Here is my 1970 280s. 4 speed golf ball floor shift manual. I got her for an insanely good price about 6 months ago, and could not resist. My first Benz and won't be my last. Currently finishing getting her ready for roadworthy. Drives like a dream and is a beautiful car.
The latest photos I have taken in the driveway, can't wait until the white blossoms are out to take more.
Have cleaned up the boot with some wooden floating floorboards. All lifts up in 2 pieces.
Webber conversion with k&n filters.
As soon as she's on the road I will be fixing the odd couple of dents. As well as most likely installing an air ride setup.
How rare are 4 speed floor shift manual rhd's in Aus? I can't seem to find any to compare. I am not planning on selling anytime soon but am always curious as to the value.
How rare are 4 speed floor shift manual rhd's in Aus? I can't seem to find any to compare.
Manual W108's are not common, but not super-rare either. They are certainly desirable. The car looks great - you just need a Becker.
I am not too sure about the wooden boot. I suppose at least it won't rust.
Sadly the radio that came in it wasn't the original, and didn't look too flash. So I took it out and replaced it with a little piece of mirror for the time being.
The little hole where the radio has been has been insanely handy with undoing the knurled nut behind the cluster to get it out.
I saw another car with a similar boot and tried it out for a change. Nothing in the boot is permanent and can be removed without any damage if I get over it.
JakeH wrote:Here is my 1970 280s. 4 speed golf ball floor shift manual. I got her for an insanely good price about 6 months ago, and could not resist. My first Benz and won't be my last. Currently finishing getting her ready for roadworthy. Drives like a dream and is a beautiful car.
Webber conversion with k&n filters.
As soon as she's on the road I will be fixing the odd couple of dents. As well as most likely installing an air ride setup.
How rare are 4 speed floor shift manual rhd's in Aus? I can't seem to find any to compare. I am not planning on selling anytime soon but am always curious as to the value.
Certainly is a beautiful car Jake.
A few comments though about the picture above:
With the crankcase breather filter on top of the rocker cover you are going to sniff up all the engine fumes; besides being illegal it is also very unhealthy.
And the filters on top of the Webers (not webbers): they look great but what you want is cool air intake.
Jameng sells kits to be able to install the original plenum and filter, which does exactly that.
Once the weather heats up you might find that your car can stall in city traffic because it just sucks up very hot air.
But these Weber DGV's are once setup an enormous improvement over the original Zeniths.
Bart
1963 220 Sb Sedan "Kermit" (Australian Assembly)
1960 220 Sb Sedan "Zum Schlachten" (Early German Assembly, with a torsion bar spring for the bonnet) - Stored in Country WA
2012 W212 E250CDI
1981 Subaru Brumby 1.8 with Weber and 5-speed box "little utie" - Sold to another enthusiast!
2006 Ford Focus "daily driver"
2002 VW Passat V6 30V Station Wagon (SOLD - This car into a money pit)
2011 Kia Sportage "Missus commuter Bus"
2002 Mitsubishi Rosa Bus (converting it to a motor home)
Tazzieman wrote:Out and about today and it was new meets the old; 1/2 century of progress right there! But very happy to be manually shifting gears in my old nag.
I wouldn't give you "two bob" for the new one. Give me the oldie any day.
Thomas......"two bob" is equal to 20 cents in todays money. An old Aussie saying to suggest that something isn't worth very much. A common saying was that something was " as useless as a two bob watch" i.e. not very useful.
Tazzieman wrote:Out and about today and it was new meets the old; 1/2 century of progress right there! But very happy to be manually shifting gears in my old nag.
I wouldn't give you "two bob" for the new one. Give me the oldie any day.
Thomas......"two bob" is equal to 20 cents in todays money. An old Aussie saying to suggest that something isn't worth very much. A common saying was that something was " as useless as a two bob watch" i.e. not very useful.
Phil
Hi Phil,
if this is aimed at me, then thanks! Heard it before but didn't have the detailed explanation!
Thomas
--------------------------------------------------------------- 1967 W111 250SE Cabriolet, horizon blue
1973 W115 220D 5.0 Pick-Up Argentina, solar orange, "Ute"
1986 R107 500SL, arctic white, the midlife crisis viagra replacement
2007 R171 SLK350, calcit white
2019 W222 S560, ruby black, comfy cruiser
Otto when i first bought him, before i put the white wall tyers on him.
