This 1971 Mercedes-Benz 220D was purchased new by the seller’s aunt in 1971 and remained with the original owner through 2006 when the current owner and seller inherited the 220D. The car shows an original and documented 127k miles with 52 years of service records included in the sale. Finished in China Blue with a white roof over Bamboo MB-Tex (704), power is provided by a naturally aspirated 2.2-liter inline-4 diesel paired with a 3-speed automatic transmission. Features include narrow bumpers, an exterior drivers side mirror, paint-matched hub caps, air-conditioning, and a rebuilt Becker head unit with integrated auxiliary input and Bluetooth. This example shows complete documentation since new and 52 years of service records. The seller ensured the car underwent mechanical restoration in 2007 and has maintained the car as needed with over 11k miles added. The car has received an A/C recharge, and comprehensive check-up in anticipation of a sale. This example is offered with complete service records, an original tool kit, two keys, and a clean North Carolina title.
The body was professionally stripped and repainted in 2007 in factory China Blue with a White roof. All the original trim appears to be present and the glass is in good condition no signs of cracks or pitting. Exterior features include an antenna, a driver’s side wing mirror, polished windshield washer nozzles, and narrow bumpers. The seller mentions the body is rust-free and the driver-side fender and wheel well have been replaced previously due to damage from a deer in the late 1970’s. In 2007 the seller had additional sound deadening added to the cabin for noise insulation.
This example shows original 14x5.5” wheels wrapped in Goodyear whitewall tires measuring 185/75 on all four corners. Paint matched China Blue hubcaps remain in good shape and a full-size spare is included in the trunk. A spare set of painted hubcaps are included in the sale and pictured in the gallery.
The cabin is upholstered in Bamboo MB-Tex across the seats, door cards, armrests, and head rests. The cabin is noted to be largely original with all carpets and floor mats intact. The cabin features safety belts, air conditioning, manual-wind windows, and a rebuilt Becker head unit with integrated auxiliary input and Bluetooth. The dashboard is noted to be crack-free.
The original black steering wheel has been wrapped in brown leather and frames VDO instrumentation including a 110-mph speedometer, and gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, and coolant temperature. Set between the two gauges is a quartz-movement clock. The odometer shows 27k miles with one rollover noted and approximately 11k of which have been added by the seller.
The 2.2L OM615 Diesel 4-Cylinder is mated to a 3-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. Output was rated at 59 horsepower and 96 lb-ft of torque when new. This example shows complete documentation since new and 52 years of service records. The seller ensured the car underwent mechanical restoration in 2007 and has maintained the car as needed with over 11k miles added.The car has received an A/C recharge, and comprehensive check-up in anticipation of a sale. Underside photos have been included by the seller.
This example is offered with complete service records, an original tool kit, a second set of hubcaps, two keys, and a clean North Carolina title.
Videos have been provided by the seller below.
1971...The voting age in the U.S. is lowered to 18, The Eagles were formed, and Starbucks opened their first store. In other news, this 220D was purchased by the original owner and saw more than 100k miles in the first 6 years of commutes. For decades this utilitarian sedan has been the more economical option to the more collectible W108 and seemingly lingered in the Sonderklasse shadow for too long. In recent years a younger crowd has found themselves drawn to the size, simplicity, and shape of the 114 and 115 chassis cars. It's apparent this 220D has seen more than 50 years of love and surely should be destined for another 50 minimum. While it’s no performance sedan, these cars symbolize Mercedes-Benz style and reliability from a time when technology wasn’t king but build quality and comfort reigned supreme.
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20 Comments
@wabb Beautiful W115! I love the color, condition, and history. I'm rehabilitating a 71 220D that was found in a warehouse in Fayetteville after sitting since 2004. Could you provide the name of your restoration/paint shop from 2007? I'd love to find someone equally talented for my car in NC. Thank you for listing this beauty and giving such great details about the car. Hope one of the bidders buys it!
Wow. Seller should consider lowering reserve and accepting that bid…
$18,250 bid placed by @jglobe
$18,000 bid placed by @LevyOne2
$17,750 bid placed by @jglobe
$17,500 bid placed by @LevyOne2
$17,000 bid placed by @jglobe
$16,000 bid placed by @VikingCat
$15,750 bid placed by @jglobe
$15,500 bid placed by @RGraham
$15,250 bid placed by @VikingCat
$15,000 bid placed by @RGraham
$14,500 bid placed by @jglobe
$14,250 bid placed by @KTalb
$14,000 bid placed by @LevyOne2
$13,750 bid placed by @KTalb
$13,500 bid placed by @LevyOne2
$13,000 bid placed by @KTalb
$12,500 bid placed by @LevyOne2
$10,500 bid placed by @EmmaLab
$10,250 bid placed by @gshoshi
$10,000 bid placed by @NYCdriver
$9,000 bid placed by @gshoshi
@oneslyone Yes...the interior is all original including the headliner.
