• Only three owners from new

• Low mileage

• Running and driving - ready to enjoy

Designed to offer flexibility to the various industries driving the post-war economic boom in Germany, the Mercedes-Benz O319 and L319 range of commercial vehicles were available in numerous configurations, including vans, pickups, minibuses and other light commercial applications.

With a range of body styles, the choice of petrol or diesel engines, and a payload of up to two metric tonnes for the L models and up to 18 seats for the O models, both were market leaders in their class between 1955 and 1968, and great economic successes for Daimler-Benz, as the majority of the running gear was taken from their already existing passenger car range.

Specifically, the O (PCV) models were produced in far fewer numbers than the L vehicles, making it hard to find good, solid examples of these now sought-after minibuses. 

This particular O319 was first registered in 1968, and was delivered new to a sugar factory in Belgium, who used this 17-seat example for car park shuttles to transport workers to the office in the rain.

As a result, this example has covered far less mileage and has enjoyed a far easier life than many O319’s in commercial use, which goes a long way towards explaining the excellent condition of the bodywork and mechanicals.

Following its use in the sugar factory, it was purchased by a private owner in 1975, who drove it for only six months before it was placed into long-term dry storage.

Our vendor - a well-renowned classic car specialist and dealer based in Belgium - then obtained the vehicle during 2020, and carried out a service and fitted a new battery along with new brake shoes and master cylinders.

In original condition throughout and with its Carrosserie coach-built bodywork in excellent shape, this O319 is a true rarity from the ‘miracle on the Rhine’ and an excellent survivor from post-war Germany. 

Included with the vehicle are numerous registration documents, a vehicle inspection form and some original documentation.

On the inside, the seventeen-seat cabin is a sea of brown vinyl, cream paintwork and some very ‘of the period’ carpet, and yet it has the sort of strange charm that only mid-century vehicles seem to possess.

On the whole, the interior is in very good condition, with all the fixtures and fittings seemingly present-and-correct, the wooden veneer panels in good order, and no signs of any major damage. 

Naturally, there are a few torn seat covers and some heavy scuffs as you’d expect from a vehicle that lived its life in commercial use, but nothing that could not be addressed or rectified by a competent trimmer.

There are numerous warning stickers and information panels that have stood the test of time, and the simple dashboard ahead of the driver is in good order, with all of the instruments reportedly working as they should.

On the outside, the coach-built bodywork is in fantastic condition, with no signs of any impact damage that we can see, and no known accident history with the vehicle.

The classic orange-over-cream paintwork is also in apparently fantastic shape, with only some typical signs of wear as expected from its age and mileage, but again far less than you’d expect to see on a commercial vehicle of this age.

Looking closer, there are a few patches of bubbling and cracking paint dotted around the vehicle, but these have all been documented by the vendor and can be seen in the gallery below.

The glass, trim and light lenses also all look to be in very good condition, with no missing trim pieces noted. 

All four of the steel wheels show some commensurate wear and marks, but nothing that is too untoward in our opinion.

The fact that all this O319 needed was a service and new battery before firing into life after years in storage is testament to how well-engineered Mercedes-Benz products were in the post-war period, and the vendor of this bus reports that the vehicle runs fantastically, almost “like new” in their opinion.

As we’ve mentioned, the vehicle was serviced, fitted with new front and rear brake master cylinders, and new shoes all round.

To the best of our vendor’s knowledge, there are no known mechanical faults or issues with the vehicle.

A fantastic ‘survivor vehicle’ from the post-war economic revolution, this 1962-registered O319 is in wonderfully original condition throughout and reportedly excellent mechanical health, making it a fantastic basis for restoration, conversion or use as a commercial or advertising vehicle once again. 

Given its low mileage and easy-going life by the standards of most O and L-model 319s, this is a rare opportunity indeed, and one not to be missed by any commercial vehicle enthusiast.

The possibilities are endless!