Mercedes preservation: the black beauties

"Dsscats" (dsscats) 12/13/2016 at 19:56 • Filed to: None

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Would you believe me if I told you that you could have bought these two cars at the same time? The W114 phased out of production in 1976. The W123 was introduced in 1976.

Yet these cars could not be more different. And no, I’m not just talking about one being a coupe and the other a wagon.

They both have a very Mercedes- esque elegance to the, but in totally different ways

The W114 makes a far more deliberate use of chrome to accentuate the lines of the car. The W123 makes a more liberal use.

The front ends of both cars have a similar design language, but are totally different. This particular W123 was blessed with being a Euro-market model, giving it the far more attractive headlights. The W114 was a US-spec model, leaving it with large sidemarkers on the front clip.

The rear ends have perhaps the most interesting differences. Mercedes abandoned the chrome tail light surrounds from the W114 and removed the integrated reverse light, placing it in the bumper of the W123 instead. I personally think it gives the rear end a certain simplicity.

On another note, go follow the owner of the wagon’s brand, @wagonestate on Instagram. He posts some awesome stuff.

Nibby > Dsscats 12/13/2016 at 20:07

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timeless elegance

TheHondaBro > Nibby 12/13/2016 at 20:21

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eleganceless time

Zip-McBump > Dsscats 12/13/2016 at 20:24

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God, those wheels with narrow whitewalls...

Milky > Dsscats 12/13/2016 at 20:25

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What about dis?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Dsscats 12/13/2016 at 21:19

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Those are both stunners.

smobgirl > Dsscats 12/13/2016 at 22:01

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Waaaaaaaaagon

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Dsscats 12/13/2016 at 22:14

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The cleanliness is astounding

arl > Dsscats 12/14/2016 at 06:42

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Great old cars. My parents had a few growing up. I remember being about 18 years old and driving down to Florida with the family in the 280 SE 4.5. Great highway car. It would do 70 miles per hour effortlessly all day long.

Congrats on keeping the old Benz’s running. I briefly had a beater coupe and specific parts are getting very hard to find for those cars. Chrome trim and rubber seals for the windows are getting harder to find and expensive. Mine was a non-turbo diesel automatic. It was so God awful slow I couldn’t even keep up with traffic in the DC area, so it had to go. The gas motor is such a better engine if you actually want to drive in modern traffic.

Scary__goongala! > Dsscats 02/13/2017 at 10:28

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This post make me miss my three pointed star.