1982 Mercedes-Benz 280CE

The vendor purchased the car last year from a long-term owner (17 years) and being a dedicated collector of classic cars, he spent a considerable amount of time seeking out the very best model he could find. Sadly, a combination of too many cars and too little storage leads to the early sale of this delightful motor car.

He reports that the car cruises well at motorway speeds and genuinely feels taught and well screwed together.

We are told it turns heads wherever it goes which is quite understandable as there are so few of these left running on UK roads. A little research would suggest 64 in existence with just 24 up and running.

The car was completely resprayed back in 2007. We understand this was done professionally with all the glass was removed and any areas of rust properly dealt with.

The owner at the time decided to change the colour from grey to the rather distinctive black that still adorns it to this day. Although not a factory colour, we think it rather suits the coupe, showing off to good effect its graceful lines.

Since the work was done, the car has covered very few miles and we can see from the MOT history that it spent quite a number of years off road in storage. The result is that the paintwork still gleams and shows very few signs of imperfection. The Nearside front bonnet alignment isn't perfect however this does not detract from the cars overall appearance. 

The chrome work is in good order too, just as well as there is plenty of it.

The period alloy wheels are in good order and the tyres boast plenty of tread.

The MOT history would suggest that all is well, the next test being due in April.

Those who appreciate originality will find much to delight here. The beige cloth seats show little sign of wear and the carpeting is in good order, being protected by colour coordinated floor mats.

The car is now fitted with an original style steering wheel, though a rather brash wooden offering is included with the sale too. We would suggest selling it on eBay and leaving well alone!

There is a fitted Blaupunkt stereo but we do not think this is period correct and it does not seem to work very well. A new one should not be difficult to source and there are now companies who can fit modern technology to older units, should you require Bluetooth etc whilst wafting about.

All the electrics work, which is as one would expect, and these include the windows and even the sunroof.

We have already mentioned the professional respray, but there is paperwork included showing that much money has been lavished on the car to keep it in top order.

Copies of some of the receipts can be seen in the photograph section of the listing.

Also, present and correct are the manuals for the car along with some assorted booklets.

There is also a Haynes workshop manual for those who like to get their hands dirty. Being a car from a simpler era, it is a car that is easy and rewarding to work on, with most jobs easily completed by a competent home mechanic.

We have noticed a warning light on the dashboard (photo in the gallery) we presume this is a brake warning light. However the vendor states there is no affect mechanically. 

The vendor  only bought the car in November 2020, so there are no bills etc. from his ownership. The previous long-term owner (17 years) has done all the work beforehand.

Especially where little else is known about a vehicle, we would welcome and encourage a personal inspection by any potential bidders. We are looking after this car is at our Oxfordshire HQ during the sale and, although we operate in a Covid-safe way, we imagine most would prefer to discuss and inspect the vehicle via a live video call. Use the ‘Contact Seller’ option to arrange it with us.

This rare car is one of those that is truly worthy of inspection. It wears its years well and appears to be in excellent mechanical order. It is a car we would have no hesitation in jumping behind the wheel and setting off on a long touring holiday – something we hope we will all soon be able to enjoy once more.

This is also a car for the enthusiast to take to classic car rallies and in our opinion, it would be worth showing.

The last Mercedes-Benz show we were at, there were SLs aplenty, saloons galore, a posse of Pagodas, yet W123 coupes were notable by their absence.

Prices are climbing and we are told an immaculate low mileage model in showroom condition recently sold for around £30,000. We estimate less than half of that will be required to become the new custodian of this black beauty, £11,000 to £15,000, so get bidding right away.

Inspection is always encouraged (within Govt. guidelines of course), 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’.