Highlights
- Ex-South Africa car dry climate import
- Presents superbly
- Good condition throughout
- Recent mechanical attention
- Running, driving and ready to enjoy
The Appeal
With its elegant styling, upright headlights, well-balanced proportions and legendary Mercedes-Benz longevity, the W114 sedan remains a firm favourite with enthusiasts across the globe, where their simple mechanical nature, accessibility and reliability allows them to reach seemingly all corners of the world, whilst remaining accessible for home mechanics to tinker, fettle and improve as they see fit.
This particular 1974-registered 280S was imported from the dry climate of South Africa, meaning its underside is wonderfully solid and there are no known corrosion issues, unlike many examples which have spent the majority, if not all, of their lifetime in temperate climates such as Europe.
Running, driving and ready to enjoy, this is a lovely yet useable example of the venerable four-door sedan, and one which will no doubt give many more years of service to its next owner.
History & Paperwork
- V5 registered keepers document
Imported from South Africa by the vendor in mid-2021 and registered here for the first time in August of the same year, this dry-climate W114 lived all of its life in S.A, having been re-built over there by C.D.A CAR DISTRIBUTORS of East London, South Africa according to the plaque on the front cross-member in the engine bay.
Nothing is known of its time in S.A, though the car has evidently been kept in good condition throughout. The colour is original, though it would appear that the car has been re-sprayed at some point, judging from the differences in colour and condition between the bodywork paint and that inside the engine bay.
Since arrival in the UK, the car has received two new rear driveshafts, and the interior seats have been re-dyed in black to bring their appearance in-line with the exterior, but otherwise remains as it would’ve been whilst over on the continent.
The Interior
- Recently re-dyed seats
- Good condition seats and carpets
- Headliner taut throughout
Inside, the W114 is a long way from the technology overload of today’s Mercedes-Benz offerings, but remains charming and luxurious by the standards of the day, and has held up well to the test of time.
The seats, for example, are free from any rips, tears or damage, and have been re-dyed whilst in the care of the vendor back to their factory black colour.
Up above, the headliner shows some staining around the C-pillar area and window edges, but remains taut throughout with no damage or sagging noted.
Ahead of the driver, the dashboard wears a commensurate usage patina - as do the shifter, steering wheel and door cards - though there is no sign of any cracks or damage that we noted.
The vendor notes the stereo is inoperable, though a more modern unit would be a sensible suggestion for anyone looking to use this 280S on a regular basis, with plenty of period-look items now available on the market.
The Exterior
- Presents fantastically
- Recently fitted tyres
- No accident damage or history
On the outside, the bodywork of this '70s sedan remains in very good condition throughout, likely helped by its years in a dry climate country, along with careful ownership throughout its lifetime.
As far as we could tell, there were no signs of any impact damage, majorly mis-aligned panels or scuffs to be found on the body, nor any obvious signs of corrosion.
The paintwork appears to be relatively fresh - though it is the original colour for the vehicle - and remains in excellent condition, with only a few small blemishes which have been documented in the gallery below.
The chrome bumpers and trims are all present and correct, and are generally in good order, though there are some dents and dings noted in various places. There is also some patina noted on the imposing front grille, but this is commensurate with the vehicle’s age and mileage
All four wheels are in good shape, and are wrapped with recently-fitted tyres.
The Mechanicals
Starting with apparent ease and happily idling throughout our photo shoot, the 2.8-litre engine at the heard of this W114 is in seemingly rude mechanical health, with no strange noises noted, nor any untoward behaviours or warning signs when idling or whilst on the move.
The gearbox does produce a notable bang/clunk when shifting into D or R, though pausing in N does mitigate this somewhat, however there were no other noted issues with the transmission. The vendor notes that the propshaft does whine when on the move, and a new set of rear driveshafts have bee fitted recently.
Interestingly, the battery/alternator light in the cabin illuminates whilst idling, but once on the move this extinguishes. The vendor states they’ve had the alternator checked-over, though the exact cause of this has yet to be determined.
The vendor states that there are no known corrosion issues underneath, and the chassis certainly looks to be nice and solid as far as we could tell, and we’ve included underside photographs towards the end of the gallery below.
On account of its age, the vehicle is exempt from mandatory MoT examinations, and does not have a current MoT certificate.
Summary
With its elegant 1970s design, delightful colour scheme and presented in very good condition throughout, this 1974 Mercedes-Benz 280S is solid, mechanically strong and ready to enjoy, though home mechanics and spanner-lovers will no doubt enjoy fettling this particular example to take it to the next level, thanks to its potential for further improvement, yet no need for any immediate mechanical attention.
Enthusiasts and collectors looking for a solid 280S in an unusual but well-suited colour scheme, step right this way… good luck!
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.
