(an older post, and not as complete and comprehensive as the subject deserves) Here’s a genuine milestone car. The Mercedes W108 began the lineage of modern S Series cars, which took its maker to the pinnacle of the global luxury sedan market. In the US, it single-handedly broke the backs of Cadillac and Lincoln. A youthful ride in one left me permanently altered. Its long and glorious rein reached an automotive pinnacle with its offshoot, the legendary 300SEL 6.3. And it all started with this somewhat modest but exquisite 250S.
Before we begin our paean to one of my all-time favorite cars, let’s make sure our Mercedes-speak is on the same page. The W108 series refers to the “junior” S Class cars, all of which began with the numbers 250 or 280 (with one minor exception), even the later V8 powered ones. They came in both short (108″) and long (112″) wheelbase versions, but didn’t have the air suspension and higher exterior and interior trim levels of the “senior” W109. Those all began with the 300 SEL designation, regardless of engine. We’ll pay the W109 its own due CC respects, when I find a nice one. Sadly, isn’t too likely to be a 6.3. But then, Eugene is full of surprises.
A little MB genealogy: Yes, the S (for schnell or super) designation had been used before by Mercedes, back to the legendary SK and SSK models in the twenties. But prior to the W108/W109, the S designation was applied to distinguish the higher trim/horsepower versions of the basic MB sedan. But in 1965, Mercedes began a two sedan platform strategy, which would allow the new S Class to be more clearly differentiated from the lowly “taxi-class” W 110 cars.
Although, under that handsome new finless skin, they weren’t all that different. Same 108″ wheelbase, as well as Mercedes’ unique single-jointed, low-pivot, camber-change minimizing rear swing-axle suspension. It would be the last appearance of that classically complicated Germanic solution: vee vill make swing axles work vell!
W108s are one of the most timelessly beautiful cars ever. It’s never looked “dated”, like its finned predecessor. Every line, the tasteful blending of the classic radiator grille with the modern proportions overall, the airy greenhouse, and the elegant tail end, all speak to a mature and deft designer’s hand. That would be Paul Bracq’s, who also penned some of MB’s other most enduring designs: the “pagoda” 230/250/280SL; the W112 Coupe/Cabriolet, and the paradigm-shifting 600. No less than most of the truly desirable Benzes of the post-war era.
This 1966 250S is TTAC reader Martin’s pride and joy, a very original and rust-free ex-L.A. car. It marks the low end of the W108 S series. But there’s nothing low-rent about the superb craftsmanship and materials everywhere you look. This is a car that really inspires pride of ownership, along with the knowledge that it still has a long useful life ahead of it.
When we think S Class today, it conjures up images of large, heavy, powerful, and very expensive. None of these apply to this positively delicate and graceful car. It’s about the size of a current Camry, weighs less than one (3240 lb.), has 128 horsepower, and cost the equivalent of $38K. The definition of what defines an S Class has changed profoundly in forty years.
But the W108 redefined the luxury car market forever in the US. Although it cost more than a Cadillac, despite its modest size and power, discriminating American luxury car buyers embraced the S class with their open check books. Cadillac made the fateful decision to go down market in the late sixties, just when this car hit the market. By the early seventies, 280SEL 4.5s and the like were ubiquitous in the doctors’ reserved parking spaces at the hospital.
I was sold after my first ride. My father’s cousin in Kansas was the typical Detroit canary. He drove a Fleetwood in the early sixties, then a 1965 Chrysler. When we visited him in 1970, he had just traded in the Newport on a shiny new 280SE. He took me for a brisk ride around the Kansas City freeways, on a balmy evening, with the sun roof open. Pure magic. And quite the contrast from our Coronet wagon.
Admittedly, in the late seventies, a drive in a 250S like this one dented the adolescent magic a bit for me. There were four of us in it, and we were navigating the foothills and mountains around San Bernardino. 128 horses, even Stuttgart-bred ones, can only do so much, especially with an automatic and the A/C on. Ah, the pain of growing up—having to face limitations, even with the legendary Mercedes.
Well, Mercedes had a solution, several, actually. The 3.5 V8 came along in 1970, and the 230hp 4.5 a year later. And of course, the legendary W109 300SEL 6.3 had been available since 1968. With 250 horsepower, and a price more than double of the 250S, it was the ultimate (flying) milestone.
Best BENZ they ever made, a mate got a 74 3.5 I think V8 at a Sydney car auction cheap to do it up it could really haul arse. Only problem it had was the price of parts I think it made it thru its roadworthy inspection, that added 2k to its value and was flogged off again with a quick flash of paint. Real nice car to ride in smooth an fast and for a big car you could chuck it around ok good handling though a bit heavy to catch sometimes on the limit.
What is it about these cars that makes them such I can’t see myself driving one? I can see myself driving virtually ANY car for one reason or another, but not this.
For a poor kid from Oklahoma, these and other old German cars have a snob/wannabe factor. If I LOVED the car as Paul does, or if I LOVED German stuff in general, that negates any snob/wannabe factor. But I don’t-I spent too long working on German cars to hold German anything in any higher esteem. If I drove one I’d feel like a dork driving a car he thinks impresses people.
Instead I drive an ACTUAL dork car that impresses no one.
A man’s got to know his limitations.
