Long On Hood, Short On Price: 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380SE W126
There was a time when Autotrader was the best game in business when you were looking to buy a cheap car…at least it was better than your local newspaper. The world changed and Autotrader’s print magazine went the way of the dodo bird and AT lost most of its best deals to craigslist…but in recent months I’ve noticed that it is difficult to find good deals on craigslist for more than a few minutes, probably because cash ready flippers buy anything cheap and sell it on one of those overpriced auction sites. However, you can find an occasional diamond in the rough over at Autotrader’s site because I think the demand side of the market is diminished (everyone is on craigslist and facebash morkingplace). Here is a short wheelbase W126 with the 3.9 liter M116 V8 in what appears to be great shape for a basic asking price. Find this 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380SE W126 offered for $5500 in Knoxville, TN via autotrader.
From the seller:
Seller Comments (VIN: WDBCA32C9FA120867)
Yes it s really a 1985 380SE! It s in great shape too! Is it perfect? Of course not (it s a 1985 380SE) but it s pretty darn close, and it may just be perfect for you. Amazingly, nearly all electronics still work, meaning the multi-contour seat controls still work, the sunroof still works great (and headliner perfectly in tact), all electronic windows work, the dome lights, the door lights, the wheel well lighting all work. You may ask.. what about the electric antenna? Yep.. still works! Oh and the AC still works. Zero accidents or damage reported on Carfax.. Runs and drives smooth, starts right up and you will be driving around like it s 1985 all over again. Let s face it, it s a classic Mercedes body style, maybe one of the most iconic.
122,240 miles
Cream Exterior
Tan Interior
3.8L 8-Cylinder Gas Engine
4-Speed Automatic Transmission
2 wheel drive – rear
Information Unavailable
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“starts right up and you will be driving around like it s 1985 all over again”
Throw in *walking* around like it’s 1985 all over again and I’m in
https://youtu.be/Cv6tuzHUuuk
I had a couple of W126 chassis 300SD’s, great cars once the turbo was properly tuned and all vacuum leaks banished. In retrospect I wish I’d tried a gas engined one but at the time I liked the thrift of diesel. I put a set of H&R lowering springs on mine to cure its sagging butt and it was a night and day change: no loss in comfort and it handled far better.
The cold a/c is a bonus. On mine it was provided by a cheap to replace Delco compressor. Hopefully that’s the same on this one.
Hmmmm, the rare DT feature that’s within 3 hours of me. Tempting.
I took a road trip in one of these in the mid-90s (a friend’s parents’ “extra” car which had been bought new) and I have a lot of respect for them. While it’s no 6.9-liter, it had no trouble with Colorado passes with four guys in the car and it was incredibly smooth and quiet. Based on that trip, I still perk up a bit when I see these…
It does blow me away the price of used car’s or rolling junk that is 5-10K that i would passed on that was a couple hundred in year’s past different game these days for sure.
Gotta wonder why a car like this had an average of 3,400 miles/year on it…
Looks amazing. Thinking it’s hiding some needed work. But what do I know? The only MB I ever bought was 30 years old and was beautiful to look at.
Which is what I did most of the time. Because it had gremlins. And I never could find a knowledgeable mechanic to fix it.
Sure was purty tho’…
-Stan (…who got over his obsession to own a vehicle Engineered Like No Other Car In The World…)
https://images.app.goo.gl/j6XBzs5j92FHUkwh6