Highlights

• An amazing 250S offering stunning originality, character and rock icon provenance
• Subject to a full restoration in the late 1990’s with few miles covered since
• Owned not once, but twice by former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman

The Appeal

One such owner was Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones who bought this car new in 1966. Today the car presents well thanks to an earlier full professional restoration in 1998. It is thought that the car has only covered around 6,000 miles since it left Mr Wyman’s private collection in 2017. The car is reported to require some engine repairs to bring the car back to a fully drivable condition.

The History and Paperwork

• This is a UK supplied and specified 250S
• It was supplied new to Rolling Stone Bill Wyman by a South London dealer
• This became the first of many Mercedes Bill would go on to own
• The car was believed to have cost him £3,853 in 1966
• Like many rock icons of the time Bill had wanted blacked out rear windows
• Mercedes weren’t able to offer these so Bill commissioned a set from Pilkington
• These were thought to have cost about 10% of the original cost of the car
• Between 1966 and 1969 Bill used the car to travel around London
• This was often to and from Olympic studios where they recorded “Beggars Banquet”
• In 1971 Bill part exchanged the car for a Mercedes Benz coupe
• In November 1991 Bill was able to buy the car back for £1,000
• It had not moved far from his Suffolk home but had fallen on hard times
• Sadly, the blacked-out windows had been replaced
• In 1998 Bill commissioned specialist Tony Davey to fully restore the car
• The Mercedes was thought to have remained in Bill’s collection until 2017
• The current owner acquired the car in 2021
• There is some great provenance proving paperwork included with the car
• This includes the current V5 in the name of the owner
• This classifies the car as a Historic Vehicle and so VED and MOT exempt
• A significant number of earlier MOTs are present in hard copy
• An earlier V5 in the name of Bill Wyman is also present
• There are also some press articles detailing Wyman’s ownership of the car
• The remainder of the archive consists of numerous invoices
• These detail maintenance and repair work undertaken
• Included in these is some from the Wyman restoration in 1998
  
  

The Interior

• The interior of this fine example is in an excellent and well restored condition
• The seats are finished in the familiar Mercedes Benz MB Tex vinyl
• This is textured and perforated to the five vertical box pleats of the seat centres
• The bolsters are finished in smooth MB Tex
• The shade is known as “parchment” (P205) 
• The condition of the front seats is very good overall
• One small tear is noted to the squab of the driver’s seat 
• The rear bench seat is identically trimmed and equally well presented 
• A wide, folding central armrest is also present
• The door cards are finished in the same shade of MB Tex vinyl
• Quality chromed door furniture is fitted
• The carpets are finished in dark grey and look to be in great shape
• The perforated light vinyl headlining is clean and tightly fitted
• The period-correct dashboard is fronted with mid-coloured wood veneer
• The familiar white on black VDO gauges sit within a hooded binnacle
• These sit behind the original two spoke steering wheel with chromed horn bar
• In the centre of the dash a Pioneer, push button radio cassette unit is fitted
• The well-shaped boot is finished with a ribbed black rubber mat
• This is also home to the vertically mounted (seemingly unused) spare wheel and tool set
  
  

The Exterior

• This example is presented in bright looking blue paintwork
• This looks to be in a very good overall condition
• It is thought that the original colour was reapplied during the 1990’s restoration
• In any event the finish looks appropriately thick and smooth
• The odd minor rust blister is noted but nothing that detracts too much
• The bodywork of the car looks equally well presented
• The panel gaps look tight and symmetrical in true Mercedes Benz fashion
• The front end of the car exhibits the iconic “fishbowl” or “stacked” headlamps 
• The large, chromed radiator surround and grill is also a signature feature
• The car sits on painted 14-inch steel wheels
• This are centred with chromed hubcaps with embossed three-pointed stars
• Chromed beaty rings are fitted completing the period-correct look
• The wheels are shod in a matching set of Maxxis Victra 510 tyres
• These are sized in a 185/80 configuration
• The chromed brightwork looks a little tarnished in places
• The light lenses and cabin glass all appears to be original and in fine condition
  
  

The Mechanics

• The 250S is fitted with an M108 inline six-cylinder petrol engine
• This is a 2,497cc unit breathing through twin, downdraught Zenith carburettors
• In original specification this unit produced around 130bhp
• Power is delivered to the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission
• The under-bonnet presentation of the car looks good 
• Many new parts are in evidence, but the level of originality is high
• The inner wings look sound, and the rear bulkhead is corrosion protected
• The requisite data plates seem to be present and correct
• The underside of the car appears straight, original and undersealed
• It is reported that the car has been used without sufficient engine oil previously
• As a result, it now emits a severe knocking from the bottom end
• As such it is currently considered as a non-runner that will require transportation
  
  

Summary