Mr. Tactful, I kind of see your point, but I look at it a different way. It always seemed to me that these cars became status symbols kind of by accident. These cars were built to impress engineers. Kind of like the 49 Chrysler. The fact that you could buy one of these in the early 70s with a slow diesel engine, a stick shift and roll-up windows always kind of made them cool to me. I will admit that I sometimes have an inner pocket protector kind of outlook when it comes to cars, and this one scratches that itch. The fact that they were one of the most solid and durable cars ever made just makes it better.
I think that the only thing that made these “status” cars of the 70s is because the former Status Iron from the States had become so cheap by the early 70s. These cars were more like “old money” in that they weren’t meant to impress, so much as to provide a really, really well made car. If the 1972 Cadillac had been built like the 62, these underpowered and undersized boxes would not have done nearly so well. These cars became the new standard of luxury because the old US luxury cars botched the job so badly.
I wouldn’t take a newer Benz for just the reasons you cited. They are overpriced cars that decend into a maintenance hell as they age, and have but a single job – to tell people how much money you have. But I could drive one of these old ones – I’ll take a diesel with a 4 speed and crank windows.
+1 and an Amen
You hit it on the head there. There’s no good reason why these noisy, narrow, underpowered, overpriced, creature-comfort-deprived boxes should have cleaned Cadillac’s clock. If we had still been building proper Cadillacs that is.
The funny thing is, actually we weren’t doing as bad a job as people thought at the time. Today, there seem to be a lot more well-kept ’72 Cadillacs around than ’72 Benzes. Both cars tended to rust, but the Benz was more likely to rot in structurally sensitive places. And if you have a ’72 Caddy today, you can maintain or restore the mechanicals without going broke.
Agree with all of that – and I’d add to it that Benz not only didn’t learn the lesson that Cadillac was experiencing; they went down the same path.
Right up into the 1980s, M-B cars just dripped of quality. Style had finally moved out of “dowdy” and into tasteful territory; yet the mechanicals were there, and in sufficient quality and quantity to fascinate an engineer.
But Daimler got the money crowd; and started catering to it. It was the reason they failed with Chrysler: They had forgotten how to respond to customer demand; much less actually engineer a superior product. It is SO much easier to cater to an unquestioning elderly, wealthy clientele who don’t care what it looks like, or what it has – just so long as it’s the same brand as the last five.
Therein begin sloppy habits, of which Daimler now has many. Like the others here, I’d never own a new one or even wish to; but in my childhood, which was the era of this specimen…those things were so scarce and so oddball, they were anti-cool cool.
“I wouldn’t take a newer Benz for just the reasons you cited. They are overpriced cars that decend into a maintenance hell as they age, and have but a single job – to tell people how much money you have.”
Periodically I have an interest in an E-Class. But, your words and this anecdote will probably ensure ownership never happens:
A once high flying sister-in-law working in entertainment promotion bought a MB in the early 2000s. She went through the stages of ego, then grief as the bills that were over her head rolled in. The economy crashed around her and her condo also become worthless. She dumped the MB and lost the condo in the recession. She has a strange and quiet passion for mid price Jeep products these days, despite that fact that she is doing quite well again.
Now that I’m on my fourth (or is it fifth?) Mercedes (’79 450SL, ’01 SLK320, ’01 C320, ’01 ML320, ’89 300E), I think I can shed some light on this discussion…
As previously mentioned, MB’s through the 80’s are objects of desire for those who appreciate German engineering. But in the mid-90’s, Lexus came along. Suddenly, Daimler was caught in the throes of a quandry. Their lunch was getting eaten by Toyota.
Suddenly, they were forced to start building cars to a price point. Previously, they designed a car to their standards and priced it accordingly. All of a sudden, they had to learn how to build cars the other way around. By the late-90’s, MB delivered new models that were fraught with quality issues. And generally, it was stupid things like power seat motors or wire harnesses.
As an E-class aficionado, I consider the W124 the be the last “real” Mercedes. But even the last few years (1992-96, IIRC) of this model are cursed with engine bay wiring harness problems. The tide had already started to turn.
And yes, there is something special about a basic 1970’s 240D — straightforward, non-turbo diesel engine, 4-speed stick, and hand-crank windows. Easy to repair for anyone that’s handy with a wrench.
That is exactly why I’d drive a Benz, the glitzier the better.
While in university, I sold used cars in one of the shadiest operations one could imagine. This was in the late 1980s and there were still quite a few of these around. Victoria is an old person town, an old RICH person town and many Mercs were wll kept. I drove many of this model. The best was a 300 SEL 4.5 litre with air suspension. It was a European model brought in on the grey market. For someone used to driving B Body GM stuff, it was pretty hot stuff. These cars were supremely well built; you could wrench on them and never, ever would you have trouble getting a fastener off or on. The motor was simply great. It made all the rumbly V-8 noises and screamed right up to its 6500 rpm redline. The road holding was better than anything from Detroit. I loved that car. The enormous sunroof could be slid back with one hand it was so finely crafted and the interior was masterpiece of wood, wool and leather. Every time I drove it I wanted to invade Poland.