That was what I was asking - so the interior is original
@oneslyone Sorry...Not certain what you are asking about. Are you asking about replacing any of the interior? If so, no...the interior is all original.
Beautiful color, condition, and ownership history. Can you please tell me if you replaced the MB text with Mercedes Tex? I am looking at this on my phone. Thank you
Grateful for the interest and kind words. A few folks asked for a little more history. Car was driven for about 9 years then basically sat in storage from the late 70s to 2006. It was taken out for a few months in 1987 but never registered. When I went to get it there was about 5 gallons of old diesel in the tank. I added 5 gals of fresh diesel, a new battery, hooked up my van to it, glowed the hell out of the plugs and it started right up. I drove it out of the storage unit to a flatbed where it was taken to a local mechanic. I gave him 2 months to replace everything that could dry rot or seize (belts, hoses, brake calipers, tires, etc.) I then drove it 1000 miles in two days. The next year the car went through an all but off the frame restoration down to bare metal. Many of you have lived that same process...just keep writing checks and we will tell you when we are done. I will never get back out what I paid for that work but they did a fantastic job. Nothing was done to the interior and very little has been required of the engine and drive train. It has been lovingly maintained as a tribute to my Aunt, a true car enthusiast and car dealers best friends for her frequency of trading in newer low mileage vehicles. The ones she truly prized she kept including a 1969 Chrysler 300 convertible, and a 1972 Chrysler Newport convertible. As the ad indicates, I have put around 11K on the car since 2006 where it has otherwise been garaged and covered...but all of you know...they break more often in the garage than on the road so I take it out quite frequently. She does fit in quite nicely with it UNC Chapel Hill colors. I did take one of the bidders out for a spin as he was in town for a few days. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
$8,050 bid placed by @markwilson
$7,800 bid placed by @VikingCat
Love the Carolina Blue. My father was captain of the UNC basketball team in early 40s. Sister went and taught there. We have had some iconic mercedes including my mothers 54 300, my stepfathers 600, my 83 300 Turbo Diesel, a 73 280 SE 4.5 and a 79 300D Lang bought from the Emir of Kuwait. I hope to add this gorgeous 220d to that history.
@th_boone My Aunt bought it new and I got it from her when she died in 2006.
@wabb that is impressive! I have only been there once, but my 240D was worked on there previously and I need to take it back (it's "newer" to me), as The Foreign Service now is not working on anything previous to 1990s. Glad to have a connection. Absolutely incredible car, someone is going to get very lucky. Are you original owner? My 240d was purchased new at Olde Hickory Motors 10/11/79, that's partially why I ask..
@th_boone Thanks...for awhile during COVID and the parts shortage, it was the only thing in their showroom. People could see what just under $7K bought you in 1971. Max at A Better Wrench in Chapel Hill is the only one I have trusted to work on this car since 2008. He has forgotten more about MB than any new tech knows today. They have all the service records as well.
Absolutely gorgeous. Period. I saw this in person at the dealership when on display a few years ago in Durham, NC. It is sublime. Seems a Tarheel fan needs to jump on this. Hopefully the people at A Better Wrench mech shop know? Maybe they have a customer that could be interested and are unaware here..
$7,501 bid placed by @tylerjb87
I agree. I bought them new back then, and I still drive them. This car was built at the zenith of Mercedes quality.
@Jim_Rosenthal There was nothing being built in the US in 1971 (Plymouth Fury, Dodge Dart, even a Cadillac) that handled like this car did/does. People riding in it today can't appreciate the needed comparison. These are solid, well built and tightly made cars.
Back when MB really did build the best cars in the world. Not the fanciest, not the fastest, but the best engineering. And build quality.
$7,251 bid placed by @markwilson
$7,001 bid placed by @VikingCat
What a gorgeous Merc!
$6,000 bid placed by @tylerjb87
I was able to convert two videos to MP4 showing the starting process for the car as well as some video of the open engine compartment as the engine runs. The engine idle can obviously be trimmed with the manual choke on the dash.
$4,000 bid placed by @Bankrep40
Thank you for letting me know- I can't see them in the listing- I wonder if @mbmarket can post them?
I provided several videos to the auction site of the old glow plug starting process and the complete tour of the car with and without the engine running.
$2,500 bid placed by @tylerjb87
Can you share any videos of the engine running and driving video?
$500 bid placed by @Lemondrop
$250 bid placed by @nobrakes