1971 Mercedes-Benz 250C Found in Junkyard
Slideshow: The Mercedes-Benz 250C was once an upmarket executive sedan that caught people's attention. This one is no longer treated as the classic that it is.
Best-Built Cars of the 70's
The Mercedes-Benz 250C was among a series of executive coupes and sedans built between 1968 and 1976. Over 40,000 units were produced. The 250C held its resale value for years and sold exceptionally well in the US. Today, the majority of them are worn out and show up once in a while in large self-service junkyards.
An Upmarket Executive
The W114 upmarket executive mid-sized sedan owed much of its appeal to the classic and beautiful design that graced the '70s. The model offered unique refinement and integrity, making it a worthwhile automobile.
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The Coupe
The coupe version appeared in 1969 with an occupant compartment that was 19 inches shorter than that of the sedan. The trunk had been extended and the roof lowered to differentiate its look. Thanks to the then chief designer for Mercedes-Benz, Paul Bracq, the windows were pillarless and could be wound away completely for summer driving. The roof had chrome strips flowing down on each side, and the rear windows paid tribute to the Pagoda SL. Only 8,824 examples of the Coupe were built.
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Design
The Mercedes 250C was an upgraded version of the former W110 series. It was Mercedes' way of exploring the "Strich Acht" cars in '68. The new design ran on a chassis that featured coil-over shocks, semi-trailing arms at the rear, and a ballpoint independent suspension at the front with unequal arms. Disc brakes were adopted to help bring it to a stop.
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Engine
The 1971 model packed a straight-6 SOHC engine that could churn up to 157 horsepower. These were very impressive numbers back in the '70s. The engine in the 250C was mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission. There was an "E" suffix indicated on the engine which indicated a rare fuel injection option.
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A Rare Option for the Coupe
All body styles (except for the I5 diesel 300D and 240D) came with either a 4-speed manual or automatic. A rare coupe emerged with a 5-speed manual and only a few were sold in North America. It was also equipped with fuel injection that made the model one of the most desirable cars in the range.
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A Legend in its Final Days
W114s held up their value for decades. They were also quite durable and quite a few of them can be seen once in a while today. The majority, however, hasn't held up that well. Up to 95% of those stationed at wrecking yards are rotting away. Some even have their model numbers removed.
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Interior Features
The 250C and its counterparts weren't particularly large back in the day. The car weighed about 2,993 pounds, boasting the same heft as a 2019 Honda Civic. The interior was well-made, but not to the level that Americans considered luxurious in 1971.
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Price
The 250C was available for $7,373 in its day. This is equivalent to today's $46,500, which is about the amount of money that would get you a nicely optioned C Class nowadays.
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