Finback Estate Wagons - I need to know more! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Chad300tdt · #1 08-07-2007, 03:40 PM

I have been trying to find out more about the 1960's finback wagons. Were they ever offered with a diesel? Does anyone know of a good source of info?

SwampYankee · #2 08-07-2007, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

I have been trying to find out more about the 1960's finback wagons. Were they ever offered with a diesel? Does anyone know of a good source of info?

BenzGirl OTOS has one with some info. Other than that I haven't looked into them too much further because I really didn't need the temptation. The early ones were converted from sedans by a shop.

Here's her page http://vwdreamer.com/mercedes.php

They are very cool. Like I said in the other thread, there was one for sale around here somewhere within the past month. I'll see if I can dig it up again.

harrygrey382 · #3 08-07-2007, 06:30 PM

my uncle's got an intersting one in australia: One of 3 shipped out for use by missionaries in the NT. It's a Binz wagon with a slightly raised roof and roofrack, with a little fan mounted about the driver for extra cooling...
It's got a totally reconned 200D, very sweet motor. Can't remember the date, maybe '66. He reckon's it's about the free-est reving diesel he's come across (don't know much about the 200Ds, much shorter stroke than the 240 and 220s?)
Still looking for photo's of it but not having much luck (I'm in UK now), but if I find some I'll load them up

POS · #4 08-08-2007, 08:45 AM

One was for sale here in Texas (a '66) about a year ago; it was placed on CollectorCarTrader, and it had 56k miles on it. I missed it by one day, and it sold for $5000. There's one on ebay right now (maybe auction over by now), but it was a huge rust bucket.

Contact www.mercedesenthusiast.co.uk and get the March 2006 issue - they have a detailed article about the 230 Universal Estate, its origins and history.

cth350 · #5 08-08-2007, 03:49 PM

The finback wagons were built from partial chassis supplied by mercedes. There are ponton wagons too, not to mention a very small handful of adenaurs.

Visit www.heckflosse.nl for lots of details.

-CTH

JPMOSE · #6 08-08-2007, 05:44 PM

Contact the following owners of the attached website, as they own a fintail wagon and are quite enthusiastic about them:

http://**************.com/

Look at the "History" and "Our Gallery" sections and you will see photos and learn more about them.

Good luck!

earthtokent · #7 08-14-2007, 09:08 PM

I owned a 230s universal wagon about five years ago. Production #s of the s class wagons was 341 between 1966 -68 There were also 200 and 230 gas wagons and 200D wagons during the same time period. I believe there were around 2000 non s wagon built by Universal in Belgium. The chassis were shipped partially built from Germany and were completed as wagons in Belgium. Binz also converted finnies to wagons(earlier) They were characterised by higher rooflines. Check out Heckflosse.com. This is a great website devoted to finbacks and there are some pictures posted there.I'll post pictures of mine in the future.

300SDog · #8 08-15-2007, 02:29 AM

Is Binz that made bulbous high-roofed wagons for ambulances etc the same company as Belgians that made tastefully done Finbody wagons? I dont think it is.

Meanwhile something y'all gotta remember about fintails: these were cars upon which MB founded its empire. More than 200 thousand w110's were produced and put into service worldwide. They dominated taxi cab industry. You'd be hard-pressed to see 1960's movie filmed at Europe that didnt have 110/111 Benz in the background.

Dunno for sure, but am suspicious the amazing Belgium company building Universals for couple of yrs was put outa business by bein too far ahead of its time. IOW, cost of production exceeded demand. And MB wasnt ready to produce wagons if its own for another 15 yrs. Probly the last ghasp for truly custom built cars like back in 1930's when you could order any of several versions of the same roadster straight from the factory. Now what might have changed Vintage MB history would have been MB wholeheartedly investing in Belgium coachbuilders.

But '66/67 was too darned late for finbodies with 115 and 108's already set for production. Must never forget the first prototype finbody occurred in '57/58 - then was mothballed and kept under wraps couple of years while Stuttgart retooled the plant.

truckinik · #9 08-15-2007, 02:38 AM

Woah, Kinda looks a little like a 57 Chevy wagon...in it's own little way...Never saw one of those before, not even a picture. I'f you can find one grab it, if you find two, I'll buy the second car. I like that thing..

earthtokent · #10 08-17-2007, 11:04 PM

From the back I hate to say it but finnie wagons look a little bit like '59 Rambler wagons. More than once a local cruise nights some clueless onlooker would wander up to the back of my car and ask if it was a Rambler. I guess if they were completely clueless they wouldn't have even recognized the resemblance...Hmmmmmmm.

Chad300tdt · #11 08-22-2007, 05:52 PM

Thanks for all the information. I've been checking into all the sources and also came across a site with some cool estate wagons. I think the Rover P6 estate wagon is interesting. A V8 in what appears to be a small vehicle. I guess I'd need to see one in person. The Aston Martin looks like a modern design but is from 1965

(the Dodge Magnum took design cues). The MB Finback picture is weak since it's shot from the front.

Anyway, I thought if you were interested in wagons, you'd like this.

http://www.channel4.com/4car/ft/feature/top+ten/1725/2

t walgamuth · #12 08-22-2007, 07:59 PM

I would think at least half would be diesels.

Tom W

earthtokent · #13 08-28-2007, 10:55 PM

I said in an earlier post that I would post pix of the 230s Universal that I used to own. Here are two I was able to locate. I drove this car around South Jersey and the Philadelphia area during 2000-2001. Anyone ever see me?

ramonajim · #14 08-29-2007, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earthtokent

From the back I hate to say it but finnie wagons look a little bit like '59 Rambler wagons. More than once a local cruise nights some clueless onlooker would wander up to the back of my car and ask if it was a Rambler. I guess if they were completely clueless they wouldn't have even recognized the resemblance...Hmmmmmmm.

Second car I owned (back in 1976) was a 1961 Rambler Classic. Bought from my girlfriend's grandfather who had bought it new at the ripe young age of 70. Had all of 30k miles on it after 15 years. Paid $230 cash money for it, put 100k miles on it, and sold it for $300 three years later.

My first Benz, a purely emotional buy influenced Greatly by my undying love for my long lost Rambler, was a 1961 220b.

Chad300tdt · #15 08-29-2007, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earthtokent

I said in an earlier post that I would post pix of the 230s Universal that I used to own. Here are two I was able to locate. I drove this car around South Jersey and the Philadelphia area during 2000-2001. Anyone ever see me?

That's a cool wagon. You only had it for a year or two? What happened to it, if you don't mind my asking.