Somewhere on 39 Highway, between Mt. Vernon and Miller, Missouri there sits an unusual creation. Chances are, you’ve never been to either town, and that’s OK. There are things like this to be found all across the country, in big cities and small towns. What I saw, though, was something large, old, and brown. I don’t see many of these on the road anymore, and I definitely don’t see many around these parts.
Check it out. 
A few days after we arrived in the Show-Me State, I went up to the local mechanic to drop off the U-Haul trailer. Pulling that trailer 2000 miles across the country had been easier than I expected, but even though it was mostly aluminum, it weighed in at over 2000 lbs., and I was glad to be free of it. While I waited for the owner to get back (apparently I returned it earlier than they were expecting, and no one could figure out how to do the paperwork), I happened to see something very German out of the corner of my eye.

It turned out to be a 1972 Mercedes-Benz 280 SEL 4.5, the high-end model of the 280 range, from the iconic W108 line of cars out of Stuttgart (Germany, not Arkansas). This 280 has all the bells and whistles, including a 3-speed automatic transmission and of course the big 4.5-liter engine, which was only available in the US on the 1972 models.
They call this a Fintail without fins, and if you look closely at the rear fenders you can see how the fins had been designed right off the car. As you will recall, the W111 was called the Fintail, but by the time the W108 debuted, fins had mostly fallen out style.


The Mercedes-Benz 280 SEL 4.5 was a testament to high-quality German engineering at the time. With a big V-8 engine under the hood, this Mercedes will still move, even after 45 years. You’ll look good doing it, too, as long as you’re wearing brown. There is an acre of tan leather inside, with woodgrain paneling and shiny bits all over the dash, and then there’s the paint – that glorious, rich, brown paint. If there was ever a candidate for the Brown Car Appreciation Society, this is it.

The price for this big Benz? Not listed. However, I think a car like this deserves to be driven, and should be enjoyed as often as possible. I hope the seller would agree, and price it accordingly. This car was built to last, and as long as rust or neglect don’t ruin it, it will be on the road for many, many years to come.
Over to you – what do you think of this beautiful brown Benz?
[Photos Copyright 2015 Hooniverse/Marcal Eilenstein]