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Keith’s Blog: Oh Lord, Won’t You Buy Me a Mercedes-Benz

Keith Martin

My good friend and stalwart SCM 1000 supporter, Allen Stephens, has owned his 1972 Mercedes-Benz 250C since 2013. He has been a fastidious and thoughtful caretaker of the car, and it is now listed on Bring a Trailer here.

I’ve had my own experience with a 250C and managed to learn slowly and painfully just what happens when you pour money into the wrong car. Wrong, in this case, means out of favor with the market. It tickled my fancy at first, but then, partly because of the pile of greenbacks I kept stuffing under the hood, I decided to cut mine loose.

Oddly enough, that 250C was one of my son Bradley’s favorites. He has tales of many memorable four-person trips to the Oregon Coast in it.

What might have been a fun car at $15k was like termite gnawing on a wooden wallet at $45k.

I’ve thought about this a lot, and come to realize the big-ticket items like the conversion from Zeniths to Webers, the Pertronix ignition, the rear end swap and suspension refresh didn’t really deliver satisfaction given what they cost.

I have wondered what I would do if a good car showed up in a typical price range, between $15k and $20k.

Well, now one has. Allen’s car is on BaT with no reserve. It’s solid and honest car, let down by a cheapie older paint job (by Earl Scheib!) in the wrong shade of blue.

It’s a solid driver that has just been serviced. The factory A/C is not working, but we are all sure it “just needs a recharge.”

I have always found these cars to be tremendously attractive. Allen thinks this is a classic just waiting to be recognized by the market. My experience makes me think the market just doesn’t care.

Bradley actually pointed out this car’s listing to me and asked if we could buy it. I asked if he wanted to sell his Volvo wagon. Showing he has the spirit of a true SCMer, he replied, “Who said anything about selling?”

Allen’s Mercedes is a great car for the money, and if I were at a different stage in my life I would buy it, throw a Bluetooth stereo into, “recharge” the A/C (with a new $2,000 compressor, no doubt), and just drive it.

Sadly, I don’t have a place to store the car. And I’m still trying to get the Porsche 996 C4 sorted out and the 1975 Porsche 911S Sporto has yet to be sold.

What do you think I should do? Have Bradley sell the Volvo (that we just spent $3,500 on for maintenance) and buy the 250C because he loved his experiences with the one we owned? Just throw caution to the wind, buy the 250C and put it in storage until school is out? Or do nothing, let someone else get this great bargain, and just keep doom-scrolling W114/115s on BaT?

I look forward to your thoughts in the comments below.

1972 Mercedes-Benz 250C
Twins!
The ex-SCM 250C
Paul Bracq’s ode to coupes
With Allen Stephens

Read my previous blog posts here.

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Keith Martin Avatar
Keith Martin
Keith Martin has been involved with the collector car hobby for more than 40 years. As a writer, publisher, television commentator and enthusiast, he is constantly on the go, meeting collectors and getting involved in their activities throughout the world. He is the founder and publisher of the monthly Sports Car Market, now in its 37th year. Keith has written for the New York Times, Automobile, AutoWeek, Road & Track and other publications, has been an emcee for numerous concours, and had his own show, “What’s My Car Worth,” shown on Velocity. He has received many honors, including the Lee Iacocca Award, the Edward Herrmann Award, was inducted into the Concorso Italiano Hall of Fame, and more. He has served on the board of directors of The LeMay Museum and Oregon Ballet Theater, and was formerly the chair of the board of the Meguiar’s Award.

13 responses to “Keith’s Blog: Oh Lord, Won’t You Buy Me a Mercedes-Benz”

  1. Sabrina Kaufman Avatar
    Sabrina Kaufman

    Firstly, what kind of Volvo? Secondly, if I still lived in Oregon (and if my wife let me) I’d try to buy it. I’ve known Allen since I was seven years old. His dad and mine co-founded the Forest Grove Concours d’Elegance. I trust Allen’s stewardship of the car. If I were able to get it for a song I’d park it outside the Concours with a For Sale sign just to see if I someone else out there who doesn’t patronize BaT would want it enough to drive it home that day, leaving me with a little extra padding in my purse. If it didn’t sell I’d drive and drive – all the while thinking how lucky I am to drive around in a 54-year-old car. Having lived in the Midwest (SW Ohio) for five years, New England (NE Vermont) for 11 years, and now living in the Mid-Atlantic (central Pennsylvania), I long for the days of living in a climate where it’s relatively safe for me to enjoy classic motoring most of the year without exposing my cars to the wretched road treatments.

    Seriously though, what kind of Volvo? 😉

    Sabrina M. Kaufman
    Centre Hall, PA

    Reply
  2. DanChester Avatar
    DanChester

    Is it true that there is nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes-Benz?
    Do you think Bradley needs to learn the lesson of “Buying with your head and not your heart?”
    Would you want to marry the same person twice?
    Ponder these questions and gain the wisdom to make the right decision.

