I got my 1967 230S fintail for $100. The engine was blown but I am putting a 5 cylinder turbo diesel in it.

I got my 1979 300SD for free and it has been a great daily driver. Over 300,000 miles and still going.

This weekend I bought a 1966 200 fintail for $400 and drove it home over 100 miles away.

All of these cars were craigslist purchases in which I saved them from the scrap yard. Usually you can buy decent, driveable Mercedes for under $1,000 if you watch the ads regularly.