I am toying with the idea of getiing an older mercedes to play with. I like the looks of the late 60's early 70's 280 SE's. Cool cars. I found a 69 280SE that I may go look at. Anything to look out for?

ad...."1969 MERCEDES BENZ 280SE, coupe, 112k miles, classic white, interior sienna & rosewood, immaculate, body & finish mint, carefully driven & maintained, auto., always garaged, Becker radio, sunroof, sacrificed for garage space, carpets new, best offer"


Whats a good going rate for these cars?

another one not far away, but its a diesel, not a 280 but it does look cool

1965 MERCEDES BENZ 190D, 1, 200 miles on new engine, 40 miles per gallon, rebuilt brake boosters, master cyl's, hoses, fuel inj pump, rebuilt drive shaft, starter, alt., radiator, new paint, chrome bumpers, 4 spd., am/fm stereo, $1, 900 firm,

For the 280 SE, if the interior is "immaculate" and the body has no rust, and under that many miles, I would pay up to $2500 for the car depending on what you think of the condition. If it is a "showroom" car, than it could be worth up to abot $5000-$6000.

Use this for comps:

http://www.collectorcartraderonline.com/adsearch.html

A 280SE coupe is a nice car (assume its got the six cylinder), but the real interest is in the cars with the 3.5 V8. Where you get hammered is that the costs of keeping this car on the road are as much as the 3.5, but with no upside potential.

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe

I may look at some next week. Thanks

Thanks for the info. Thats where I found the two I listed earlier. Seems to be a good source.

"Mercedes-Benz Buyers Guide" (great $20 paperback with tons of info, by Frank Barrett); "Mercedes-Benz Coupes and Cabriolets" (more background on these cars); finally, copy of Hemmings Motor News...browse for cars in your area, check prices.

I'd also contact your local MBCA chapter.

Good luck

Aaaaaah, the W108 chassis cars! They are my favorite "classic" Mercedes, and I hope to own one some day.

I was going through some back issues of The Star Magazine, and in the Nov / Dec 1997 issue there is a great article on the 108 / 109 / 111 chassis written by Rich Taylor, Vintage Editor:

"I like Mercedes Benz W108 / 109 / 111s. I like them a lot. I know they're big, gas-guzzling boxes, but they're also the last of the quality "wooden" Mercedes as opposed to today's "plastic" Mercedes. I find them incredibly solid, rewardingly over-built, and remarkably modern for a model line that ended 25 years ago. And in today's market, at least, shamefully undervalued.

Rich Taylor then goes into an interesting discussion about the five 108/109/111s he owned once at one time, one of which was a W111 300 SE 6.3 Coupe.

The article ends with the following paragraph:

"The 280 SE 4.5 is one of my favorite Mercedes, not the least because for years whenever I was around the factory designers or engineers on press trips to Stuttgart, I would always ask "What's the best car Daimler-Benz ever built." Virtually unanimously the Mercedes factory people would say,
"Steel suspension W108 sedan with 4.5 liter V8. This is the best Mercedes ever."

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I think price depends on the area. If you brought that particular 280se coupe to the Atlanta market you could sell it for $7500.00 + all day long. The 111/112 coupes to me seem to be in reverse. The pre 1968 coupes have trim items that where changed ( though suttle ) by the time of the 250se coupe that are much more attractive than the lure of a V/8. My 300se coupe seems to perform as well as the 230h.p. in my 300sel 4.5. Neumann, I have a 1972 sedan I need to sell in Atlanta. I spend a lot of time in Kingsland, Ga. Which is minutes from you if you are interested.

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"BECAUSE KNOWING IS HALF THE BATTLE"
G. I. JOE.

Clunker,

Please send me some info and photos on the sedan.

I called on the 280se in Ponte Vedre and the guy ha sowned it for 19 years. Sounds like a great well maintained car. It's an inline 6, a/c is not working and he wants $15,500.00 No typo there, yep $15,500.

Sounds rather high.

Air conditioning is a must down there! I will be out of town until sunday. I will send Photos and info when I get back.

__________________
"BECAUSE KNOWING IS HALF THE BATTLE"
G. I. JOE.

Have a nice weekend