One huge problem: it was a bitch to sell because it didn’t have a/c or power windows! Eventually a young and up an coming .com type bought it. He then topped up the air suspension system with non-MB spec oil. This caused the air suspension to fail, rendering the car undrivable. He came back and ranted and raved at us for several days. But hey it was a used car, no warranty expressed or implied!
Tim wouldn’t perchance have been involved?
Yes, as well as many pints of micobrew, bottles of red wine and numerous Greek Platters for two.
This car is the spitting image of the saddest Mercedes I’ve ever had the chance to own. 1966 250S, white body with red roof, red interior. It was sitting at a Pick-A-Part in San Jose, California on the “whole cars” line. The oil was a milkshake of coolant, but it was otherwise pristine. Working “Thermo-King” air conditioning… $700 plus tax and it was on my buddy’s trailer. Their computer was down that day, but they processed the paperwork manually.
Monday rolls around and the phone rings. They sold me the car, but there was a problem with the title. So no dice, can’t be registered (ever) and I have to bring it back immediately. The last I saw of that car was it sitting on the tines of a forklift, being dragged off to oblivion. Every Mercedes since (W114, W115, W123) couldn’t match up with that beauty.
On the other hand, I thank Pick-A-Part for saving me from troubleshooting forty year old mechanical fuel injection…
That is an absolute shame.
Could you or somebody please explain the purpose of a title and what the big deal is of this paperwork in the United States.
I need to be educated in case I ever buy a car down there.
The title is the legal proof of ownership of the car. You can’t register a car without a valid title, as you have no proof of legal ownership. In some states if a car is purchased without a title (if the original title is lost, the car is abandoned, etc.) you can apply for a new one, though it’s always an arduous process. In other states, there is effectively no way to re-title a car, once it’s gone it’s gone.
It can get much more complicated and it varies state to state, bu that’s the 25 cent version.
Thanks for the simple explanation Chris.
Sounds complicated, but I can see the theory behind it.
I have never been able to tell these from the ‘compact’ Mercedes’s (w114/115).
Except for the headlights and grille they look the same to me. I have never ridden in one, the oldest merc’ I rode in was a late 70’s 300td (w123) And in the time they were built they were the pinnacle of build quality. But it felt like some sort of ‘tarted up’ tractor. Like a Volvo with chrome on it, but without the good seats. I could never find myself to like any other Mercedes I have tried later either,(that’s partially a lie, the driving school I used got the new C-class in 2002, and they were kinda good, but they needed some more garage time than previous models….) they feel heavy and boring and like they are built from concrete. I guess american cars of the same age handled like pigs, because the mercedes rode like a raised Volvo on stiff springs, and the vinyl seats made it impossible to hold on to the giant steering wheel (which is to thin to hold properly.
When I hear the word “Mercedes”, this is the car that comes to mind. If I were to ever own a Mercedes, it would be one of these. I have occasionally seen one for sale, but have heard lots of horror stories about parts costs. I came close once when I stumbled upon a 68 model for sale in a Wal Mart parking lot. Really nice car, and looked like a good driver. I let it pass. Still, I may someday succumb.
I remember Car and Driver deriding this car as a $6000 six-cylinder economy king, or words to that effect, comparing it to a Chevy. Maybe the author had ridden in the taxicab versions of this car in Germany.
With the exception of those cheap-looking US-spec front turn signal lights in front, the car still looks just perfect. But, most of my all-time favorite car shapes came from that same era, Jaguar XKE, Porsche 911, suicide door Continental…
These cars were certainly not an “economy king.” Even the lowest model drove exceptionally well. You could drive one at 90 mph all day with total comfort and security. Try that in a 1968 Chevy! After 65 mph, the front ends of those cars lifted off the road.
That was C&D’s opinion, not mine. BTW, I drove a ’65 Impala and the front end didnt feel real light until it got to 100mph. It was not that comfortable or secure at that speed I will grant you. The problem out here in the mountain West is what Paul pointed out. I regularly drove in the San Bernardino mountains and the high compression 327 was more than up to the task. Handling and braking on those same mountain roads? Well, the Benz would have been far more “composed”.
Clearly, you have never driven one of these cars. I have driven Detroit iron of the 1960s and at 100 mph it was a soul-shaking experience. And British Columbia is known to have a mountain or two!
Some people just have stronger nerves…..
Canucknucklehead, Total security? No. More security and control than the GM product? Beyond the shadow of a doubt!
After I’d owned my 1975 Monza V8 4-speed fastback for a while, I drove a 4-speed Mercedes like this that a specialist in Tacoma had for sale. Great handling of course, and after the drive the guy told me that I really knew how to shift the car and not shift at too low rpm’s like most people. I ended up not buying the Benz…I was too addicted to the Monza’s acceleration and handling, and the way it cruised at 80 mph at 2500 rpm. That was well before the Monza’s firewall cracked where the clutch cable went through and had to be welded, and before the doors had to be shimmed up. Plus, I still had memories of the 1960 220S sedan I’d owned, that my mechanic referred to as a Bosch.
I would like to add here that I love the way the editing software works on this site!
Flashback time, my parents bought a dark green 1966 250S with automatic in 1969 to replace their Plymouth Valiant. The good was that it was a nice driving car that comfortably hauled us on several long trips. The bad was that it spent so much time in the shop it could have been English. We always had one power window out of commission, there were miscellaneous other gremlins and in 1973 it threw a rod during a nursery school car pool. We never bought another Mercedes, although relatives did with somewhat better luck.
