All the more reason to hold out for the flagship - 560SEL.

Peter - Q: What about a nice 560SEC?

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

I really like this AMG euro manual gasser.

These are uber rare in this country and I like the manuals, and the euro cloth seats.

This one's been hidden away for over 10 years, and maybe closer to 20, and has pretty low miles.,

The AMG body kit and lovely AMG Pentas look as good now as they did back in 1985

I known this seller, personally, since about 1984-1985,



and he has been continually in business since then, and his stuff is good. He is a licensed CA. dealer AND a registered and certified importer.

http://www.richmondmercedes.com/280SE/280se.html



The car is still there gathering dust in his crowded warehouse. I took these pictures maybe a year and a half ago to prove it...

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Unlike most folks I tend to prefer sedans over coupes and convertibles etc. However a nice 560SEC is certainly not something I'd turn my nose up at. Of course I'd also like to have the cash to buy one. That's not around at present. I was looking at these cars at dealers because they were cheap and could be financed, which would mean I would have such a small payment I'd hardly notice it. But I don't have the money to buy one privately at least not yet. The 450 just threw me a curveball because it's body and interior are in such good shape that my desire to save it just kicks in and I have to try and fight that will all my powers of logic.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

I think this car would have to ring Hatterasguy's bell.

Just beautiful, JimB.!

A real treat to drool over the pictures in admiration.....

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

RE: SEDANS

Me too!

Except - let's face it......the SECs are much more likely to be bought/owned/maintained by a guy that caters to his coupe.

It's in the cards, Peter.......you may run across a very nice SEC in one of it's varieties.

Either a 500 OR 560.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

Not certain that I agree with you there. I've seen a few SEC's around here that were definitely not mantained as I'd want a Mercedes to be. Money had been spent on them and things done to them all right but that would just make me want to run screaming from them. Sort of as if they were owned by gangsta wannabees. Whereas I've seen a few old sedans that appear to be more of the "Country club" set and certainly appear to have been well kept by their owners, at least for most of their lives. I believe the 450 I stumbled upon is ons such vehicle and if I could get it towed to my place for under 500 bucks, and my emotion overcomes my reason I might do so. We'll see. I'm in no hurry. For once I'm not looking to buy a car because I need one, but simply for fun.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

A $500 old Mercedes Benz is probably a money pit, and could have $5,000 to $10,000 worth of problems in there.


The old saw "The most expensive Mercedes Benz is always the cheapest one" stll holds true.

While the old W116 bodied 450SEL was a marvelous and ultra futuristic car ( based on the ESV (experimental safety vehicle) when it debuted in 1973, to its end in the 1980 model year,) they were known for rust, air and water leaks, and were very very complex.

While parts for them are easy to get today, if you don't mind the Mercedes Benz Classic Center parts prices, they are getting real rare in breakers yards these days.


Personally - If I were to acquire a W116 sedan like a 450SEL, for 500 bucks, I would just only drive it around for a year and do nothing to it, and have fun. If it broke I would just abandon it and know I had a good time.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Personally - If I were to acquire a W116 sedan like a 450SEL, for 500 bucks, I would just only drive it around for a year and do nothing to it, and have fun. If it broke I would just abandon it and know I had a good time. [/QUOTE]

I'm well aware of the rust problems on 116's. I had a 79 in a severely rust prone climate (Durban - South Africa) and discovered things about rust, not just in 116's that I'm pretty sure most of the rest of the forum members have never experienced. That's why this one was such an amazing thing. From the brief look I was able to give it there did not appear to be a speck of rust anywhere on the car. I mean none. Not under the doors, the jack points, the floor panels, nothing. If the mileage 147K is correct then it appears to have been a relatively gently used california car.

I better stop before I talk myself into getting it. I'm well aware that such a vehicle could turn out to be a money pit. But the advantage I have (apart from no money) is that I don't need the vehicle. It would purely be a kind of hobby type thing where I'd see what the issues were, what the costs are etc and then decide if I wished to spend the time and some money on them.

The car was bought by the dealer at auction and didn't sell. Over time it became difficult to start until eventually it just wouldn't start at all. They started to try and fix it and now it sits immobile missing it's fuel distributor, the spider on the top of the engine. $1272.00 from Fastlane if I remember correctly. So I'm under no illusions as to the possible reality of the situation.

Like I said I don't need it. If I do pick it up it will purely be as a kind of hobby/learning experience where because of the overall condition the possibility exists that if I can fix the mechanical issues it would be a nice car to keep, and if not, oh well then, to the junk yard I guess.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S