Description
Supplied new to Major H W Wise by Kirstein & Sauer GmbH while stationed in Germany, this utterly delightful W111 220b saloon has one of the nicest and most complete traceable histories of any classic car we’ve ever encountered.
It retains all of its original literature, book pack including the owner’s manual, European dealer maps, 220b parts catalogue, brochure and technical data leaflets, exchange parts booklet and two stamped service books complete with data card. (There are also two complete sets of keys, old style Bakelite number plates and the factory radio blanking plate.) The first 12 entries in to the first service book are exclusively by the supplying dealer and these take us up to May 1967, when at just under 2 years old the car had covered 21, 674 miles. At this point, I have an incredible image in my mind of Major Wise, equipped with a standard issue senior officer’s moustache, speeding across Europe on highly important matters of national interest; but I suppose we’ll never know. What I do know, is that with the file is the Major and his W111s original German registration and European travel approval document, dated 29/ 6/ 1965 and gives the car’s original number plate.
In May 1967, PGT 998E was first registered in the UK, South West London to be Specific; close to the Major’s home in Surrey. From this point maintenance was taken by the local Mercedes-Benz main agent, Langley Motors of Thames Ditton, who added 4 more stamps between 24, 525 and 30, 573 miles in May 1969. Here, there is an exchange of letters between the Major and the Service Manager of Woking Motors, Guildford, regarding the ongoing upkeep of PGT. The following stamp is one of theirs, with a break in 1971, when the car obviously spent time in Europe once again, as the 42, 000 and 45, 000-mile services were carried out by Mercedes-Benz in Mons, Belgium.
The next event of significant interest in the car’s life was in 1974, when it passed to its second keeper, Mr A Bolia for the sum of £600 (or £6300 in today’s money) with 56, 681 miles on the odometer. He proceeded to be as meticulous an owner as Major Wise, and kept every piece of literature, including pretty much every MOT (which warrant the mileage), every tax disc since 1978, insurance certificated, invoices for tyres, significant further hand-written and invoiced entries in to the service book, along with Mercedes-Benz Club correspondence etc. It makes for superb reading. In August 1998, with 97, 767 miles under her belt, PGT was subjected to a light restoration by Trident Mercedes-Benz Specialists in Uxbridge. She was fitted with a pair of genuine new front wings, had the windscreens removed and was treated to a fresh coat of DB516 Mediumrot paint. The photos of the car after this work show it to be a blinding job (it should have been for £8700), and it must be said that the car still looks pretty much as good after 22 more years. Since this work, PGT has covered just over 2000 miles, and was sold by a dealer in 2008 to its third owner, Mr Canter, who seemingly used the car on maybe one or two occasions between MOTs and kept it as his pride and joy, entrusting the upkeep to Mercedes-Benz of Brentford. It really does fill you with pleasure that this car was built to be used and maintained properly, and that the manufacturer was still supporting its future progress until well after its 50th birthday.
Since we acquired this outstanding slice of history last year, we have not only become desperately fond of it, but have hoped to add to it. We have has four new Michelin X tyres from Longstone tyres in Bawtry fitted, the underside has been checked for rust and duly cleaned, brushed and treated with Dinitrol to prevent any future corrosion to what is really in remarkably condition for its age and finally the M180 straight six has been serviced and tuned so that it starts perfectly from hot or cold and so the carburettors are fuelling correctly. The brakes have also all been adjusted as necessary and as such, she now starts, stops and goes exactly as a Mercedes-Benz should, and is a complete hit wherever she goes. This car really does put a smile on everyone’s face, and so that concludes our story with PGT 998E, we have been so pleased to prepare her for sale and hope that you will enjoy writing the next chapter.
Please feel free to call any time to discuss or arrange viewing.
£13, 995
