Author Topic: Thinking about a 250 C 114 coupe... opinions?  (Read 9318 times)

scoot

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Altadena
  • Posts: 2355
Thinking about a 250 C 114 coupe... opinions?
« on: July 06, 2009, 18:29:56 »
I'm thinking about the purchase of a 114 250 C coupe.  I'm wondering if anyone has much to say about this.  Seems like a nice car for not too much money - I'm wondering if there is anything special I should be paying attention to when looking at a 114.  I assume it is less of a rust issue than a 113, but any suggestions or opinions will be appreciated.
thanks
Scott
Scott Allen
'67 250 SL (early)
Altadena, California

Douglas

  • Guest
Re: Thinking about a 250 C 114 coupe... opinions?
« Reply #1 on: July 06, 2009, 20:24:29 »
Neat cars those 114s. Classic lines, durable bodies and that great M130 motor in many of them. A cheap and endless supply of parts in the secondary market. I believe the 250s over here even had 2.8 liter motor, despite being badged as a 250. Did you see the blue one over at motoringinvestments.com that fetched $26K?

Benz Dr.

  • Associate Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Canada, ON, Port Lambton
  • Posts: 7220
  • Benz Dr.
Re: Thinking about a 250 C 114 coupe... opinions?
« Reply #2 on: July 08, 2009, 02:48:58 »
I have two of them plus a 280C. They rust, worse than 113's or just as bad. Not much in the way of repair panels available anymore although there was a time you could get anything.
 I moved a near perfect 280C last spring for under 5K but that was a steal for such a nice car. Make sure the heater blower fan works - it's the job from hell if it doesn't.
Coupes have different seats and glass which is far more exspemsive than sedan parts. In fact all parts that coupe parts are a lot more new.

I have a number of NOS pieces should you end up buying one.
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

scoot

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Altadena
  • Posts: 2355
Re: Thinking about a 250 C 114 coupe... opinions?
« Reply #3 on: July 08, 2009, 18:07:56 »
I'm going to look at it tomorrow.  He says the heater blower works.  He says that everyting works except that the A/C is dosconnected.   It looks great in pictures.  I looked at a so-so couple for $2200 that drove well but had lots of deferred maintenance - rubber, paint, etc.  The one tomorrow is $4500 but has nice paint and lots of new stuff.    I think it's the kind of thing where buying the better of the two is probably cheaper.
Scott Allen
'67 250 SL (early)
Altadena, California

66andBlue

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Solana Beach
  • Posts: 4734
Re: Thinking about a 250 C 114 coupe... opinions?
« Reply #4 on: July 16, 2009, 18:17:33 »
Scott,
did you buy this one: eBay Item Number 230354593643 ?
Looks like a nice care for the money.
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

scoot

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Altadena
  • Posts: 2355
Re: Thinking about a 250 C 114 coupe... opinions?
« Reply #5 on: July 16, 2009, 23:04:50 »
No, I didn't buy that one.  I bought a red 1970 coupe that was on Craigslist.  I paid a little over $4k for it.  Looks to be in about the same condition as the one on ebay.  It drives quite well.  The paint could use some freshening, lots of rubber has been replaced and supposedly trans rebuilt, new calipers, rebuilt carbs, replaced gas tank and fuel lines, new tune up stuff.  The autotrans is on the tunnel instead of the tree, which I prefer.

There are a couple of electrical gremlins:

1.  Dome light doesn't work when I open left door but does work for right door.  Door switch is combo electrical and vacuum so I don't know what to replace it with (not that the vacuum is doing anything anyway).   Oddly enough, dome light doesn't work in the always-on position either.

2.  Rear seat light works intermittently.

3.  Flasher goes SUPER FAST for turns and hazard - no burnt out bulbs.  Any ideas?

I like it!
Scott
Scott Allen
'67 250 SL (early)
Altadena, California