Description
Mercedes-Benz 280 S | 1982
Highlights:
– 2.7-litre six-cylinder engine, petrol, automatic transmission
– 288,992 km indicated
– Grey four-door saloon bodywork in W126 specification
– Offered as a restoration project requiring welding work to the body
– Imported into the Netherlands in 2008
The seller offers for sale this 1982 Mercedes-Benz 280 S, powered by a 2,746 cc six-cylinder petrol engine, paired with an automatic transmission. Finished in grey, the car is the four-door saloon version of the W126 S-Class, with seating for five, a 505-litre boot and a 90-litre fuel tank. The seller quotes 130 kW (177 hp) and 223 Nm of torque, with a top speed of around 200 km/h, and lists a kerb weight of 1,653 kg. An indicated 288,992 km stands on the odometer and the car was imported into the Netherlands in 2008.
This is not a turnkey classic but a project car for an enthusiast willing to take on the work. The seller states that considerable welding is required to the bodywork before the car can be returned to good order both technically and cosmetically, and there is no valid periodic inspection at present. A number of technical points are also outstanding: the carburettor needs cleaning, the air intake hose still has to be fitted, and although the LPG tank and its connection are present, the system is not fully connected. A vaporiser will need to be sourced and fitted before the car can run on LPG again. The seller has described these points openly, which allows a prospective buyer to plan the work realistically.
The W126 S-Class arrived in 1979 as the successor to the W116 and went on to become one of the most significant cars Mercedes-Benz has ever built. Designed under Bruno Sacco, it broke with the upright formality of its predecessor in favour of a lower, cleaner and far more aerodynamic shape, with ribbed plastic side cladding in place of chrome and a drag coefficient that was exceptional for a large saloon of its era. It was the first production car offered with a driver’s airbag, and it pioneered anti-lock braking and seatbelt pretensioners on a broad scale. Around 818,000 saloons were built across the twelve-year production run, making it the best-selling S-Class generation of all.
The 280 S sat at the entry point of the six-cylinder range and used the twin-cam M110 engine in carburettor form, a unit with genuine motorsport lineage in its cylinder head design and a smooth, willing character that suits the car’s long-legged nature. Paired with the automatic transmission, it delivers the unhurried, refined progress that defined the model. The W126 has moved firmly into collector territory in recent years, and early carburettor sixes in particular are increasingly appreciated as the last of the simpler, more mechanically approachable S-Class cars. For a buyer with the space, the tools and the patience, a project of this kind offers a route into the model that is becoming harder to find.
Condition of the bodywork & paint
1 — Poor. Severe damage or mechanical issues; may not be drivable.
Condition of the interior
3 — Good. Bodywork or mechanical repairs needed; drives.
Technical condition
2 — Fair. Noticeable wear and aging; drives but has issues.
Overall condition
2 — Fair. Noticeable wear and aging; drives but has issues.
This item is sold on an as-is basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and descriptions of the listing are for information purposes only.