I do think the white wall ribbon just finishes him off and adds that touch of class.
Also question, did most W108's come out with both side mirrors?
Direbear wrote:
Also question, did most W108's come out with both side mirrors?
I don't think so. They don't actually add much to the visibility equation , given the enormous glasshouse. I installed one as there were some holes there , but I never use it.
Direbear wrote:
Also question, did most W108's come out with both side mirrors?
Sweet ride. How did you come to have a km/h speedo?
Mine has both mirrors, being a 1966 250S. The left side mirror is useless as it has a magnifying lens (concave, not convex or flat). Plus it gets blown out of position by the wind and I can't reach across to adjust it..
VFRBoy wrote:
Mine has both mirrors, being a 1966 250S. The left side mirror is useless as it has a magnifying lens (concave, not convex or flat). Plus it gets blown out of position by the wind and I can't reach across to adjust it..
It must have been an optional extra! My '66 250S doesn't , and I have no intention of putting one on given it's as useful as a hind leg on a scooter.
Has anyone got an original delivery invoice to share from this era?
Direbear wrote:
Also question, did most W108's come out with both side mirrors?
Sweet ride. How did you come to have a km/h speedo?
Mine has both mirrors, being a 1966 250S. The left side mirror is useless as it has a magnifying lens (concave, not convex or flat). Plus it gets blown out of position by the wind and I can't reach across to adjust it..
Sorry for the LONG time gap in reply, but i have a 1970 w114 gauge cluster (in really nice condition) and that's in MPH, and it's part number is 114 542 43 01.
Otto is 1968 and his KMH gauge cluster part number is 108 542 72 01.
So is this his original cluster in Otto (im assuming it is)?
*EDIT.
Yes it is.
Ok looking closer at the pics i didn't notice until now but Otto's speedo looks to have originally been in mph but has had the kph numbers put on over the mph numbers. Notice the "0" is in the older tall style and the "20" is a different typefont. So sometime in its life it's had an "upgrade" on its speedo gauge, with stuck on numbers.
Would have they had to change anything else to keep the speedo accurate?
Also this means the odometer is also clocking up Miles, rather than Killometers too.
Hi everyone - here’s my ride - it’s a 71 280se with all original M130 straight six and factory A/C
Just had the whitewalls redone so great excuse for some photo’s
Had it now for about 6 years, it owes me far more than its ever likely to be worth but is so much fun and really enjoy tinkering around. Very few of them left on the road here in Auckland
Hope you like it!
Jason
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NZJasonT wrote: ↑Sun 08 Apr, 2018 7:19 pm
Hi everyone - here’s my ride - it’s a 71 280se with all original M130 straight six and factory A/C
Just had the whitewalls redone so great excuse for some photo’s
Had it now for about 6 years, it owes me far more than its ever likely to be worth but is so much fun and really enjoy tinkering around. Very few of them left on the road here in Auckland
Previous: 126.039 Anthracitgrau "Schultz" - In Mercedes Heaven
201.029 Signalrot "Sabine" - has taken ownership of Andrew's Garage
107.023 Astralsilber "Lurch" - now in the loving care of Craig B
201.035 Blauschwarz (parted) formerly owned by Derek/Hasan.
No tricks - it’s probably just the black on black and camera angle, it has the same camber as most lowered 108’s - it’s still on springs too not put it on air, yet
My 280s has had some older panel/paint work done to it which makes it present ok, however there are some blemishes.
Surprisingly it had leather interior in it and not being as durable as the MB-Tex, it hasn't held up well at all so I'm looking to replace it if anybody has excellent condition brown/black available?
Other than fresh interior, I'm wanting to get it back on the road as soon as possible.
Hope to pick up some tips along the way.
Thanks
Paul
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Last edited by W108280s on Mon 15 Jul, 2019 2:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Looks great. I've never seen a leather 280s (and not many leather 300sel either). I'm wondering how much is leather (and therefore how difficult the job of replacement) - door trims? back panels of seats? I know on the seat back panels of a W126, it looks like leather but is actually a vinyl. Anyway, with such a great looking car, if nothing comes up you could look at seat kits from US - GAH/New World/ german auto tops - I think they are the main ones. Expensive with freight and all but its all relative I guess. But agree best option is a good set from a W108 wreck.
