I am selling my 1971 250C. I have owned the car for about 5 years and it is a joy to own and drive. It is a bit of a pig with gasoline though, about 15 mpg at best.

The car is red with a parchment interior. The exterior is in very good shape and the paint has a nice gloss. I think it is original. It is fitted with aluminum wheels with the original Mecedes hubcaps, and recent Vrendenstein tires of the OEM size.

The engine runs well and the transmission shifts correctly. I purchased the car from a mechanic in Ventura and he had done a lot of work to the car and had the carburetors rebuilt. I have had no engine / carb problems with the car as long as I have owned it. Same for the transmission.

I suspect that previous owner rebuilt the front suspension - it is excellent and the steering is tight and has good road feel. The brakes are in good order - I replaced the master cylinder when I got the car and I can't remember whether or not any of the other brakes have needed repair - I think the front calipers were replaced but not sure.

Regular maintenance has been performed. Front and rear windshield seals have been replaced. The car is rust-free. Everything is very original about the car except that the Kangol seatbelts in front were replaced with retractor seat belts from a slightly later car. The original Becker Europa pinstripe radio works well.

This car is a pleasure to drive and I'm selling it because I want fewer cars and fewer projects in life. This isn't a "project" car in any way. I also don't have indoor parking for the car and feel it would be better for someone else to enjoy at this point.

Asking $4500 which is negotiable to some extent. Not desparate and it is a very nice car.

Pictures here:
http://photobucket.com/Mercedes250Coupe

thanks
Scott

Attached Thumbnails

 

Throwing in the towel on your classics Scott?

__________________
There is nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes

No, I'm keeping the 67 250 SL and the 67 250 S and selling the 85 300 TD and the 71 250 C. I just don't need 4 MBs anymore... not enough time, not enough space...

Scott - that's a beauty. These coupes are one of my favorites and this looks like an great original example. Where is SoCal are you?

__________________
I'd rather argue against a hundred idiots, than have one agree with me. — Winston Churchill

Is this the red coupe I saw when I visited a long time ago?

Yes. And it is wonderful. It deserves better parking than I can offer and I am downsizing my possessions and tasks in life.

New pictures posted TODAY here:
http://photobucket.com/Mercedes250Coupe

Agreed, it is a nice coupe. Too bad you have to let it go, but I understand where you're coming from.

GLWS!

Hi have added 3 videos to the photo album:
Cold start after being parked for 2 weeks:
Mercedes 250 C :: Cold Start After Two Weeks video by srallen - Photobucket
Test Drive:
Mercedes 250 C :: Test Drive video by srallen - Photobucket
Walk around car:
Mercedes 250 C :: Walk Around Car video by srallen - Photobucket

On Sunday a man came to look at the 250C. He drove the car approximately 40 miles (from LAX to Altadena) and visually inspected the car for about 4 hours. He decided that the car was not the right car for him.
In the interest of full disclosure, here are his comments.

Mechanically, the front passenger side wheel was extremely hot compared to the remaining three wheels. This means either a bad wheel bearing (should be accompanied by a noise however) or a dragging brake caliper. Your ad stated "The brakes are in good order" I would not feel comfortable setting out on a 450+ mile drive with the wheel getting so hot after the rather short drive from the airport.

I noted rust in the following areas:

1.Passenger side front fender at the lower rear edge, paint bubbling indicating rust has pierced the front of the panel from the backside. This means the area of corrosion on the backside is much larger.
2. Paint bubbling on the front rocker panel area just below the deco trim.
3. Rust on the seam between the floor panel and chassis rail. Undercoating would have to be removed to assess the extent of corrosion.
4. Paint bubbling on the lower rear area of driver side door. Corrosion also noted at drain holes underneath the same door.
5. Rust, both surface and rust-through was found in the trunk. Previous repair attempts included gloss black paint and fiberglass cloth coated with polyester or epoxy resin.
6. Paint bubbling just above the rubbing strip (belt line trim) at the rear of the front passenger fender.

I found the finish to be tired and definitely not original:

1. I noted oxidation on most surfaces, more severe on the roof and trunk lid. There was also wax residue on the car, indicating recent attempts to polish the paint as best as possible. (wax drip showing on the 2nd picture in the Photobucket album- driver side rear fender below bumper.)
2. The following is well beyond a "typical nick". I found a large area (approx. 4 by 6 inches) where the paint was cracking and starting to lift from the front passenger fender panel. After closer examination in the right light I noticed two random and poorly filled holes, approx. 1/8 to 1/4 inch in diameter. This indicates the panel was dented and later pulled out using a typical slide hammer/dent puller type tool, hence the drill holes. After the dent repair, the substrate was not properly prepared which would explain the paint cracking and lifting. At the base of this area I noticed the above mentioned paint bubble. This indicates moisture has seeped through the paint cracks and corroded the metal.
3. The existing paint is flaking off the original paint on the lower rear valence and the are between the rear window and the trunk lid (poor quality prep work).
4. I noted paint over spray on one of the front rubber hood bumpers in the engine bay.
5. Also in the engine bay, I noticed where the newer paint ended over the old paint. This is near where the fenders bolt
on to the front bulkhead.

In regards to the dent repair on the rear section of the font fender and the misaligned passenger door, I would the car was hit.

Thank you for being an honest enough seller to pass that on.
It's still a nice car, your potential buyer was valuable in his assessment, but he's looking for a car two or three times what you are asking for yours. Don't be discouraged. And don't give it away like I did my last W114, but it did go to a really good home.

__________________
One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K

Thanks for the feedback. That's how I see the situation with buyer who didn't buy. But he's entitled to his opinion and if nothing else, it gives other prospective buyers a negative assessment for them to read. He did however comment that it drove well when he drove it 40 miles...

Bummer on the buyer, still a heck of a lot of classic car for only $4500. I hope you get the right buyer!

__________________
Nathan
'74 280C - gone to a new home for the finishing it deserves.
'64 356SC
'74 914 2.0

I will. Buyer who didn't buy was an extremely unpleasant experience that I will gladly put behind me. At the moment I am on vacation in Italy (!) and having a lovely time. Be back on the 17th of September.

Enjoy the vacation, too bad you aren't in Germany, seems W114s are a hot item over there.

__________________
Nathan
'74 280C - gone to a new home for the finishing it deserves.
'64 356SC
'74 914 2.0

Well I can say with certainty that older MBs are _not_ a hot item in Italy. In my time in Milan, Amalfi Coast, and Rome the OLDEST MB I have seen has been a W126. It is really disappointing. Of course they are a bit large for Italy... I have seen a surprising number of the old style Fiat 500 cars in excellent original (appearing) condition. Quite adorable and I'm pretty sure I could fit one in my suitcase and check it as luggage. But other than the old Fiat 500's I have seen _nothing_ from before about 2000 (except for the W126). No W123, W114, W123.... Perhaps if I had gone to Capri....