Mercedes 280 CE Coupe 1973 auto

[Skylinepilot]

Hello, I'm new to this forum and new to Mercedes ownership. My wife and I have inherited a Mercedes 280 CE Coupe 1973 is has 50,000 miles on the clock and was my wifes great grannies car from new (so we know the milage is real). I went over the car at the weekend and couldn't find any rust in, under, or around the car - apart from a little paintwork bubbling around the front light and the need for a respray as the Merc red has bleached in the sun, the car is absolutely immaculate. There isn't a single scratch or fault with this vehicle! My question to you guys is: is it worth spending the £1000+ on a respray - how much is this car worth :?: I can't find any of them on the net for sale and I can't find much info about them.
Oh one last question: It needs 4 new tyres size 185 HR14. Any ideas where to get these from - I'd like to get white walls if possible.
Thanks
Ben

 

[guydewdney]

sorry mate - but the bubbling on the wing behind the headlight is doom - the W114 (as this is...) is renowned for catching mud behind the headlight and sitting there rotting - any bubbling here is a new wing job.

new wings are availible from hadrian panels (www.carpanels.com ?)

this is a nice car - i have one myself i am restoring. if you have some of the options - headrests, arm rests, leather (or black MB tex) air con, electric windows (front and back) sunroof (electric) then it can bve worth up to 5 or 6 grand.

if low spec, then worth less (obv)

picture?

edit - another place for rust - but easy to fix, is under the spare wheel well. also lift the carpets in teh footwells at the front outer corners - and if it has a sunroof, tap the C (b?) pillars - they often go there due to blocked sunroof drains - about on line with the bottom of the window

for info - if you speak german - is "strichacht" (sp?) do a google - as in stroke eight - as these were also known as the 280/8 250/8 230/8 (/8 to denominate being introduced in 1968) - loads of info - but mostly in german.


is it first registered before 1st jan 1973?
if not - increase the value if it was an early 73 car by writing / calling MB germany with the chassis number and getting proof that it was BUILT in 72 - then it becomes tax exempt...

 

[Skylinepilot]

Thanks for the quick reply. Do you live in Tring? I live in Cholesbury! My wifes grandad has told me that the car was resprayed before and that it was a pretty poor job (done on the cheap). The bubbled paint looks like a poor paint job (blisters) and not corrosion as I've tapped around it and it seems to be very soilid (probably wishful thinking, but heres hoping!).
Anyway the car has got an electric sunroof, rear centre arm rest, and cream leather/vinyle(??) interior and thats about it. What do the 3 knobs under the ash tray do - are they a/c? Also there is a strange switch to the left of the handbrake that pulls out and turns with a green light on the end - I've got a feeling this maybe some after market switch - or is it the choke! I apologize for my ignorance!!
The car is 2 weeks too new to be registered as a classic - gutted!
Any idea on sourcing tyres?

Thanks

Ben

 

[guydewdney]

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