Craig Baulderstone
280s's
280SE3.5
280SL Ruby
300TE Otto
350SL Gloria
350SLC Lurch
450SEL Boris
500SEC's...including Syd
560SEL's Foufou and Zac
Previous: 126.039 Anthracitgrau "Schultz" - In Mercedes Heaven
201.029 Signalrot "Sabine" - has taken ownership of Andrew's Garage
107.023 Astralsilber "Lurch" - now in the loving care of Craig B
201.035 Blauschwarz (parted) formerly owned by Derek/Hasan.
Recently made this purchase, its a 67' 250s. Couldn't resist the Horizon Blue on red trim combination.
Couple of queries I had on this one, as I also have a 280s (now for sale) and its doesn't have the same quirky differences.
Firstly, I wasn't sure on the change over on the oil coolers in the w108. My own research tells me from about 68' on-wards they were on the radiator support panel, were prior they are the older brass type running along the side of the engine on the battery side, not necessarily a 250/280 change I believe? Are there any nuisances with the older type, other than being more difficult to find?
Secondly I've noticed some people comment on tow packages on these models. Was this an option on the w108's? I wasn't intending to keep it on, just wondering whether it was worth holding onto or passing it onto to someone else.
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Very nice. The 250 to 280 change over was '68 and I had always thought that is when the oil cooler changed. The radiator support panel is different and not a simple exercise to just pop in the later radiator set up. The '68 280 had the different shape door handles, lock position, side trim shape etc like the 250 but the one i had was with the later oil cooler. On my 250 I never had a problem. I've seen two types of towbar, lighter duty one just bolted to bumper mounts and the other with a bar going under the fuel tank. Generally I think Oz delivered cars had Oz towbars fitted, even if dealer arranged it. I've not seen one of those euro style towbars with fixed ball on a 108.
Craig Baulderstone
280s's
280SE3.5
280SL Ruby
300TE Otto
350SL Gloria
350SLC Lurch
450SEL Boris
500SEC's...including Syd
560SEL's Foufou and Zac
W108280s wrote: ↑Wed 22 Jan, 2020 10:59 pm
Recently made this purchase, its a 67' 250s. Couldn't resist the Horizon Blue on red trim combination.
Very pretty - no wonder you couldn't resist. A worthy investment! Happy motoring...
Fozza
1972 W108 280SE 3.5 (Betty)
1978 W123 230 (Under reconstruction)
1980 W123 300D (Simply Red - Gone to a young enthusiast)
1982 C126 500SEC (Modified from a 380SEC)
1989 W126 300SEL (Zsa Zsa - daily driver)
1989 W126 300SE (The Yakuza Staff Car - gone to a good home)
1992 W201 180E (The Cherry)
First pic ever of our W108 280S and me, taken right after woks delivery from Stuttgart-Sindelfingen in July 1972.
Second pic shows same car more than 40 years later, my son and me. Car in nearly same condition like new - me not, of course;-)
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Last edited by stulski on Thu 12 Mar, 2020 5:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Happy hunting!
Klaus
1991 300TE-24 S124 - all day runner (found after 6 years in a barn)
2005 MG ZT260 - from Apr - Oct only (imported from UK in 2010)
1972 280S W108 - only on sunny and shiny summer days (first hand fathers car, 70.000km from new)
Wow, I'm impressed! That's fantastic to have such a long association with a car and know everything about it. I bought my W113 from the second owner, the original owner having it for over 30 years, but funny looking back now that I have had it nearly 20 years.
I am involved with vintage cars here and my club has an annual event for veteran cars. A few years ago we had a 100yo passenger/owner of a veteran car, being driven by his grandson. The owner was picked up from the hospital in that car after he was born and died shortly after. I love that thought of being associated with that car every day of your long life and it being handed down through the family to live on.... hopefully indefinitely.
That also reminds me of a German film I once saw where the narrator was a prewar Opel. I can't remember the name of the film and haven't seen it since. I found it interesting because the car told its story of the lives of the people around it. Wouldn't it be great if these cars could tell their story... but then with you W108 no need because you know it all! I hope your son is also interested in the car and plans to be a future custodian.
Craig Baulderstone
280s's
280SE3.5
280SL Ruby
300TE Otto
350SL Gloria
350SLC Lurch
450SEL Boris
500SEC's...including Syd
560SEL's Foufou and Zac
