So yeah… I went and bought another old Mercedes-Benz. First off, no the 300TD wagon we call The Wombat hasn’t been sold off. It’s still being discussed and schemed upon, I promise. Secondly, no I’m not selling the truck yet either (Unless someone gives me a decent enough number then PEACE OUT BRO!). I bought this 1974 Mercedes-Benz because I wanted something cool to cruise around in that I could also feel comfortable letting my daughter tag along in her seat in the back.
Found on Craigslist, this particular car was originally owned by a little old lady down in Carlsbad who bought it new from Hoehn Motors. I still have the business card of the guy who sold the car, complete with his picture and super excellent mustache. She eventually sold the car to a mechanic neighbor who spruced it up and quickly sold it off to the young Newport Beach surfer lad who sold it to me.
Under the hood is the M110 DOHC straight six engine that sucks air and fuel through a carburetor. A four-speed automatic backs up the mill.
Yes, this is sadly the first year they forced those god awful 5-mph bumpers on US imports. It’s still a sharp looking machine, but I do want to source some Euro bumpers eventually. I don’t mind the US headlamps though. On the outside, she needs some love but the body is otherwise pretty straight. Inside, we’re looking alright as well. The original Becker Europa is in place and works fine, and no I’m not removing it for something else. I may hide a more modern system though. The exterior of the seats is in excellent shape but the horsehair is crumbly underneath, so I need the seating all restuffed.
Mechanically, she’s quite sound. A front ball joint causes some pull under braking, but that’s about all I’m finding at the moment. On the highway, she’ll happily cruise at 80 miles per hour (standard Southern California highway speed) and in fact seems to get smoother the faster I go. The steering requires minimal effort and the brakes (despite the pull) actually stop far better than I expected.
I’ll have a post up soon where I walk through the car in more detail and with more photos (and video) very soon. I just wanted to let you all know now, however, that there’s a new face in the Hooniverse Project Car Stable. I’m not sure what I want to do with the car just yet beyond making it look nicer. In fact, I’m not sure I need to do much more than that.
I also can’t think of a name for the car… sound off below if you’ve got something and maybe I’ll find another set of dumb ass vanity plates for this one too.
I bought another Benz… say hello to my 1974 280
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23 responses to “I bought another Benz… say hello to my 1974 280”
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What’s the German equivalent of Oliver?
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Opel.
(Mercedes is his boss; Oliver has a crush on her, but she doesn’t even know his name).
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Not bad. How much touch parking goes on in your area? Worth considering before swapping to Euro bumpers
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None really. So I’d be okay with the euros
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Carver. Old wombat in the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. Reference: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_hairy-nosed_wombat
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A fine addition to the herd. I’d find a good hat to wear in such a fine car, say, something like this:
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f7af797deca4b928aa7164cea34cee8d6b340896c9a1d44ff3438b8c331fb8af.jpg
And dark aviators. Definitely aviators. -
Congrats, a fine addition to your herd!
If it were me, I’d want a hat to wear in such a Benz. And dark aviator sunglasses.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ecf8372b5ee47334fe8ed28e1c9180ea6f06d5e5f0e2bee273d294c7ec931fbf.jpg
Why do I suddenly have images of Idi Amin in my head? -
Congrats, a fine addition to your herd!
If it were me, I’d want a hat to wear in such a Benz. And dark aviator sunglasses.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ecf8372b5ee47334fe8ed28e1c9180ea6f06d5e5f0e2bee273d294c7ec931fbf.jpg-
Hold out for a Messerschmitt.
http://www.microcar.org/gallery/d/13275-3/IMG_7604.JPG
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well done! I’ve had a W123 240D for the last six months or so. a fine automobile, but my one wish for it is that it had a gasoline engine. the diesel stopped being funny a few months back. still, it’s a solid car that’s been my DD and asked nothing in return but a set of glow plugs.
no doubt the W114 is built to a similar standard, though perhaps with less material. I’ve always liked the W114, but nowhere I’ve lived have any remained on the road. if a clean gasoline/manual model popped up, I’d have to think very hard about postponing my return to an NA Miata.-
Had some childhood years in a W123 240D – spacious in the rear, but loud above 110km/h, and unbearable at vmax 160km/h.
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that thing made it to 160 kmh? mine gets real vibratey above 80 mph, and it definitely doesn’t feel like it has the steam to make it to 100. the ravages of time, I suppose.
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Or rather the lack of GPS, speedometers are allowed to indicate 10% too high here. I looked it up and a childhood memory was crushed: Wikipedia says whatever I perceived as 160 was only 143…
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I was passed on the road today by a W123 diesel coupe… knowing glances were exchanged.
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>The original Becker Europa is in place and works fine, and no I’m not removing it for something else. I may hide a more modern system though.
+1 for this. My 544 has the original Boman radio still there (though it doesn’t work, and the Stromberg speakers were stolen in New York about 25 years ago)- rather than cutting a hole in the dash, I put the modern head unit in the glovebox. I did this sufficiently long ago that I’m now considering replacing it with a still more modern unit that has an AUX or Bluetooth input. -
I always thought those were great looking Mercs, but rarely see them for sale. Just as with E28 Bimmers, I don’t mind the long bumpers. Love the car, but I don’t like giving them pet names, so I have no suggestions.
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Yeah I’m split on doing so… I’ve got nothing good so far, which means I probably can stop thinking about it.
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Dr. Z!
Or Otto. 😉
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If you forgive a silly question from an unknowing European: If the 5 mph bumpers were mandated by law/regulation: Can you legally switch back to Euro-style bumpers?
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It depends on the state. Some states require original equipment bumpers or equivalent whereas others simply require the presence of bumpers that meet certain minimal standards.
In practice, many states (including California, which is what matters to Jeff) don’t conduct safety inspections, so unless a police officer notices something truly outrageous being driven on a public road and actually cares about it, it doesn’t become an issue.-
Yep – lots of car lovers like to bag on CA because of the emissions stuff, but that’s all you need to get past to get a post-1975 car registered. That’s it!
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Not a silly question and Doc Harrell answered it below.
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“… maybe I’ll find another set of dumb ass vanity plates for this one too.”
Is BLOOGER still available?
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