1970-75 Good Vintage Car

What car, year, and model between 1970-1975 would be a good car to collect! Gary

Absent budget concerns? A 1971 280 SE 3.5 convertible ($30-$75,000). Moving down the price ladder? I would look at a 300 SEL 6.3 ($10-$25,000, but you better have some cash lying around for maintenance and repairs), a 280 SE 3.5 coupe (very classy, mechanically related to the more common sedans, and priced at about 30% of it's convertible cousin). Under $10,000? A 280 SE or SEL 3.5 or 4.5 sedan. A Sherman tank with a compact exterior/huge interior, smooth V8 performance and built with high quality materials. Also, a 1970 280 S sedan with 4-speed, the 6-cylinder version of the previously mentioned sedans. Something a little more contemporary looking? Any 1973 Mercedes 450 SE/SEL/SLC, all with the thin, clean-looking bumpers. My personal cutoff date for a classic Mercedes is 1973. After that point, Mercedes went through a cowcatcher bumper/thermal reactor period that wasn't representative of it's best work.

Pre-74 SL convertibles (both w113 and r107 chassis) are a safe bet as well.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

I think, the early '70s 280/300 SE Coupes and Convetibles and 280SL roadsters are maintaining their value and appreciating, if you can afford a nice one. The smaller, 114 body, 250-280 Coupes are a more affordable altenative and I've seen some attractive prices on 350-450SLs recently. I think the pre-1974 cars are much better looking with their smaller bumpers.
I think the sedans can be a great, low budget, collectable but, for now, don't expect much appreciation. Rust is a problem on any of these cars so try and find the best one you can afford.

Happy Motoring,
Mark

Currently-
1960 220S Finback 'Miss Daisy'
1961 180b - needs restoring
1972 250 4 door, my 'Battle Benz'
1972 25 Coupe - safe in Moms garage

[Aaron]

Do you mean to collect for shows or to drive?

The 280SE 3.5 cabriolet is definitely a show vehicle, the 280SE sedan is definitely a driver. The medium would be a 6.3. If I were in your position, I'd go for the 6.3.

[ctaylor738]

I would stay away from anything with air suspension like the 6.3 (sorry, Aaron) or the 300SE.

Here are my recomendations with what I have seen for prices for really primo cars:

I would agree with Dr DKW on the '72-'73 350/450SL's with the small bumpers. 10-14K

The early 450SE is fun if you want a bigger car. 5-7K

If you want the "hand built" type, a 280SE 4.5 is the way to go. (6-8K), or the 280SE 3.5 Coupe, which is available with a 4-speed. (12-14K)

All IMHO.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

There was a very tempting 1975 Euro 4 speed 350SL sold on Ebay this week for the $6000, 'Buy It Now' price.
The fact that the car was in California and thus 'incovenient' for me to examine, kept me from bidding. (I would have paid $6000 for it.) A gorgeous (at least in the photos) 1970 Euro 4 speed 280SE 3.5 coupe went for about $16000 a few weeks ago - way out of my price range!

Happy Motoring,
Mark

[73MB280SEL]

I'll vote with ctaylor et al..., I think the 1st gen 107's (350sl/450sl) with the small bumpers are really undervalued. The only 107's that seem to be going for much are the 560sl's when the bumpers got a little smaller. I think the chrome ones of the 1st gens are much nicer. Heck, I even like the steel wheels with the painted hubcaps: very classic and clean.

There is some pretty good 350sl's out there. For some reason, the collectorcartraderonline and ebay ads for this generation of cars seems better maintained than te '74 and on versions.

A 6.3 would be nice if you found one owned by a collector (maintained). I've never been in one but there was a M100 at the junk yard and that really would impress. The M100 looks like a marine engine (BIG) not like the plumbing factory that the D-Jet M117 does.

For "just drive'n around" I'd think the 250S carburetted would be nice. Get manual everything and have a blast.

jmho

Sholin