This is one of those cars that I want but don’t know why. Ideally (for me) it would be the 300sel 6.3. It’s so unapologetically German. It dosen’t speak luxury like today’s Benzes. Though i guess that’s what makes it cool.
I owned a 1967 250S with a four-speed manual for several years until it was hit by another driver. It wasn’t a fast car, and it wasn’t all that luxurious (vinyl seats, manual windows, no air conditioning, etc.) but it was amazingly well built. The ashtray had a small window that lined up with a light inside the dashboard so that the ashtray was lit at night. Rather than just a hole, that window had a tiny piece of glass. The whole car was built like that, and it made driving very satisfying. I still remember the way the setting sun during long road trips lit up the curves in the hood, the hood ornament, and the wood dash. Most of the other cars I’ve owned have been much faster, more economical, more agile, more comfortable, and more fun to drive, but that Mercedes was by far the best car I have ever owned and probably ever will own.
Hey enthusiasts! If anyone is looking for a great car, now’s your chance!
I’m selling a 1969 280S W108 that has been in my family, since it was built. In fact, my parents picked it up in Stuttgart in 1969 and brought it over, and I have memories of falling asleep in the backseat on the way home from family outings in San Francisco, when I was a kid. So, it is with a heavy heart that I am forced to put it on the market now. The car is at my father’s house in Los Gatos, California, and when I moved to Austin, TX, I would drive it, when I was in town. Now, the house is being sold, I have no place to put it, and the time has come for it to bring joy to someone else’s life.
Many parts are new, or have been redone, but it’s not perfect, which makes it an excellent vehicle for someone with the time and inclination to really fix it up!
For Starters, it has many new parts: kingpin bushings in the front, axle seals and center spring in the rear, fuel pump (electric conversion), sending unit, hoses and belts, water pump, thermostat, windshield wipers, all fluids and filters (including the cabin air intake filter), all brake pads and rotors.
Redone: Starter, alternator, carburetors, valves, piston rings and honed cylinders, ported head.
The car had about 245,000 miles on it, when I decided to refresh it in 1998. Since then, it has hardly been driven, so now has about 251,000 miles. It truly is a great car, and could really be phenomenal with a little extra work. Add to that shelves of parts that I have for it, and you are truly getting an awesome deal!
Contact me, if you are interested, and I have plenty more pictures to send you. Thanks for your time, Dre
Hi,
I just saw your posting. I like this car and want to know what will I have to pay to make you part with this car if you have not sold it yet already.
Thankyou
Regards and and have a nice day
“Milestone car” is the exact description of the W108 series.
The S class made it, despite tough (European) competition, as, e.g.,
– Jaguar XJ6/XJ12, Series 1 (c.f. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:P070_Jaguar_XJ.jpg)
– BMW 2800 (c.f. http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Datei:BMW_2500-E3_Rear-view.JPG&filetimestamp=20080530075929)
– Fiat 130 (c.f. http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Datei:Fiat_130_165PS_1976_2.jpg&filetimestamp=20070622152356)
– Citroen DS (c.f. http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Datei:Citroen_DS_front_20080126.jpg&filetimestamp=20080127005543)
Have a look at those cars! Aren’t they still beautiful?. They all had style and “personality”, but the S class offered the better package at this time.
We have a 1972 280SE 4.5. Inherited from my wife’s grandmother, who was, you guessed it, a doctor. I have the original Bill of Sale, where they traded a 1968 250S. The SE was priced at about $10K, including the mirrors the dealer added to the front fenders (the original is useless).
45K original miles. Strong like ox.
Probably the finest-built machine I’ve ever owned. Everything from the monster 4.5 (with 195 BHP), to the massive chromed rear bumper, is over-engineered. It was designed ot last forever, and it probably will (if rust doesn’t get it first). The doors close like a the proverbial bank vault; the big V-8 makes boatloads of torque, and even now, it will run right p to its claimed 124 MPH top speed. It’s happiest at about 70-80, though.
As others have probably noted, the biggest fault was the abysmal fuel economy, even for 1972. About 12 MPG, no matter what. Of course, a 1972 Caddy was probably around 8-10 MPG, and gas WAS cheap…
The driving experience is…interesting. Very little sound deadening, and aerodynamics by Frigidaire, makes for a loud cruise. With 175-section tires, cornering is limited, but it takes a set and hangs on.
My only complaints are lousy A/C (the Germans apparently didn’t think we needed A/C, so they made it marginal. I hear the A/C was installed at the port in the day), and the black steering wheel. The classic white wheel just makes the interior of the original cars.
I can’t add too much other than the priest at the church I grew up in once had a 60’s era Merc and by the early 70’s, the headliner was unraveling around the edges and the blue paint was fading and I think it was traded in on a Fiat 128 Familiar in about 1972.
They also had I think a 70 or 71 Merc that was baby blue and had the matching wheel covers and it was a beauty. I’ve always liked how that baby blue or robin’s egg blue looked on most cars.
My best friend may still have a 1985 300D, a turbo diesel wagon that he bought from the original owner who’d had it in SoCal much of its life and the big thing was it was rather sun baked as a result as the AC vents (round) had sunken into the dash in places.
