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.
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.
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