on the dash !!!
So much for that "well cared for dashboard"………….(see first sentence)
As for this write up:
Yes carburetor, actually Dual Zenith 35/40 INAT s.
Washerbottle/container has it's own bracket.
Coil is OEM, but strangely mounted.
the tach WAS an option, but hardly ever ordered….
Yes, that MBTex was virtually indestructible, but these models had a weak seat construction and the latter versions ('74-76) would lose all their 'horse hair'padding internally.