My buddy rebuilt the motor and transmission and in the process, the turbo went and it had to be replaced and the only issue was the AC vents and the return spring for the ignition switch. It would not return the key to the run position once started and an elusive vacuum leak that prevented it from shutting down properly that I don’t think he ever found.
Otherwise, it was a great car. He had it some 5-6 years and even used bio diesel in it for a while.
Someone once said that the only thing these Mercedes needed was a BMW engine, and I believe him. My 1971 Bavaria 2800 made 172 HP and regularly got 24 mpg on the highway, when the Mercedes 2.8 equivalent did something like 150 HP and maybe 14-15 mpg. To get the same performance you needed the V-8, but then the fuel economy was lucky to hit 13 – the same as my parent’s 66 Cadillac with a 429.
I’ve just picked up a 1970 Merc 280SE in good condition in South Africa for ZAR 37,000. That’s the equivalent of approx. USD 3,400.
These were the first Mercs I had the privilege to sit in — back in the 80s in the US. Always found them beautiful, though a fintail W111 would be equally pleasing to my eyes. The thing I find most incredible about the Benzes on the sixties is how widely they were exported and how many still roam the streets. In my current neck of the woods, South-East Asia, I’ve seen them in every single country in that region, from Myanmar to Indonesia — and not just as piles of rust. Here’s a couple I snapped in Laos.
Interesting perspective.I grew up thinking Mercs were naff. I knew they made good racing cars, but their saloons in the 50’s and 60’s had white plastic steering wheels and even lacked round gauges in the dash. When as an adult I got to ride in one I was struck by the cheapness of the upholstery – even Austins and Morris’ had leather on their grander saloons.
It wasn’t until a relative bought a used W123 and asked me to look at a few issues that I realised the depth of engineering integrity that Mercedes used to build into their cars in the 20th century.
Such a pity it didn’t last.
“In the US, it single-handedly broke the backs of Cadillac and Lincoln.”
So true and it happened in our family. A tradition started before I was born that Mom got Granddad’s old car whenever he got a new one. In 1970 that meant a ’65 Sedan DeVille replaced her ’61 Chrysler. Dad had a ’64 P1800 which replaced a ’63 Corvair Monza, which replaced another Volvo.
Mom was a European car fan too but for different reasons — style and image. She bugged Dad for months about replacing the Cadillac with a used W108. It was so funny watching him try to talk her into a Fintail instead, after all “they look the same”. Not even close she would say, she had a great eye.
Anyway a used ’69 280SE soon entered the fleet and quickly became the most loved car we ever had. I was allowed to steer from the passenger seat back then and noticed right away how direct and secure the steering felt compared to the Cadillac. It was more precise than even the Volvo, and lighter too. By far the car’s most impressive feature, followed by the door closing sound.
The engine and trans were a mixed bag compared to the Caddy at first, but we got used to them. Even the A/C was pretty good despite what you hear.
It had about 150,000 miles on it when they passed it on to me for a summer. The transmission was the original and still shifted great (um make that still shifted like it always did). Dad had the engine rebuilt after a blown head gasket at 100K and the car ran like new. The huge sunroof, with the switch on the dash, made me feel like a king cruising around town.
I ended up replacing it with a used Scirocco as I had to park on the street in school. The car was sold for more than Dad paid, ten years earlier. Amazing.
Mom had two more used Mercedes after that and never went back to a Detroit car. She did like the first Seville but it was way out of their budget and no one wanted those used. The infrequent style change on the Mercedes was a big plus, one we tend to forget.
Only those who own Benzes really know them. The negative opinions seem to be from people who haven’t driven one. Even “car guys” seem to confuse the car with the image.
Funny… I grew up around DS19’s, Ami6’s, Saab 95’s and 96’s, etc. but Benzes didn’t (and still don’t) do a damn thing for me. BMW’s either. Guess the snob/elitist attitude of too many of their owners tainted my young mind. I guess I just prefer the more oddball European makes.
try Stojadin
One of my favorites. My brother bought a ’66 250S in 1970 and kept it until about 1987, when it finally gave up the ghost. With the manual transmission, I always found it a little cumbersome in city driving, but on the open road it was pure gold. We could drive it for hours at speeds that would leave other cars floating their valves in disbelief. What a pity that Daimler nowadays builds show ponies for trophy wives.
Wow. A Mercedes that actually looks like a Mercedes. Pure class. These days you can’t tell a Mercedes from a Kia Optima. Back in those days, not only was a Mercedes a very high quality well built car, it was a status symbol. You could spot one from half a mile away. Now Mercedes has joined the crowd of generic jellybean cars. My how the mighty have fallen. Well, except for the price.
Timeless classic. The Mercedes of the 60’s and 70’s are basically banks vaults with wheels. Never owned or drove one, but around 1990 I worked for a BMW/Mercedes parts house. We shipped all over the US, but also had a walk up counter. Had a lot of OEM sheet metal and bumpers, the steel was so thick and the bumpers were stout and plated to perfection. Every component was what today would be considered ‘overbuilt’. The owner had good connections, and many of the parts were a lot less costly then you would think. Of course, certain pieces were still spendy. As long as the car was not in rust country, a simple stick shift roll up window smaller gas engined model would probably last for a long time if you were doing most repairs yourself and used the internet to find decent part prices. I better stop now, I may be talking myself into something… anyways the Jetta gets better MPG and parts are less expensive, still it’s not a Mercedes…
Like all 1960’s & early 1970’s Mercedes , these were terrific cars , handling far better than most ever tried them out for , unfortunately they were (to me) also very thirsty and the styling that was MOD in 1968 , was (again to me) old hat by 1975 so I’ve never wanted one of these although they good drivers .
