Case of the Mondays – Mercedes Dents: 1985 Mercedes-Benz 280S

Antti Kautonen

/comment

Comments

1985_mercedes-benz_280S_w126_1

Here’s one of the nicer-looking old Mercedes-Benzes I’ve seen lately. For every rust-free W126 S class, there are two dozen rusty and dirty ones belching on our streets. This custard yellow 1985 280S sat on a Helsinki street, seemingly flawless. No rust anywhere.

But, the other side looked quite different, I’m sad to say.

1985_mercedes-benz_280S_w126_5

Honestly, it’s such a bummer. I don’t know how long this W126 had been preserved flawless, before being visibly dented big time. The plates mark it down as an original Finnish car, not a later second-hand import.

1985_mercedes-benz_280S_w126_4

It’s even difficult to figure out what has caused this door to get this bent.

1985_mercedes-benz_280S_w126_3

I do like the colour a lot. Compared to the usual silver, the dairy-like colour is a fresh change.

1985_mercedes-benz_280S_w126_2

I do believe the car is a low-mileage example. It’s worth putting right again, even if sourcing rust-free panels from somewhere else than Mercedes directly would be a pain.

[Images: Copyright 2013 Hooniverse/Antti Kautonen]

About

Antti Kautonen

Antti Kautonen

The resident Finn of Hooniverse. Owns old Peugeots and whatnot, writes long thinkpieces on unloved cars. These two facts might be related.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The maximum upload file size: 64 MB. You can upload: image, audio, video. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop files here

13 responses to “Case of the Mondays – Mercedes Dents: 1985 Mercedes-Benz 280S”

  1. needthatcar Avatar
    needthatcar

    Was Mercedes Bends taken?

    Reply
    1. JB_Finesse Avatar
      JB_Finesse

      Yup.
      "Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends
      She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys she calls friends"

      Reply
  2. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    If you like that color, try living with it. I've owned a car in that shade for 18 years … I still have mixed feelings.

    Reply
    1. Alcology Avatar
      Alcology

      And a mixed palette?

      Reply
  3. TurboBrick Avatar
    TurboBrick

    Original Finnish MB… so, cloth interior, stick shift, no AC and hand cranked windows? No wait, '85, more luxury… so, power windows up front, cranks in the rear?
    Location of the damage makes me suspect someone misjudged distance & turned into a garage door frame or a "concrete piggy" (whatever the correct english term is for those miniature portable jersey barriers).

    Reply
    1. JTuhka Avatar
      JTuhka

      Last year for the carburated engine too: the 280 S was replaced with 260 SE (E for fuel-injection).
      They were quite popular for use behind the iron curtain as the carbs tolerated USSR gas much better than K-Jetronic.
      Mobilisti-magazine had recently an interesting piece where a finnish journalist told about his 280 S he used in the Soviet Union. The locals usually avoided him as he drove a western car with K-plates (korrespondent) but he remembered a man who walked from the bus line to his window and asked the usual enthusiast questions. He was so exited that he didn't care about the possibility that KGB might take interest in him. A true hoonigan right there.
      He also told that the dirty beaten hubcapless W126 with Soviet plates was quite the eye cather at the Nürburgring.

      Reply
      1. julkinen Avatar
        julkinen

        I also read that and got a good chuckle out of it. And man, was that car dirty.

        Reply
  4. Tim Odell Avatar
    Tim Odell

    The only thing that can dent a 126 is another 126.
    That door dent could be addressed by pulling the interior panel and applying a boot.

    Reply
    1. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
      FuzzyPlushroom

      If there was more paint damage, I'd assume someone had written off a Corsa into that rear door and been carried away in an ambulance.

      Reply
  5. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
    FuzzyPlushroom

    Fortunately, both panels are replaceable if the dents can't be pulled out. Could be a lot worse.

    Reply
  6. Dukeisduke Avatar
    Dukeisduke

    Looks like someone backed into the door, like in a parking lot. As for the fender, that looks like a crease. I've only ever seen W123s painted in that color.

    Reply
  7. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
    C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

    Tell you what, this is local, new trans, I like the colour combo…if only I could afford fuel for my daily 60 mi (97 km) commute.
    http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/3774704477.h…
    <img src="http://images.craigslist.org/3E73Kd3Nc5N35G35Ecd4t89df836b66891640.jpg&quot; width="400">

    Reply
  8. Synchromesh Avatar
    Synchromesh

    The door dent looks like a Paintless Dent Removal job. But the dent on the front fender has a crease so it might require some bodywork.

    Reply