1974 Mercedes-Benz 280CE

Originally supplied by Normand of Park Lane in Mayfair, whose chrome plaque adorns the sills, on the 23rd of March 1974, this delightful example has been in the care of the vendor since 2013. Bought as part of an eclectic classic car collection that includes a Mercedes ‘Pagoda’, he’d fallen in love with the model after seeing a gold one drive past him in London.

Bought as a bit of a restoration project to be tucked away in anticipation of his retirement, he only used it for about 18 months before popping it into storage. As is so often the case, by the time he actually retired he found he was too busy doing other stuff to fulfill his dream of getting his cherished 280CE back on the road.

So, he’s doing the sensible thing and offering it for someone else to fall in love with. It’s a strong, solid car that fired straight up after five years of inactivity and is being offered with no reserve and a modest estimate. Is this your chance to get your hands on an iconic German coupe for (probably) not a lot of money?

The black coachwork really rather good; with straight flanks, nigh-on perfect panel alignment, and a deep gloss to the black paintwork it looks exclusive and understated, which is exactly how a classic Mercedes coupe should look. It would appear from the old MOT paperwork that this Mercedes was once white and a colour change took place approximately 20 years ago (between 1999 and 2004) but was obviously done to a very high standard.

The wheelarch rims, a notorious rust trap on the model, are smooth and free of corrosion too, and bar the odd spot here and there, the finish is remarkably well conserved - and black is a notoriously unforgiving colour, highlighting even the slightest of flaws.

The chromework is very good too, being straight, very shiny and free of serious pitting and corrosion, and we think what little patination there is could be eased with a large tin of Autosol and a lot of elbow grease.

More importantly, the side trims all still line up as they should, something that also speaks of an easy life and one that has no hidden stories to tell; this is a car that rewards closer inspection as it really is a lot better than you might think at first glance.

The 15-inch steel wheels are fitted with enormous chrome and black wheeltrims. These are in great shape, and while the tyres all have decent tread the rear ones look a little old and age perished, so could really do with replacing.

As even the most myopic of readers will have noticed, there is some rust to the front offside corner of the bonnet. This will almost certainly need a professional to rectify if you can’t find a good secondhand bonnet in the right colour. In the meantime, we think the damage adds character and its don’t-give-a-damn appearance might just ease your passage along your daily commute…

The black seats, with their of-the-period low-back and lack of headrests, are in great shape. Still firm and supportive, they’re as comfortable to sit in as they are stylish to look at. There’s no damage or significant wear either, and the chrome levers that allow the front seats to tilt are still good, as are the fold-down centre armrests that sit between both front and rear seats.

The trademark steering wheel is in fine fettle with its slim rim, big chrome horn ring, and enormous padded centre. It’s huge and antiquated and utterly glorious.

As is the ‘280 CE’ badge on the centre console, a touch of whimsy that serves to illustrate just how somber and bereft of features the rest of the console is.

Speaking of which, the simple dashboard might only feature a few dials and switches but it’s legible and almost indestructible, a trait this one confirms as it is still in a very good condition despite almost half-a-century’s use.

The wooden trim might look like Formica but it’s weathering the years well, as is the headlining, which is in a good condition but a little grubby. In fact, a day’s-worth of interior valeting throughout would reap dividends and allow the old dowager to shine.

Because there’s a lot to like in there: the vertical handle for the parking brake sticks out of the right-hand side of the dashboard, and the controls operate with a rare precision and heft to their action that brings joy to even the simplest job.

The front and rear windows all wind up and down easily too, and when they are lowered they give the car its distinctive look, a sort of halfway house between a standard coupe and a convertible that looks rather lovely smoking around in the sunshine…

Problems are few: the nearside backseat is a little ruffled on its backrest, the carpet is worn near the driver’s heel, and the interior floors and the door shuts all have a smattering of surface rust that will need catching sooner rather than later.

Oh, and the ‘wooden’ trim on the lid of the glovebox has seen better days, and the driver’s window winder handle is missing its black centre trim. Easy, cheap jobs, in other words.

The Mercedes-Benz had a lot of work carried out on it between 1997 and the early noughties. Please see the bills in the documents section of the gallery for further details.

It also had the rear brakes fettled in 2013, the work comprising new rear calipers, hoses and pads. It has been little used since then and so will need some light recommissioning, but in the meantime it sports a new battery and rubber fuel hoses.

The underbonnet is tidy and doesn’t set any alarm bells ringing. It’s a bit grubby, but then detailing it would be a lovely way to pass a few evenings in the garage with the radio on and a glass of something warming within easy reach.

The underside looks good and solid too, and a day with some good quality underseal would see it looking ship-shape and ready to fend off another five decades.

The Mercedes doesn’t have a current MOT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have the car re-MOT’d at the earliest. The cost of an MOT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic car, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The car comes with a number of expired MOT certificates plus a sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it since 1997.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

NB. We know that many of you will be limiting your social exposure over the coming days and weeks, so if you’d rather not come to see the car in person, please give us a call and we can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like us to concentrate on.

Or, even better, why not contact us with your mobile number and we can set up a WhatsApp video call? You get to direct us in real-time, giving you a virtual personal viewing experience while maintaining the lockdown. We like to call it ‘The Market’s 2020 Vision’…

If you’ve got a garage and more time on your hands than you know what to do with at the moment, then this lovely old Mercedes-Benz 280CE might be just the car for you. Ultra-solid and very reliable, it is in need of only modest fettling to bring it back to its former glory.

None of the work we’ve identified need be expensive or complex; a decent service and catching the few small areas of emerging rust are both within the capabilities of even the most ham-fisted of home mechanics, and doing so would be rewarding and profitable – and adding value to a classic car is a great way of defraying the overall cost.

Not that it’s going to set you back very much. The guide price is just £5,000 to £8,000 but it’s being offered with no reserve, so will sell from the very first bid!

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and AnyVan for transporting it.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.