Most get minor body leaks and the pooled water underneath the rubber mats or carpet rusts out the floor pans then they’re cheap drivers a few years until they get scrapped .
A shame .
-Nate
I think the W116 was the car that actually broke Lincoln and Cadillac. This was the first modern Mercedes that was so different than the W108. It marked the transition from old school to modern…Even todays S class share proportion and style with the W116
thats very true.
The W116 was a revolutionary evolution of the S-Class Benzes.
Absolutely, the W108 introduced Americans to the fine qualities inherent in M-B sedans but the W116 was evolutionary in size, power and features in a way to truly challenge Cadillac and Lincoln dominance. Coming at the same time when both American makes were losing their ability produce stellar products, it just “handed the luxury car market to M-B on a silver platter” (as Jim Nance said of Packard doing for Cadillac decades before.
Being a vintage car enthusiast, old hat styling is what I live for. I don’t like any modern cars. I don’t like their looks, or all the electronic junk they are loaded down with.
The A/C compressor looks like something right out of a AMC Rambler. Must be aftermarket because it has two groves for the compressor, but only one belt is used.
At the time, MB did not fully appreciate the climate diversity of the continental US. It assumed all MB drivers would be on the West Coast or New York. Once they “got the message”, climate control improved.
Hard to say. The compressor in our 280SE wasn’t tilted like that but then again the SE had cast aluminum FI runners near that spot and maybe the packaging was different. The unit in our car wasn’t much smaller, York of course like an old AMC. The controls and location of the center vents are correct for factory A/C, but our switches looked different. The car has power windows, which were rare on the 250S, so I imagine it’s factory perhaps with a replacement compressor.
No doubt these are well made cars and they have a certain buttoned down stately look to them. That said…I just don’t get it. This is one of those rare cars that as a 2 door it just looks….wrong.
Mopar the W108 never really came in a 2-door but was, for a time, bracketed by two of them, the 280SE etc. on the W112 body and the 250C etc. on the W115.
Maybe you meant the W115 which had a square-shaped rear quarter window. I always liked those but some people didn’t. Here is the W112. Surely you didn’t mean this one 🙂
Correct – the w108 was only every offered a a 4 door sedan, in two wheelbase lengths.
The coupe was actually the earlier generation w111 (220, 250, 280 and 280 3.5 models with steel suspension) or w 112 (300model with air suspension) from the Fintail era. It stayed in production though until 1971. This coupe – and it’s convertible companion model – is regarded virtually everywhere as being an exceptionally elegant car and has been a serious collector item for decades.
Well, a Citroen Ami is definately odd ball, and does nothing for me. Give me a Benz any time.
mmmmm I really really like these and was fingers crossed I’d come across a good cheap 6cyl when I was shopping but saw nothing but rough V8s. My fave MB saloon shape.
Maybe it’s my midwest heritage preventing me from seeing the genius of the W108 but looking at this I keep finding myself moving the mouse up to the tab I have open with the Valiant featured today. The styling is meh, power is meh, quality is good I guess but when it comes to 40 year old cars it really doesn’t matter, and I genuinely dislike the interior. Funny thing is when I think of what American car is most closely similar to the W108 a slant 6 valiant sedan fits the bill nicely. Now a W116, W123 or W126, those are Mercedes Benz I can get excited about.
As admired and revered Mopar’s slant 6 is; I’d still prefer their still under-rated 318 V8 engine in the Valiant 4 door/Swinger 2 door body.
The 230 (gross) horsepower 318 was smoother & quieter running, MUCH MORE powerful and was only 1 or 2 miles per gallon less (IF you could keep your foot off the front bumper!) in “Real World” driving conditions.
There goes evil.
Remember?
Who could forget! There was a time when a black W108 was the definitive “baddies car” In the movies! They looked good in the role too!
In addition to Volkswagens this generation of Mercedes appealed to me as a young teenager. A friend of my parents who lived a few blocks away had a 220D sedan. No 250 sedans in my neighbourhood.
I would prefer to invest in an older Mercedes like a 220 (non diesel) or a nice 250. Simple, good looking and well built. Yeah some MBs models today are nice but there is something about the W108 that I really like.
The W108 and W109 Mercedes DID NOT start the lineage of the “S-class” of Mercedes. They continued the 200 or 300 series of the W111 and W112 Mercedes. Hint: check the trunk lid. My 1962 220SE was a 200 series car and my 1989 560SEC (W126) is NOT an “S-class” Mercedes. It is a 500 series vehicle. The “S-Class” designations began in the 90s with the W140 when the numbers followed the letters; e.g. SLK550.
An SLK isn’t an “S-Class” any more than a Smart is…
Actually MB started using “S-Class” as a name for the top sedan series with the W116 in 1973.
