Quite apart from their incredible build quality, there were several things that were significant about the timelessly solid Mercedes-Benz “W114” models, launched in 1968. 

The car was styled by Paul Bracq, who had previously designed the iconic ‘Pagoda’ roof Mercedes SLs, and the W114 featured a number of styling cues carried straight over from the iconic sports car, namely the fluted wheel arches and vertically stacked front headlamp lenses, along with its narrow A-pillars and steeply curved windscreen.

It also had an entirely new suspension system, consisting of an advanced multi-link wishbone front end and swing axles at the rear, which gave it a bouncy but pliable ride, along with excellent durability. 

It was a strikingly handsome design and one that looked sharp and modern alongside its contemporaries, yet also managed to wear its traditional Mercedes-Benz sturdiness on its sleeve.

The W114 was also the first Mercedes to move towards a naming strategy based on its engine size – from the four-cylinder 200 to the fuel-injected six-cylinder 280E flagship.

This example is an early one – a 1969 230 that spent most of its life in South Africa until it was imported here last year.  

This W114 was built on Mercedes-Benz’s behalf by Car Distributors of East London in South Africa’s Cape Province in 1969. 

It was supplied new by Nic’s Garage in Joubertina, which also carried out its first three services. The car the remained in the same family ownership until it was imported last year. It has had one UK owner, who enjoyed it for six months but has since found an even older Mercedes that he’d been after for quite a while, so the W114 is up for sale. 

As well as the import paperwork documenting its arrival in the UK, the W114 has a selection of bills from its life in South Africa including the original purchase receipt from 1969.

There’s also an original owners’ manual and partially filled service book, a maintenance guide, lubricant chart, spare key and a selection of period papers relating to Mercedes-Benz operations in South Africa.  

The car is unrestored and used sparingly by its South African family owners and the odometer reading is believed correct – the interior condition would certainly appear to corroborate this. 

It’s a real testimony to Mercedes-Benz build quality of the era that the W114 still wears its original factory paintwork, which is in superb order. It looks fantastic in grey, while the matching wheel covers set it off beautifully. 

There’s the odd small nick or scratch as you’d expect from a car that’s almost 53 years old, but aside from a few tiny bubbles inside one wheel there’s no rust to be seen anywhere. Other than that, there’s a small crack in the paint on the bonnet and a thumbnail-sized dent in the nearside front wing. The chrome and trim is all excellent

The wheels are in good order, while it has new tyres all round. The glass is all in fine order and it still sports a window sticker from Nic’s Garage, the original supplying dealer.

The cabin is one of the key areas that will attract people to this 280E as it’s an amazing colour scheme – bronze-beige MB-Tex leatherette upholstery topped off with matching door cards and a black vinyl. Grey carpets and an ivory headlining complete the effect. 

The dash is reassuringly old-fashioned but straightforward, with a pod containing a three-dial VDO instrument panel and a large steering wheel, with a traditional horn ring and simple, basic controls. 

It has never had a radio fitted and aside from a small amount of wear to the gear lever gaiter it’s in spotless condition. The only non-original feature is an immobiliser unit, which reads a signal from the key fob – a useful addition for the security conscious buyer. 

The smooth and responsive six-cylinder engine is sweet running and lively, firing up on the button and settling to a steady idle. It’s coupled to a four-speed manual transmission that has a very mechanical feel and engages all gears smoothly and without fuss. 

Despite its age, the W114 feel surprisingly agile, thanks in no small part to its relatively complex suspension set-up, which gives it a decent balance between handling and comfort, while the steering and brakes are both in fine order.

We were able to conduct a short test drive and can confirm that the Benz is a beautiful car to drive with light controls and a tight but sturdy feel to it. There don’t appear to be any running problems and it holds a smooth idle and steady temperature. 

By no means is it fast – the W114 never was – but it’s extremely torquey and geared for cruising. It feels effortless, and remarkably tough. 

There are a few things that stand out about this car. 

First, it’s a seemingly low mileage example with a one-family history and is more or less exactly as it left the factory. It’s beautifully original and very smartly presented. 

Second, it’s in astounding condition. The bodywork is in fine order, but it’s the interior that will really sell it. It’s absolutely gorgeous. 

Third, it’ll probably still be around in another 52 years. That’s the thing with these hewn-from-granite original Mercedes-Benzes. The quality still shines through many, many years after they left the factory and this one is an absolute gem.