Rare European Model 280S 6-cylinder, amazing survivor with an amazing history

This beautiful 1979 Mercedes 280S is truly like going back in time. It is a survivor in the sense that most of the 116 cars were used primarily as regular cars and were not treasured or taken care of like SL's. Most have long been scrapped due to rust issues, nd were mostly used year round in hazardous climates (winter, alty, ainy conditions).

This S-Class, espite being top of the line in its day, as very few options. It has a double overhead cam inline 6 carbureted engine. Known by most Mercedes experts to be one of the most durable and prettiest engines Mercedes ever made. The engine runs smoothly and quiet. The transmission shifts tight and smooth, o lag time in reverse.

The car starts easily every time and is as reliable as any car built today, f not more. This is a tank, tarts quick all the time, uns and shifts smoothly>

The car is finished in Signal Red with a Parchment interior in MB-tex. There are no cracks on the dashboard. The seats are not sagging or worn out and the interior looks brand new. The carpets are perfect and the wood is beautiful with a deep dark luster. The car has air conditioning and works great. It has the euro climate control unit, nlike the automatic climate control unit in US spec cars (which had an unreliable servo unit, mpossible to repair hard to find and expensive to buy if you do find one) This simple and easy system with manual round dials for fan speed and temperature, lows ice cold and is very durable.

This car also has no sunroof, ery rare on an S-class. Sunroofs are usually the place where rust starts, ausing leaks, loor board rot, nd eventually a trip to the scrap yard. This at the very least is problematic to fix and usually is cost prohibitive to repair. The car also has no power windows. Yet again less to go wrong. The car has rear headrests. All options you had to purchase separately when buying a car in Germany at that time.

This car has no US modifications whatsoever. Speedometer is in Kilometers. The Euro lights and Euro bumpers make these 116 cars look very elegant.

The entire brake system has been replaced. The master cylinder, rake booster, alipers, otors, ads, nd hoses. The coolant, il, nd transmission fluids have been changed as well.

The car has no rust or never had. You can see only one minor rust bubble the size of a dime on one area of the hood. The car was repainted in the original color years ago, s red is a natural pigment and a color that fades quickly as these were standard colors and not clear coated like metallic paint choices were. The rubber gaskets around both front and rear windows were replaced as they were dried out and brittle. Everything was stripped off the car when they painted it. The car had 30 year old paint on it and it needed to be freshened up. The original owner's manual, nd maintenance books and service records are included.

Now for the interesting part. The car was ordered per spec for the President of El Salvador, nd delivered to the Mercedes-Benz Dealership in San Salvador in late 1979. Being one of the last of the W116 cars built, he last service entry was at the Mercedes dealership in San Salvador in March of 1981 with only 1255 KM. The owner's manual and service booklet are in Spanish. The wiring diagram, ittle bag of fuses and the original plastic booklet are intact as well.

The Civil War that erupted in the early 1980's made it inevitable that the "highest" of Government officials, others" and wealthy private citizens had to flee for their lives in exile, ence bringing their assets with them including this Mercedes. This car made it to Miami in 1982 and remained in Florida ever since. Absolutely everything has been gone through including the entire brake system replacement,new carburetor, new alternator, ires, retty much everything that a 36 year old car would require.

Sold as is, o warranty of any kind. You are welcome to inspect the car. It is a vintage car in the nicest condition you will ever see. Do not expect a brand new car that is stored with 0-miles for 36 years, ut rather a pampered, ell maintained car with no expense spared, hich is in my opinion much better than a car that has not been driven ever.