@MT – point taken. That was the first “S” to pop into my head. An S500 would be more appropriate.
@Calibrick – Not everything you find in Wikipedia can be taken as the ultimate truth. When I went to the dealer in the late 1970s with my 220, nobody talked about “S-class” MBs. They were referred to by their numbers. My fellow MB Club members would concur, although I agree that the “S” designation has always been “Sonderklasse”. I blame the media (read: junior automotive writers and Wiki editors!) for the mis-information and the erroneous nomenclature. I stand by my earlier statement, but to follow your Wikipedia aphorism: “In 1993, when the W202 was introduced as C-Class, the traditional naming convention (numbers, plus letters) was reversed, with a leading letter identifying the line (currently, A, B, C, CLA, CLS, E, G, GL, GLA, GLK, ML, R, S, SL, SLK are in use).” Jeez…I have old brochures from the 70s – no “S-Class” designation in ’em.
Correct!
In Germany they call the w108 the “old S Class” and the w116 the”new S Class”.however, they only started using the term old s class for the 108’s after the 116 came out!
Here it is: a 1972 Ad (in German) for the new W116 “S-Klasse”
Sorry, but your story about it not starting until the 90s doesn’t hold up.
The W116 was officially called the “S-Class”, but the “S” designation as “Sonderklasse” goes way back, to the 50s at least.
Although my words about the W108 “starting the S-Class lineage” are not technically correct, functionally and practically they are typically and often seen as the first S Class in the US, since it was the first to have a distinct body from the lesser non-S Class cars.
I’ll admit to driving a “flagship”, but never to driving an “S-Class”. And here’s what you’d see as I cruise past you at 140:
Nice. I considered a country 380SEC one owner @ $4500 when I was shopping. It was clean but I wanted a W116 more.
+1
Maybe this helps:
Harry Niemann schrieb in der „Illustrierten Chronik der Daimler-Benz AG“ (Herausgeber: Daimler-Benz-Konzernarchiv): „Auch wenn die Bezeichnung offiziell erst ab 1972 für die Baureihe 116 verwendet wurde, gelten als erste S-Klassen die Typen 250 S bis 300 SEL 6.3 (1965 bis 1972)“.
From the official History of Daimler-Benz: (Translated): Even if the official/public designation (S-Class) was first used on the W116 in 1972, the W108 cars Types 250 to 300 SEL 6.3 (1965 – 1972) are actually considered to be the the first S-Class cars.
Which is just how I remembered it to be, and how I wrote it in my post.
Thanks for the confirmation, Johannes.
Du bist richtig, Paul!
I’ve always found these to have an absolutely timeless elegance. This car could have been built in 1960, or 1970, or 1980. Doesn’t matter. Absolutely nothing trendy about the styling (the stacked quad lamps are period, but M-B used them for a solid 15 years across their lineup…) and all the lines have a purpose. Do they resemble the W114/115 at a glance? Sure. And those, too, are beautiful cars. The family resemblance is clear. But these have a certain gravitas that the W114 can’t quite match.
Rare to spot one today, but not impossible. There’s one in my neighborhood, a maroon 280SE, in impeccable condition. Usually garaged but it’s occasionally parked on the street, and it makes me want to stop and stare every time I pass. Just beautiful. (Along the same block can be found, at various times, a ’63 Nova SS converitble, ’66 Sedan De Ville, and ’79 Lincoln Continental Town Coupe. Not sure if the same guy owns all four, or if it’s a block with two or more old car loving souls…)
Agree 110%! Here is my w108 – a 1969 280 SE. I have had a little corrosion I the bottom of the rear doors, since fixed, but no other issues. I drive it at least one a fortnight and have it serviced once a year. It has been regularly used all of its life, but the head has only been off the engine once and the automatic tranny has never – repeat never – been opened up. To this day, not a single rattle or squeak to be heard and close a door or the boot lid and it sounds like a bank vault. I have had this one (I had another years ago) since 2000 and I will never sell it!
Yes, I love the styling as well on the W108/109. Very beautiful and Teutonic looking for sure.
I also agree about the W114/W115 — they’re not as large, and the proportions are not as good as the 108s/109s. And, the curvy shape of the front fender of the 108s/109s is arguably better looking than the more oval shape on the 114s/115s.
My parents had a ’72 250-C (Coupe) for about 6 years. The 4 passenger 2 door coupe was an unusual body style; not seen often around New Orleans. The dark green paint/brown leather interior received more than a few compliments.
The Benz was a revelation in cornering, stopping & interior materials! It made their previous car, a ’75 Chrysler Cordoba, seem quite rude by comparison in some areas.
If only the Benz could have enjoyed the same automatic transmission, Air Conditioning, sound deadening & rust prevention excellence that the Mopar did.
Ah. My Mercedes. I guess I’m spoiled in that idiom. Around 1990, I bought a reasonably well preserved, high mileage maroon ’73 280SE 4.5. With 230 hp on tap, the modest performance you have described was not my experience. The car had the guts of a steam locomotive at full song. Plus, it handled like no other car I have ever owned, relative to its era. I was in a good timeline to judge, as I had replaced a 1974 BMW 3.0S with it. Both were a bit past their prime (unbeknownst to me in the case of the Merc) but they were still wonderful cars.
