[MSGGrunt]

New to me and just arrived from Texas. September 1984 production 280CE 4-speed, European spec as confirmed by the VIN. 43,193 document miles. I am now the 3rd owner. The story on the car is that the original owner was a Doctor who ordered it and took delivery of the car in Belgium, drove it around Europe while on vacation and then shipped it to Texas. According to the 2nd owner who worked with this doctor he found himself on the wrong side of the law and went to prison for 7 years. The story was told to me that when he was released from prison he drove the car, presumably without checking the oil, and blew the motor. The 2nd owner paid $500.00 for the car, I have a copy of the bill of sale, and purchased a new short block from Adsit, which I have the receipt for, swapped everything over from the blown motor and had it installed in the car.

The Good: The block has only approximately 10,000 miles on it.
The Bad: It is no longer a matching numbers car.

When imported the car was federalized and US spec headlights, taillights and bumpers were installed. And at some point in the vehicles life the front manual window regulators were swapped for power ones.

The car came with its original owner's manuals, complete tool kit, original Pirelli Cinturato spare (I don't think it has ever been out of the car), original first aid kit, and even a mint working Becker Europa radio.

To Do:

• Swap in Euro headlights (already have a set).
• Go back to manual front windows (already have the manual regulators and cranks with trim).
• Swap out US spec bumpers for Euro spec. Low priority right now.
• The car came from the factory with a rear seatbelt delete option (I found this to be an odd option and even more odd to select it). I am missing and need to source one of the rear panel seat belt blanking covers. Done, I found the second trim piece in a box of spares in the trunk.
• Replace all the wood trim. I have already ordered a complete set from W123 I am going with burl rather than the original Zebrano as I feel it will look nice with the black/grey interior. 10 to 12 weeks to make.
• Source a crack free or less crack free dash.
• Give the paint a good cut, buff and polish.
• Possibly go back to Euro taillights.
• Replace shifter bushing.
• Replace cracked exterior window wiper rubbers.
• Tune up with new plugs, cap, rotor, injectors with new cups and O-rings, adjust valves and replace all fluids as well as a good cooling system flush.

 

[Nutz 4 Benz]

Just a word of advice so you don’t find yourself stranded but take the original spare tire out and store it. I tried using my original spare tires once and it didn’t even make it a mile before it literally fell apart and went flat.

 

[tsharkey]

Really nice car ....

That Tacho looks familiar ...... What colour paint did you use for the needles ?​

Factory manual 280CE is rare as it is, I bet it is the only one in the US. How do you jack it up with the side skirts ?

 

[FratBoy]

Nice car. Even if the numbers don’t match.

Is “return the rocker panels to black” going to be on your list somewhere?

FB

 

[MSGGrunt]

I would never think of trusting a 36 year old tire no matter if it is otherwise new "looking". The rest of the tires are Michelins and the spare will eventually get one as well.

 

[MSGGrunt]

For the gauge needles I uses a bright orange model paint. It really makes a difference.

I am not sure about the rockers. That would mean removing the skirts. Originally I didn't know if I would like the looks of them, but they are growing on me. I am not sure of the brand, I know Lorinser and Zender made these as well as AMG, which I highly doubt they are, and probably others. I am thinking they kind of work on a white car. I will have to live with them for a while.

 

[MSGGrunt]

Side skirts are in fact made by Lorinser.

 

[MSGGrunt]

Of the 1476 280CEs produced in 1984 world-wide (mine is a September 1984 production date) I would be curious how many were white with anthracite cloth interior with a 4-speed and European Spec? I would assume a pretty low number, the 4-speed probably the one thing that makes it a little more unique yes?

 

[FratBoy]

Ah. Side skirts. Can’t believe I missed that. Those are pretty rare, I believe.
FB

 

[MSGGrunt]

I assume the side skirts would have been installed probably when the car was pretty new, if not at the dealership in Belgium where the car was picked up.

 

[tsharkey]

You will also have the euro spec'ed M110 which has 182hp rather than the low compression version sold in North America and Australia rated at 152hp ....

 

[SouthernComfort]

True we got the LC version of the M110, it is 156hp.

 

[MSGGrunt]

What made the Euro model have higher compression? Did it come with different pistons or was the added compression a design of the head and combustion chambers?

With the M110 being Mercedes top of the line and most powerful engine, I wonder if people who ordered the 280CE were also inclined to opt for the manual transmission as well? Not that the W123 chassis could be considered a sports car, but a coupe with the M110 and manual transmission is probably about as sporty as you could get within the W123 model range.

 

[tsharkey]

The pistons were scalloped (low comp).

Manuals were cheaper at the time and the lack of options on yours suggest there was a modicum of budget consciousness by the good doctor. Nearly all benz'es out here were autos as it was pitched as a "luxury" model. I suspect North America was the same.

UK was a different story and nearly all the manuals you find here are grey imports from there (I have a 5 speed wagon that came from the UK in 1986).

 

[MSGGrunt]

So, either the Doc was cost conscious or he ordered a car that he felt would be the "sportiest" W123 you could configure.

Euro delivery so he got the higher HP motor.
4-speed = less expensive, but sportier than the auto.
Cloth interior = least expensive over MB Tex, leather and velour.
Manual windows = probably less expensive and lighter weight.
No power antenna = less cost.
No rear seat belts = I can't figure out why one would delete these unless you know you will never have passengers in the car. Did MB actually charge more for rear belts?

I am not sure how long he was on vacation in Europe after taking delivery in Belgium and shipping the car to the US, but when I removed the seats and center console for a good cleaning I found coins from France, and Italy.

 

[MSGGrunt]

New burl wood trim coming from Germany to replace the original and in need of help Zebrano trim. I know the burl is a deviation from what came in the car originally, but I felt the burl is a bit nicer looking and will add to and not take away from the overall look of the car.

 

[FratBoy]

I have considered switching to burl. I had it in a ‘78 coupe. But the climate control panel always trips me up.

FB

 

[MSGGrunt]

What about the climate control panel trips you up?

I guess I now need to be on the search for a better dash than what is currently in the car. It has a cover glued on, so no idea how cracked it is, but I assume coming from Texas that a newer one will be in order.

 

[tsharkey]

I suspect getting a burl trim was not possible for the Series 1 auto climate control like in your sedan... From the photos, they have made up your panel compatible with Series II manual climate so should be good.

Good luck sourcing a non cracked LHD dash pad - I guess a northern car in a junkyard somewhere ?

 

[FratBoy]

My coupe is an ‘82 with the later automatic climate control. As far as I know, the burl rosewood was only in the earlier cars with the earlier ACC.

FB