Sonofabitch

"Party-vi" (party-vi)
09/09/2016 at 14:45 • Filed to: Mercedes, CL Shit

Previously occupying my time on CL was a ‘66 250S with a red interior and manual floor shift. Now it’s this gorgeous ‘69 280S (140hp w00t!) with the same rare 4-on-the-floor transmission.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! seems pretty steep, considering there’s a very nice looking ‘71 280S nearby(ish) for just !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . I wonder if the addition of power windows and an automatic is worth the $3,000 difference between the two.

DISCUSSION (18)

Ash78, voting early and often > Party-vi
09/09/2016 at 14:49

I'd go gray over black on rarity & aesthetics alone, to say nothing of the fun of wringing that engine out with the manual. I've only driven a 230SL from that era, and it was definitely on the slow side. The 280 with stick would be a nice pair, and probably easier upkeep than an old automatic.

Party-vi > Ash78, voting early and often
09/09/2016 at 14:51

The autobox is probably a good transmission, and the only maintenance needed is probably a fluid and filter change every 60k miles. Also, that 230SL made a whole 10hp more than the M130 engine in both of these, so slow might be an understatement.

Ash78, voting early and often > Party-vi
09/09/2016 at 14:53

Wow, I had no idea...I thought these were the same 2.3/2.5/2.8 straight sixes from the Pagoda. I used to work with a guy who bought one of these (above) as his DD...it was a ‘71, I think, apparently the only year they put the V8 in it. My Merc history is spotty...

jjhats > Party-vi
09/09/2016 at 14:59

black over red looks sooooo good. I would probably prefer an autobox but that is a sweet looking stick so I would go for it.

For Sweden > Party-vi
09/09/2016 at 15:00

Stop posting and start buying

RallyWrench > Party-vi
09/09/2016 at 15:00

The colors on the black/red 280 are perfect, and with the 4-speed... mmmm. Hard to justify those dollars, but it’s a hard combo to find, especially with the simplicity of manual everything and carbs. A great and very solid car in any form, but funner with the stick.

Party-vi > For Sweden
09/09/2016 at 15:05

We all don’t have that sweet, sweet, Swedish Fish money.

Party-vi > Ash78, voting early and often
09/09/2016 at 15:06

The 4.5L V8 was US only in these Mercedes models. The 2.3L in the 230SL had fuel injection and higher compression IIRC. Fuel injection is worth around 20hp for these models.

fintail > Party-vi
09/09/2016 at 15:14

Why not both?

108s seem to be undervalued, but don’t seem to be going anywhere. That’ll have to change sometime, right? I am a fan of FI cars, myself, but if these carb cars have made it this long, they are probably fine.

Party-vi > fintail
09/09/2016 at 15:17

Because I am not made of money and I like being married. Also, I’m running out of room in the driveway. I really need to shitcan the E46 and Pilot so I can roll both of them into one replacement car, and then get something else old to tinker on.

fintail > Party-vi
09/09/2016 at 15:19

Just lowball em :)

Garaging is a good point. MBs of this era don’t like living outside.

Party-vi > fintail
09/09/2016 at 15:20

My ‘49 CJ likes living outside even less.