    Reply
  3. Frank from SoCal Avatar
    Frank from SoCal

    I am in your situation Keith, living in a condo complex and having four cars with only a two car garage at the condo…Currently paying for two storage units in a nearby city….Yet I always scan the ads, auction sites just to see if something catches my eye on a daily basis….Get close to buying something then I discuss it with the spouse and she reminds me one project at a time….Current project is a 1973 Mazda RX-2 sedan which is running but still needs a little tuning and new paint and weatherstripping…Other car is a 1985 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE which is a joy to drive….You got to ask yourself if this chance will come up down the road….If not then buy it and deal with the other issues like keeping the Volvo or letting your son have two cars and storage…Or don’t then wonder later this year why you didn’t buy that great car….

    Reply
  4. Dave Hedderly-Smith Avatar
    Dave Hedderly-Smith

    I see cars on-line every week that I’d like to own. But, like you, my garage is pretty full. And my time to keep them running tight is pretty limited.

    Bradly would have great memories of those trips to the coast even without the Mercedes. It wasn’t about the car. It was family, sand, ice cream cones, etc.

    I have a ‘78 MB 300CD that’s been halfway through I front brake job for months. (The weather got cold and life got in the way – maybe I’ll finish it up this week.). It’s a great car, has been dependable, and it hasn’t been costly to keep up. It’s a bit slow, but really like it. But I’ve learned something about old Mercedes. Their technology was always cutting edge, but maybe one step too many ahead of the crowd. Too much of their tech was not quite ready for prime time, and the owner of a 40-50 year-old Mercedes will suffer a bit for it.

    Regarding you, Bradly, and this fine car, you’ve “been there, done that.” Let someone else have the pleasure (or whatever) of being the next owner of this one. That old Volvo is a perfect car for a road trip to the Oregon coast for Bradly and friends.

    Reply
  5. Hurdle Jim Avatar
    Hurdle Jim

    I’m back again with the old trade off. Keith you have made a lifetime profession and hobby dealing with sporty cars. On the other side I started dreaming of sporty cars with my first Road and Track purchase in 1960. Now I live vicariously through my SCM subscription

    Now Bradley is where you started long ago. You have taught him a lot. I suggest Bradley should spend some time talking to his sister about life in the 20s before getting too deep into the hobby.

    Reply
  6. Robert Cumberford Avatar
    Robert Cumberford

    Mercedes parts have always been hideously exensive, and even if brand new they’re still an old design. That might be an advantage, but probably not. And no matter how good a half-century-old car’s condition, it’s still old, weary here and there, and likely tough — and expensive! — to keep going. An old “toy” car, sure. An old “real” car, really? Why bother if it’s only practical?

    Reply
  7. Glenn Krasner Avatar
    Glenn Krasner

    DanChester
    April 14, 2026
    “Is it true that there is nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes-Benz?”

    That has got to be one of the best lines ever!!! It also really, really applies to Rolls Royces!!!

    Dan, you truly made my day – I can’t stop laughing!!! Thank you!!!

    Glenn in Brooklyn, NY

    Reply
    1. DanChester Avatar
      DanChester

      Glenn, I admit that I did not make that line up. I have heard it many times from others wiser than me.
      Dan in CT

      Reply
  8. Frank Barrett Avatar
    Frank Barrett

    That car would have been a lot better with a real motor in it. Keith, you should buy it, boat-anchor that ancient six, and drop in a Chevy V8. If not, just send me the money it would take to do so.

    Reply
  9. Brakeservo Avatar
    Brakeservo

    Thirty years ago I owned a 1970 250 CE while living in Salem. It looked identical to the cars pictured but mine was a fuel-injected five-speed “gray market” car somehow imported and registered before the 25 year rule ever went into effect. I never knew how that happened, but then I didn’t want to question it too hard anyway. I bought it from my neighbor who had been watching me flip cars successfully and decided he was going to try it himself with this particularly fine coupe. I advised him though, if it’s a flip – don’t drive it! Why he asked? Simple I said – one of two bad things can happen. First you may fall in love with it and not want to sell it, second, you might damage it. Ultimately both happened, it cost him so much to fix he grew disillusioned with it and finally sold it to me to simple wash his hands of it. True to my word, I drove it only around the block, made photos and ultimately sold it on. I have no idea where the car is today. So if anyone out there in SCM-land knows of a blue metalic 1970 250 CE (euro fuel injected model) with a 5-speed, it might be my old car, particularly if it spent time in Oregon

    Reply
  10. Juergen Schuetze Avatar
    Juergen Schuetze

    A stunning 2-door beauty, in the stout swabian (Sindelfingen) but stylish tradition. A new owner/care taker must be carefully hand picked!

    Reply
  11. Jim Rosenthal Avatar
    Jim Rosenthal

    They are better than average cars, but that leaves a lot of room for various, shall we say, mischances…

    Your problem is the large number of unknowns in the equation. The car might be fine, Bradley would have a good time with it, and probably not learn much of anything, thereby leaving him free to repeat the experience later, and maybe lose some serious money. Or it will be a disaster, and cost you both funds you might not be able to afford, esp at this time with him starting college, if my math is right. I’d hold off.

    Reply
  12. Todd Avatar
    Todd

    Been there. Done that. Got the T-shirt for it and it already shrank.

    Move on.

    Reply

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