oh boy, I'm curious now - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

davestlouis · #1 10-04-2006, 09:40 PM

I was on the phone with a customer today, talking about her daughter's Saturn, which got hit and may or may not fix. In passing, the lady on the phone mentioned that her 94 year old mother has finally decided that she is done driving, and her car that has been sitting in the garage for several years is for sale. She went on to ask if I knew anyone who wanted a 1963 Mercedes sedan?! All she knew was that it has manual transmission and 4 doors...I have an appointment to look at it Saturday.

Dee8go · #2 10-04-2006, 09:44 PM

Sounds like one of those rare finds that you can brag on for a long time. Let us know how it turns out. Post some pictures if it looks good. Good luck!

#3 10-04-2006, 09:53 PM

They are pretty advanced cars for the '60s. Try this website:

http://www.heckflosse.nl/

A '63 would have to be one of these. The perfect car to tow your vintage boat with.

davestlouis · #4 10-04-2006, 11:05 PM

I have to imagine the manual transmission would be indicative of a smaller model, W110. I really prefer the looks of the bigger ones, with the longer fenders and stacked lamps, but beggars can't be choosers.

#5 10-04-2006, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davestlouis

I have to imagine the manual transmission would be indicative of a smaller model, W110. I really prefer the looks of the bigger ones, with the longer fenders and stacked lamps, but beggars can't be choosers.

Those models can be pretty wacky. I have seen W110 model diesels with automatic, sunroof, power steering, and a/c, and it was a real slug. By the same token I have seen 220SE models with manual steering and transmission. Go figure.

If it has a white steering wheel, that's a big plus, they were pretty coveted at the time. The turn signal lever and shift lever should have the same color knobs as the steering wheel, btw.

If you do buy the car, see if the seller has all the keys. They have seperate keys for the doors, trunk, ignition, glove box, and locking gas cap. The gas cap is behind the licence(sp) plate. The a/c systems use a large two piston York compressor. The speedometer needle changes color as you increase speed, going from yellow to yellow/red then all red.

Some of the other vintage guys can tell you lots more. Good luck. I hope it goes well for you.

Mike D · #6 10-05-2006, 06:06 AM

Does this sound familiar Dave?

"Wow, I enjoy living vicariously through you, glad the desire to bring home every rusty relic you see hasn't spread to me!"

rs899 · #7 10-05-2006, 06:54 AM

If its a 63, there's a fair chance it will be one of the bigger 220S or 220SE models , many of which had manual column shifters back then. Keep us posted.

t walgamuth · #8 10-05-2006, 07:25 AM

it sounds like it has potential.

i concurr that it could be about any model with a stick.

tom w

t walgamuth · #9 10-05-2006, 08:37 AM

i remember once i was at the mb dealer in detroit to pick up some part or other. this was in 74. i was driving my 62 190c fintail. mine looked good at ten yards but had rust down under.
i noted a beautiful black finney coming out of the service bay. so i went over and checked it out. it had maybe 13k miles on it. so it was an old car at that time. i think it was a 250 se or similar.
i asked someone about it and they said "oh, that is elvira stroh's car. from the strohs beer family. she is 80 something years old, and just keeps that car because she likes it." i thought "cool".

just a little memory snippit i thought i would share.

tom w

davestlouis · #10 10-05-2006, 10:57 PM

I have found out a little more, but haven't seen it yet: the lady who owns it is 94, has macular degeneration, and has finally decided that the car can go. She bought it new in May 1963 in Santa Monica CA. 190 gas car, medium blue in color, white steering wheel, column manual shifter, put plaid seat covers on it when new, has never removed them. Her granddaughter seems to think it has under 50K miles on it. The body reportedly has some rust, not sure how much but they are claiming that the interior is like new.

Jim B. · #11 10-06-2006, 05:02 AM

Looks like that car might have a time capsule interior, it will be fun to look at.

The Santa Monica dealer for the car would be W.I. Simonson Mercedes, it's a cool little Art deco place that's been around for a long time, since 1937 when they staarted out and sold Studebakers. I'm not sure when they added Mercedes but they are one of the older L.A. dealers. I used their service dept. once in 1999 and was very pleased with the work and price. That heckflosse would have been issued the California black plates (first year for them was '63)

If the car ran out OK I bet you'd have a tough time resisting adding it to your fleet!!

davestlouis · #12 10-06-2006, 11:35 PM

I haven't seen it yet...I just can't help but think it would look cool towing my littel sunfish around. A neighbor has a '59 runabout boat and is restoring a '57 Chevy to pull it...I may have him beat with this combo.

sinisa · #13 10-07-2006, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davestlouis

.I have an appointment to look at it Saturday.

take the camera with u

and post images here for all us to see, would ja ? please ?

but I can not say that story has some "urban legend" caracter..old lady with well garaged car... or is it just me ? old peoples have old cars...

davestlouis · #14 10-07-2006, 08:36 PM

I didn't get to see it...had a problem with one of the kids and had to put the seller off for a couple of days. I am taking this opportunity to get little repairs done on several of the other cars, so I can bring one more home and get it off the lot at work...my boss keeps razzing me about my "used car lot" and I don't think it would be prudent to bring any additional cars there unless one or more goes home.

t walgamuth · #15 10-08-2006, 01:36 AM

sounds like good thinking!

tom w