Umolested Orginal Runs and Drives

1969 Mercedes-Benz 200-Series SL Description

My Father bought this fine German automobile at an estate sale in the late 1980’s. A local Mercedes mechanic who got it running, and they took it on several VMCCA tours. In the mid 1990’s it became difficult to start, and another mechanic installed an electric choke over-ride button that works well. As my Father got older, his eyesight deteriorated, he voluntarily gave up his license, and the car was parked in a modern metal barn with a concrete floor sometime early 2000’s.

This car has 53,938originalmiles (note odometer is in kilometers). This the last hand built car ever made by Mercedes, Words like “Amazing Barn Find” come to mind. I would keep this car for myself, but I can only support so many cars out of my Father’s collection.

I drained the fuel system, flushed the fuel tank with cleaner, dissembled the fuel pump and cleaned it, replaced all the rubber fuel hoses and both filters (in-line at the pump and engine canister). The front calipers were frozen to the rotors. Replaced the calipers, turned the rotors, replaced all rubber brake lines, rebuilt the rear wheel cylinders, and replaced the rear brake shoes at a professional brake shop (total cost $2,500). Performed a basic ignition tune up (points, plugs, condenser, rotor, rotor cap). The clutch hydraulic fluid was changed. The rubber hose between the firewall and the master cylinder should be replaced soon, purchased a new one but haven’t installed it.

Researching the car it was originally bought in Germany, Mercedes was kind enough to send me the build card, you can find it on the website on the specifications page.

You could drive the car as-is with new tires (The tires on the car are at least 20 years old and I would not drive it very far.). But you should restore this piece of history to it’s full value.

This is an all original car. How many of these are left in the world?

The car presents extremely well, and turns heads everywhere

It has both tops (soft and hard) and they are in excellent condition

The body is straight as an arrow, I have found no evident of bondo/repairs

The motor runs strong, I did not check compression but I am sure it is excellent

The interior is in excellent shape, the air conditioner blows cold

Every piece of rubber should be replaced - as one would expect on a 1969 car

There is rust on the under body. It’s not fatal, it is all repairable, but it needs to be addressed. Go to the website - address below - for detailed pictures of the underside.

There are fluid leaks, looks like the rear engine seal. What you’d expect for a car that sat for most of its life.

The radio isn’t the original one, it is inoperable. Some amateur wiring visible under the dash

The bottom lineI reserve the right to close the auction early if I get an offer I can't refuse. This car will be sold, my Father is headed to assisted living, everything must go. This isn't one of those deals where the owner has a fantasy about what the car is worth, I have set a very reasonable reserve. A few weeks ago a rustbucket one of these sold for $20K my reserve is far less than that. Fully restored these cars regularly sell for $70, $80K - so unless you find the most expensive restoration shop in the country this is a car you might actually be able to flip for a profit. I start - and run the car - every two weeks, it starts right up. There is also the rolling stand to store the hardtop.

I created a website to showcase the car as I took many pictures you can find it by clicking these words.

We are having an estate sale June 10. The auction runs 14 days. You need to pick up the car before the end of July.