1966 Mercedes-Benz 200

This is a 1966 Mercedes-Benz 200, a mid-range model in the 110-Series. An RHD car with just three former keepers, it’s done a little less than 100,000 miles and can be a great classic-car project. While it’s passed its latest MoT test without any advisory, it is 55 years old and some of its parts do require attention.

The later bunch of W110s was released in 1965 as an update to the original car launched about half a decade earlier. The cosmetic changes were accompanied by a power upgrade of about 15 hp. In terms of dimensions, it remained largely unchanged. Like on the pre-facelift model, it wasn’t just the fins that would grab one’s attention, the instrument cluster was rather intriguing, too — it had a vertical speedometer.

As its name suggests, it was supplied with a 2-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine which made 90+ bhp. There was also an option to choose an automatic gearbox, but this one’s a manual, with a column-mounted gear stick. Quite a novelty. The car’s advertised top speed was close to 100 mph, and it came with disc brakes for the front wheels as part of standard fitment (from 1965 onwards).

The fins take prominence when we talk about the car’s exterior because while not as large as American cars of the era, its design is not ordinary. And despite its otherwise understated styling, the car manages to stand out, even in the presence of other impressive classic Mercs.

The brown (aubergine?) paint suits the car rather well, and while not the flagship, at just under five metres in length, it has quite some presence, too. The inclusion of chrome trims sees to it that the design doesn’t look overly monotonous, whereas the half body-coloured wheel caps look just about perfect. The post-facelift model benefitted from new secondary light clusters underneath the headlamp, a new tail lamp design, a slight change in the use of chrome at the rear, and the C-pillar air outlets.

This 1966 example is, however, a light project car so work is needed to the paintwork, chrome and rubber seals. The rear bumper has some damage and one of the chrome strips is missing from under the nearside tail lamp. There's paint over spray on the tyres & chrome.

The more you look at the car, the more you’d wonder how Mercedes-Benz could use chrome liberally without making the car look distasteful. It’s a beautiful looking car.

The cabin doesn’t tell you a different story, either. It’s very likeable, the way things are positioned inside the cabin. Mercedes-Benz has always focussed on comfort and this is a good example, too. The rather large steering takes up all the attention but if you look beyond that, you’d notice this unique vertical instrument cluster. It failed to be a trendsetter, but there’s no doubt that the dashboard looks great, and said instrument cluster is a big reason why. Some of the improvements made as part of the update in 1965 included adjustable backrests, door pockets, etc.

It’s a manual-gearbox example, which frees up some space on the floor, although with a 2.7-metre wheelbase, there’s a good amount of interior space already. The Motorola radio complements the mix of shapes on the dashboard, and the overall colour combination isn’t bad, either.

The visual condition of the cabin suggests that it’s a well-used car, with some interior trims and upholstery in need of some refurbishment. The seats are nice and wide. The driver’s seat has begun to show signs of slight sagging, while the others seem okay, especially the rear bench. The front seat backs also need attention, especially the driver’s seat.

Under the carpet, the passenger-side floor needs immediate attention while the rear is marginally better. The door cards aren’t in bad shape except for the front nearside door, which needs reupholstering. Like on the outside, the rubber seals are old and will require replacing in the future; and the lower edge on the offside front door has corrosion. The boot, which is cavernous and must’ve added greatly to the car’s practicality, has damage around the edges, largely in the form of chipped rubber seals. Inside the cabin, the well-laid-out controls are fine, with most stalks, switches and knobs in decent to good condition; and so is the headlining.

The W110 sat on the same platform as the W111 Fintail but with a shorter wheelbase. The 1966 Mercedes-Benz 200 is powered by a 2-litre twin-carburettor petrol engine which made about 93 bhp. This rear-wheel-drive car had disc brakes at the front, and this example appears to be fitted with Armstrong Selectaride shock absorbers. Operable with the help of a control knob on the dashboard, one could, as its name suggests, select the ride quality without having to take the tool kit out.

The underside isn’t free from surface rust, but the latest MoT doesn’t raise a flag. The inner side of one of the wheel arches has been repaired. The tyres have a lot of tread on them, and the rims are clean, too. The engine bay houses the longitudinally mounted inline-four engine comfortably, which is no surprise considering the car was also available with six-cylinder units. The original chassis plate is also intact, further pointing that the car’s originality hasn’t been meddled with.

Registered originally in April 1966, this Mercedes-Benz 200 has had just three keepers in the past. It’s accompanied by a few old MoT certificates, a 1961 catalogue for 190c (a lot was common between that and the 200), and some invoices for replacements carried out.

The current MoT certificate is valid till May next year. The DVLA MoT history suggests that the car hasn’t run much in the last fifteen years or so. It’s had advisories and failures due to corrosion in the past, but the current MoT is clean.

As a junior member of the Fintail family, the W110 is a classic Mercedes that deserves to be valued more. Apart from the design, what works in favour of this 1966 example is great value (estimated to be in the ballpark of £7,000 - £11,000, decent condition, and most importantly, originality.

While it’s certain that the new owner will be able to enjoy classic Mercedes motoring with this, in order to make it more presentable, it does require some effort. With a valid MoT (the car of this era doesn’t need to get a certificate, but it reaffirms its condition), just four owners from new (including the vendor), and a likeable spec, it’s hard to ignore this car. And that’s before you take into account the presence of the subtle yet beautifully appointed ‘heckflosse’…

Viewing is always encouraged, and as stated this car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.