G'mornin' Folks,

Please excuse me, I'm generally not over in this area of the forum. I look in in the Diesel section on almost a daily basis.

Every time I go to town I pass a repair shop that had an "older" Benz on the lot, it's been there for a year or more. A week ago I noticed that a window was partly down and it was raining. Yesterday I stopped and asked the shop "what's with the ol' Benz, over there"....was informed that it needed carburettors. Mentioned that the window was down, was told that the interior was gone so it didn't matter. The owner of the shop then told me who owns this relic.....and that I should make him an offer.

The car is badged as a 220S, looks like it's possibly a W111.....I don't know much about gasoline burnin' Benzes.....it has vertical headlights, with clear covers over them, a sun roof, body is straight...but is beginning to show a bit of rust around some areas like edges of sunroof, and around window mouldings......I only walked around the car.....there is no rear seat or passenger seat.....air cleaners are on floorboard......as I understand it, the owner is seeking carburettors, and can't find any.....

I do not know the owner, but know who he is.....he own a bunch of older "French" autos...several Citroens, and Fiats, and a few Saabs....I have never met him, but stopped a few years ago to admire a Citroen-Maseratti in front of his storage building......

If I were to make him an offer...what would be a fair offer for this car??

Thanx,
SB......from the Diesel Forum

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Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG

$500 at most - it sounds like a basketcase.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

Thanks,

I just pass by and see this ol' Benz sitting there, month after month.....not that I need another project.....just think it needs a home!!

Thanx,
SB

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Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG

Used carbs can still be found and you probably can get Weber replacements. It may be possible to get the originals to work again, even if not perfectly.
A 'Mechanic' once condemned the carbs on my '60 Fintail, but they're still workng 10 years later!

If those seats were originally leather, you may be able to find more-durable MB-Tex replacements. If good fintail seats can't be found, later ones from a W108 might work. Or you could do what I did wih my shredded original leather Fintail front seats - sheepskin seatcovers!

Besides neglect and inept mechanics, rust is a major killer of these cars. With the seats gone, you should be able to see something of the floor's condition. Also inspect the inner rear wheel housing, rear wheel arches, rocker panels and jack-ports, and the unibody structure below the rear seat area, where the rear suspension arms attach. If the body is still solid, it might be worth saving.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Hard, hard question. If you are seriously interested in the car then cheap as possible is the way to go. You might consider having an astute individual you know go negotiate a selling price with the guy for you. The advantage here is no rose coloured glasses. Too much is regionally dependant to come up with an abolute price guide mind the true condition of the car from here as well. In these cases sometimes I might get him to make a suggestion. Sounds like he is hoping for you to make an offer above what he really wants. That could be close to nothing. Or he thinks he is sitting on a gold mine. But the best possibility, it is just littering up his place. I guess what I am primarily driving at is buying cheap experience. The more you have the better. I am lucky enough to personlly know an expert at buying cheap. Will never reach his ability level myself but this guy has just amazed me over the last 35 years I have known him. Oh yes, a lot depends on if you want to make it into a runner or restoration as well. The road to restoration is paved with dollar bills for the last few years. Much cheaper to buy it done. Or the best example you can find. On the otherhand an enterprising individual can acomplish almost the impossible sometimes. So much just depends. Not an answer exactly. Just some thoughts from an older guy that has been there.

Well, I'm 57......not exactly a kid.....amd I have owned many assorted vehicles in my lifetime, I'm a gearfreak......as far as this car goes....I just can't stand to see it sitting there in the weather.....just don't know what these cars are worth.....now if it was a 123, 115, 124, or 126 with a diesel, I would know what to offer......

And cheap is a key word......

Thanx for the input......

SB

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Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG