What do you guys think of this 250S - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Drifting STi · #1 08-09-2009, 04:15 PM

First a little background. My dad has owned a 1967 250S for about 15 years now. The car has always been a rust bucket but a driver.

During that time the car was mostly garaged. The last 5 years the car has been kept on the streets of New York City and has taken its toll on the car. It has slowly turned into a parts car.

I suggested that he search for a restored or better shaped daily driver.

He found this one:

What do you guys think? It seems a little over priced to me.
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&searchType=21&paId=308859130&pageNumber=0&aff=aol

pj67coll · #2 08-09-2009, 07:42 PM

Appears to be in good shape. Assuming it's as good as it looks it might be a bit overpriced but not by too much. Maybe offer four or five and see what happens. Old collectibles like this are really valued pretty much on an individual basis depending on what someone is looking for.

- Peter.

Drifting STi · #3 08-09-2009, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Appears to be in good shape. Assuming it's as good as it looks it might be a bit overpriced but not by too much. Maybe offer four or five and see what happens. Old collectibles like this are really valued pretty much on an individual basis depending on what someone is looking for.

- Peter.

Thanks Peter, I firgured that...Any more input?

Arthur Dalton · #4 08-09-2009, 09:47 PM

Some things jump right out ..some good , some bad.

Bad is the lister does not know Benz or he is just stupid in his listing info.

The Car is NOT a 4 cylinder , as he suggest..it is a 2/5 ltr IL-6 ,Carbed OHV.
The car is NOT an autobox as he list, it is a stick..

The milage can not be verified and he states that b/c he knows that those Odometers flipped back to zero at 99,999. so it could well be 128K..

Good news is it is a stick...and it does look Completely Original.
The tip off for me is the car has BOTH the original 2 piece hub caps w/seperate rings and the rims are BODY top color. You very rarely see that on any of these cars unless they have been untouched ..a very positive sign [ or done up from someone very hip to these models, whick would not be the seller]

The VIN does decode to Manual trans . [8th digit]
It also has MBTEX ..a plus for a car of that vintage.

If NO RUST [ NH winters are salt crazed]..and actual milage , well worth $5k

If very orig , including paint, seats and correct miles , maybe a little more.
A nice car. Too bad about the color, but that is personal............

pj67coll · #5 08-09-2009, 11:07 PM

I agree with Arthur's assessment. Didn't realize it was a New Hampshire car. Be double plus sure about rust.

- Peter.

JimFreeh · #6 08-10-2009, 10:09 AM

Here's a similar one that just ended on eBay.

Item # 220460711879

If it were black, it would be just like the one I had in the mid seventies.....
Loved the 4 speed manual floor shift in an s class body.

Jim

Drifting STi · #7 08-10-2009, 03:53 PM

Oh man, Thanks for the help fellas. So i guess this might be a good find. I just need to take a closer look at it in person. Again, Thanks for the help.

230/8 · #8 08-12-2009, 11:17 AM

Check for rust along rocker panels, above headlights, under the front and rear windows, and along chrome strips. Check the floor boards too because you can drag salt into the car on your shoes which collects in the carpets and will eventually rot the floor panels. Use a magnet to check for plastic body filler along panels and check all panel gaps. These cars were extremely well made and solid as a rock, but usually slow in comparison to a US car with a more powerful engine. Check the heater controls for broken levers and full operation. Verify the blower works properly on all speeds and if it has AC that this system is at least complete and installed and working, if not blowing cold air it should at least be blowing air on all speeds. The dash crack on the binnacle peels off lotsa money from any bid I'd make on this car...I like them nice inside and cracks are a major pain to repair or live with.

Most mechanical checks for fluid condition and color and on-road operability will reveal any major maintenance flaws. These cars are pretty bullet-proof so if a warm engine pegs the oil pressure gauge when you get slightly above idle, it cold-starts and runs with reasonable smoothness and no balking or overheating or hesitation, and the transmission shifts solidly with no balking or crunching, and the chassis feels solid with no darting or pulling when traveling or stopping it is probably solid. Check for routine maintenance and try to verify the chassis has been lubed regularly...they have many grease fittings and lazy techs will often skip them if it was maintained at a goofy lube.

If you are dealing with a seller who obviously knows little about MBs then take nothing at face value. Can you get a Carfax on a car this old? It may reveal any accident history or mileage fraud. All in all, it looks nice in photos, but only eyes on it will help with a decision to buy. Use caution. Remember: There is no such thing as the last good deal. There is always something else available so no need to rush and by all means avoid falling in love with the car before you buy it...save that for later.

230/8

JimFreeh · #9 08-12-2009, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 230/8

Can you get a Carfax on a car this old? It may reveal any accident history or mileage fraud.

Carfax is only good if the VIN fits the 1980 or later standardized form.

If your VIN starts with your chassis #, Carfax is useless.

Jim