1972 Mercedes-Benz 300-Series

4.5L V8

10905612003843

Clear

Gasoline

1972 Mercedes Benz 300SEL 4.5 This sunroof 300sel 4.5 has spent the majority of its life in the Pacific NW. The last two owners have lived in the greater Portland area and drove the car around once per week. I bought the car thinking I was going to have the time to restore it cosmetically, but I have become too busy. The car is currently registered and runs and drives very nicely. The car definitely needs a cosmetic restoration and various small mechanical fixes, but its bones are quite solid. Interestingly, this car was ordered in 735 Astral Silver instead the standard 180 silver. It is a bit more brilliant and quite rare to see. Please scroll down to the bottom to see 70 enlarged photos or click Here to see the online album. Drivetrain: The car runs and drives very well. It starts up immediately and idles great. You can drive it anywhere with confidence. It was being driven regularly before I bought it. The transmission shifts excellently and the motor is still very strong. The drivetrain makes the car worth restoring. Suspension: The air suspension is another bright side to the car. I have left this car parked for 4 months and the darn thing didn't drop an inch. The air suspension has been maintained excellently and is in proper condition. It will hold air indefinitely. Paint: The paint on the car has become oxidized and has lost its luster. It is an older repaint and will need to be redone. There are various scratches and small areas of bubbling you can see in the pictures below. Electrical: The car has a few noted electrical issues including one of the rear reading lights needing to be reconnected and the drivers side headlight needing to be connected properly. When the low beams are turned the drivers side low beam does not turn on, but on high beams all come on properly. There will need to be some connections fixed on that. I would also adjust the lamps because they are not leveled properly. The emergency lights work great, the radio works, all the windows work excellent except the drivers window (drivers window won't shut the last inch or two: it will need a new regulator arm), sunroof works but needs lubrication and new sliders as it tends to get stiff and needs a little push on the last inch when shutting. Wood: The wood needs restoration. All of the wood is solid except the dash bow. The ends of the dash bow are delaminated and you will probably want to replace it with a more solid piece to restore. Everything else can be refinished and won't need re-veneering. Carpets: The carpets in the car will need replacing. They are worn out and some original pieces are missing, now covered with more modern mats. Dash: The dash pad has no cracks! The heater controls are also present and all work properly. The AC motor works and blows nice and strong, but the AC will need recharging. Leather: The leather will need replacing, the rear seat backrest is not terrible but it does have cracks on the top from sun exposure. The front headrests are missing. Bodywork: The car has various dings and small dents. The rear panel looks like it has been pushed in slightly by a fender bender. The drivers door has seen the worst over the years. There is a good sized dent on the lower portion seen in the pictures. There are also a handful of small dings around the car. The car itself is very solid besides the typical areas where rust starts to rear its ugly head. The sides of the trunk have surface rust starting to show and there is a very small pin hole on the left side near the factory drain hole. There is also a small little rust through spot on the passenger side footwell. Besides that the car is completely solid underneath. The only other serious rust I noted can be seen in the pictures of the bubbling rear 1/4 panels and some surface rust on the front rocker panel pieces. Being an Oregon car it is not nearly as far gone as some of the East Coast ones you will see. I also noted a small amount of surface rust starting to show on the rear lip of the sunroof. Chrome: The chrome is average and has some areas of pitting and small surface rust dots on the rear bumper. Some of the anodized aluminum trim is starting to oxidize a bit and get that hazy look. There are a few scratches but for the most part the chrome is free of dents and quite decent. Exhaust: The exhaust seems fine besides some small leaks. It sounds a tad louder than it should be so there may be a pin hole or two that needs fixing. Brakes: The brakes are excellent and work fine but do squeak a bit. Steering: The steering is nimble but slightly loose feeling. I am guessing some tie rods will need replacing in the near future. Known Issues:Tie rod replacement neededDrivers window regulator needs replacingAntenna mast needs replacementCar needs Complete cosmetic restorationVacuum door locks work (except for passenger side door) but need adjustmentDrivers side rear door latch seized shut so will need door panel removed to get open and lubricatedAC needs re-chargingBrakes pads need anti-squeel lubricant Headlight wiring needs fixingSmall exhaust leaks need fixingSunroof needs lubrication and new slidersCar needs new front glass, rear glass and door gasketsDoor moldings have a few dingsHeadlight doors missing original screwsWindshield has a light scratch from bad rubber wiper (may be able to polish out)Hood release cable needs replacing or adjustment, currently using pliers to pop hoodTires are old and worn out, need replacingCigarette lighter missingWiper arms need attachment properly, motor works excellent at both speeds I have a clean and clear Oregon title in my name. Please only bid if you are serious and intend to finalize the transaction. If you would like specific pictures or have questions to ask me, feel free to email me. If you would like to discuss the car via phone I can supply my cell number. This is a 7 day auction. Auction Ends Friday June 19th at 2PM PST, 5 PM EST, 9PM GMT Deposit is non-refundable. Deposit due within 24 hours. The full payment is due 3 days after the auction. Buyer is responsible for all shipping fees. Full Payment through bank wire transfer or Bank Check Only. Deposit is not refundable. Only bid if you intend to pay.