1972 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Automatic

10806812009389

1972 Mercedes Benz 280 SEL 4.5 Sedan VIN: 10806812009389 By summer’s end back in 1994 Mary Landis felt it was time for a change. She’d owned this still-pristine 1972 Mercedes 280 SEL sedan (with the bullet-proof 4.5 liter V8) for more than a decade, but now a new sports car had caught her eye! For several weeks it sat highlighted there on the point at W.I. Simonson in Santa Monica and she knew it would not be for sale much longer. Being a sentimental woman, Mrs. Landis felt her beloved Mercedes must go to someone that would love and appreciate the car as much as she had for all those years. Taking her time, Mary finally settled on the Edwards family. They took delivery in January, 1995 and brought the car north here to Seattle. Mrs. Edwards loved the classic look and feel of the car always giving it regular attention. After nearly six years the keys were handed to an eastside fellow who drove the SEL very sparingly before placing it in proper, long-term storage. Several weeks ago it came to us for resale to a lucky new owner. What you see here in my un-retouched photos is a remarkably nice, solid boulevard cruiser. If you have questions or would like to inspect the Mercedes before the auction ends, please call me to set a meeting time. My name is Mark Thompson and my direct number is (206) 914-1173. CONDITION: On modern roads, surrounded by modern cars, a 4.5-liter 280SEL is something of an enigma. It's that rarest of beasts - a big, vintage sedan that simply doesn't feel that old. The light, stiff doors shut with an endlessly solid, safe-like whong that echoes a little through the interior. The fuel-injected V-8 lights off after a moment of cranking and then settles down to a smooth, even idle. Switches and latches feel heavy and substantial; the dash-mounted, key-shaped headlight switch chunks into position like a household circuit breaker. The stark interior is an exercise in restraint, a sparse combination of short-loop carpet, thin pillars, and unapologetically simple, well-trimmed surfaces. It's an odd reminder that the word "luxury" once meant something very different to Europeans; it was more of a mind-set about build quality than an endless supply of deep-pile carpet and butt-massaging seats! Little has been changed since Mary Landis bought the vehicle almost three decades ago. Today the odometer reads 74,198 (though I have no way to know what the actual miles are as it is a five-digit counter). My un-retouched photos really do tell this boulevard cruiser’s story. The exterior is in remarkably nice, original condition. Though it has had a re-spray, the creamy white paint holds quite a shine. A quick glance and you’ll see all the glass is good with no cracks or chips. I saw no reason to update the remarkably decent stock engine compartment. Rust? Please, this Benz hates body rust and you’d be hard pressed to find anything here to worry about here. Yes, the Puget Sound area is famous for rain, but our winter roads are rarely ever salted. At most we’ll only have one or two days of light snow each year and then everyone panics and just stays home. Climb over, under and throughout this car – I know you’ll come up smiling! Besides, this car hasn’t seen a winter road in almost a decade. Please look again at the interior pictures. You’ll find nearly untouched, original German upholstery here. I’m quite impressed with the condition of the dash gauges, too. They seem as clear and bright as the day this rig left the plant forty years ago! There in the glove box you'll still find the original factory owner’s manual and maintenance books (I will also include a thick file of repair records dating back to the early 1980’s). The headliner is intact and decent with just a loose edge along the back window (easily re-glued). The short-loop carpets are as-new, having been replaced by the most recent owner. These vintage Benz were well-known for their interior wood trim. Here, the pieces surrounding the windows also look almost factory new. The dash sections have been re-finished and while perfectly acceptable, aren’t quite as pristine. PLEASE BID WITH CONFIDENCE and know that you are purchasing a very nice car from a respected Ebay seller. I want you to be happy with your purchase (and with me) and that’s the main goal! Please don’t be upset if I miss a minor flaw or you’re required to spend a small amount on some unforeseen problem! No vintage vehicle is ever perfect. With that said here are the items I’ve found that will require a bit of attention: None of the window lifts are functioning. The ventilation slider switches on the dash could stand replacement and I get no power to the factory Becker stereo. The A/C hasn’t been serviced or updated and, lastly, the vinyl trim on the interior door posts has been removed. There has been a very small amount of corrosion on the right rear interior edge of the trunk floor; most likely from water that sat under the mat for some time in the past. Not enough to really worry about, but it's best to always detail what I find. Note: We will NEVER, EVER “shill” or falsely "bump-up" an auction (a violation of eBay rules and also Federal Law). Because of the amount of money involved in buying a vehicle, we require that new Ebay members with a feedback history of five or fewer transactions or ANY negative feedback call or email before placing a bid. If I don’t have this initial contact, your bid may be cancelled. The phone number to talk directly to me, as outlined above, is 206/914-1173. Please feel free to call any time during the auction. My name is MARK THOMPSON. TERMS OF SALE: You’re encouraged to check the photos over closely and call me with any questions BEFORE you place a bid! Come by and drive the Mercedes at our Auburn, WA location during business hours if you’re in the area. DEALERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO BID AS WELL! Additionally, we reserve the right to end the auction early if the car is no longer for sale or an acceptable offer has been agreed upon. A nonrefundable $500 deposit is due within 24 hours of the auction’s end if you’re the winning bidder. The remaining balance is due by cash or certified funds within seven days unless prior arrangements have been made with us. Remember, you are bidding to buy and I fully expect the winning bidder to fulfill their Ebay contract! You are not bidding to hold, inspect or then come test-drive the Benz later! You’re more than welcome to do this before the auction ends. If you decide to have the car shipped home, there are numerous vehicle transport companies to choose from. We ship vehicles regularly and I'd suggest that you get a transport bid from www.U-ship.com link below. The zip code for pick-up would be 98028 (Kent, WA) to get an instant on-line quote. The shipping of the Benz and company chosen are the responsibility of the BUYER. Please be sure you inquire with your shipper for information regarding insurance coverage on the vehicles they transport. I’m always happy to store your purchase free of charge at my location for up to two weeks after the auction ends assuming full payment has been made. A Few Additional Terms and Requirements: As the buyer, you'll need to be responsible for meeting the licensing requirements in your state. If you're a Washington resident we'll need to collect the 9.5% WA state sales tax, title prep, transfer and registration fees. Out-of-state purchasers pay only a $50 document fee ie; NO sales tax here! Because the car is advertised and for sale locally, I reserve the right to notify the highest bidder and cancel this auction early if it's no longer for sale online. The Mercedes is being sold as-is, where-is, with no warranty expressed or implied. All information described above is based on the observed condition when the listing was placed. I've done my very best to describe the vehicle as honestly as possible. The State of Washington shall have exclusive jurisdiction over all disputes. Venue shall be exclusively in King County. The final contract signed between both buyer and seller shall be binding. The final signed contract and terms thereof shall govern the sale. All disputes arising out of or relating to this auction, any negotiations, the signed agreement, or to the breach, enforcement or interpretation thereof, shall be resolved by binding arbitration in Washington, in accordance with the terms contained in the final sale agreement and under the laws of the State of Washington. Whew! Don’t you just love legalese?