In my regular trips from Metro NY to visit my parents in rural Slatington PA, I encountered a full range of driving conditions, from highways (Interstate 80) to secondary routes (PA 191) to narrow farm roads.
My first trip there in the 4.5 was transformative. I ran into a monsoon in western NJ on the interstate. The Merc never seemed to notice.. It powered as if on dry road through deep puddles that sent sheets of spray 30 feet skyward. I believe I could have taken my hands off the wheel if I wanted. Never a slip or judder when hitting a “water hazard” at speed. It didn’t so much part the seas like Moses — it simply seemed to vaporize the water.
Later in the ride, there was a twisty stretch of Little Gap Rd. East of Palmerton that the BMW had liked. Once again, the Mercedes just swooped through it with no drama. Where the Bavarian had elicited excitement, the 108 could have been checking its own radio stations for all the fuss it made. Not that it insulated you from the experience, it just got you through with such a feeling of security.
The end for that car was nearer than I knew, however. About a year into ownership, I noticed the front bumper drooping down on its ends and found rust under the leading end. The avuncular owner/mechanic of the nearby Peugeot dealership took me aside and gently explained the car’s condition as terminal, in a dollars and cents sense, suggesting I enjoy it while I still could. In the end, I sold it, cheap, to a friend who drove it in its final days until the rear axles bowed up into the body.
What a car, though. Even with the crappy A/C and lumpy Borg-Warner transmission!
BTW, that Peugeot dealer/mechanic also sold Citroens. He had a lovely SM in his showroom. When I brought my Mercedes in for service one time, there was, so help me, a well patinated silver 300SL Gullwing in a stall, getting regular service like any other car. The owner’s son, who also worked there, showed me the car’s interior, chuckling about the oddball Columbia adjunct who used the car as a driver whenever he left the city, and who kept it mechanically tiptop, despite the piles of professorial papers and literature splayed about in the back of its plaid interior.
I wish MB would go back to using the Hella dual disc horns and not the Fiamm units that sound like plastic party favor horns!
Funny you should mention that~ all my M-B’s and my Brothers too now have the older BOSCH horns , they’re assembled with screws instead of riveted construction so they’re dead easy to take apart , service then install on your new ‘Benz for much better sound and clarity too .
Those who are so in love the the W-116’s prolly have either never had one or had a grey market one as the U.S. versions came equipped with Chrysler;’s nasty Air Temp II HVAC , it has the Evil Servo fro Hell that no matter what you do , seizes up , cracks and leaks all your coolant out……
Even the Aluminum bodies versions (aftermarket) seize and cause electrical fires .
Nasty thing , just nasty .
-Nate
Even if I don’t prefer them to the barges of Uncle Sam, I do appreciate them for what they are. Nice specimen, though it’s spawned plenty of half-baked copycats, since.
These things sold marginally in U.S. so I don’t see how they broke the backs of Cadillac. It certainly wasn’t an influence on styling either unless Cadillac was interested in styling their cars circa 1940. It is starting to bug me how in every CC article Paul is always slagging on American cars (whether subtly or overtly) and touting the “superior European design” of a car like this.
There are many timeless European cars, but this isn’t one of them.
These Benzes were built up to a standard, not down to a price. Just at the door locks with their conical pins. A beautiful piece of German overengineering, bomb proof and expensive to make but definitely locking your doors.
The automatic transmissions on these cars were truly awful as Mercedes stuck to using a fluid coupling instead of a torque converter, resulting in very snappy gearshifts.
The main problem is that these cars corrode extremely badly and some areas of the body are nearly impossible to restore because they are so complex with many overlapping layers of steel.
A schoolmate’s father had a 300 SEL 6.3 and the drive up an Alpine pass with true verve is unforgotten as is its ability to chase early 911s on the Autobahn in full comfort.
Dear All,
Happy New Year !
Let’s see Mercedes as file attached and give me your comments please.
Thanks and best regards,
Truong Hoang Kiet / Skype: kietksm
Just thought I’d show off my baby brownie….. She’s a ’68 250s modified with the rear axle from a 4.5 and the engine and transmission from a ’91 260e. Hp up to 165, mpg around 22-23, cruises at eighty like sitting on the couch, hugs curves like you’re glued to the road, and lacks all modern bells and whistles. Just finished installing a full stereo system under all the original grills as well. Can you tell I’m in love? And, it didn’t break the bank like buying a coupe or cabriolet would….. Now if someone would abandon a pagoda in my front yard, I’d be set…..
During the 1960s when Mercedes was competing with Cadillac, the 250S gave you something totally different from Cadillac, or any American brand from that matter. The Mercedes was exceptionally engineered, with very few flaws or irritating things about the overall design. It may not have done a couple or a few things extremely well, but it was a well-rounded vehicle in terms of performance/capability/usability.
With the 250S, there were no gimmick features, and the styling was not trendy. The exterior and interior were austere, but there’s beauty in that for sure. Luxury doesn’t always have to be tacky or “overt.” Luxury can be timeless, simple, and elegant, which the 250S (or the W108 series in general) gave you.
to me, addicted to fine European cars, MB 108/109 is top 5 what I’ve tried – alongside Alfa Giulia 1.6 Super, Ro 80, Renault 25 and Citroen CX