1971 Mercedes W115 220(D)
Discussion
As posted on the 1-5 thread, I am hiding out from Covid and the winter on the island of Madeira.
As some may know, car prices on the island are amongst the highest in Europe with huge taxes on anything 'nice' (ie German). This also means that used car prices can be comical to say the least. 9,000 Euros for a 15yr old Mini.... 12,000 Euros for a same-aged BMW 1-series, 13,000 Euros for a base BMW Z3!.... you get the idea.
My normal means on transport on the island is a 1997 Suzuki Vitara 1.9 diesel (Peugeot diesel) with just under 250,000kms on the clock. It does the job beautifully and the roof comes off which is nice seeing as it sunny almost every day of the year. A few weeks back we had snow up in the mountains, so for the first time, the 4x4 aspect really came into play. I guess one of these would be worth around £1k in the UK (if not already scrapped), but over here, it's a 3,500 Euro car all day long.
As the Vitara only has 4-seats and no real boot to speak of, wifey has been bullying me into buying something bigger. I really don't want to let the Vitara go, so I persuaded her that we could justify having two cars. We came close to buying a Mini Countryman Cooper D (probably the perfect car for over here), with a BMW X3 in second place and a Dacia Duster in third. We then spotted a Skoda Yeti which seemed to tick all the boxes, except that it was metallic brown (apparently a no-no). Having got thoroughly bored with car shopping for cars which were two or three times (at least) the price that they would ask in the UK, I decided to drink a lot of beer and surf Facebook marketplace. With beer-goggles firmly in place, I stumbled across a very smart looking 1971 Mercedes W115 220D at a pretty sensible price. A few drunken messages (always entertaining as I don't speak Portuguese so have to use Google translate) l arranged to see the car the following day.
The car was lovely. Definitely not perfect (the paint is pretty bad), but there was no rust. Mechanically, it was strong as an ox and the interior was near perfect. Most importantly, it had been in the same family ownership for over 25yrs and had not been used as a taxi. After a long test drive, we shook on a deal and a few days later it was in our driveway.
Having had the car for a few days now, the 'to do list' remains pretty short. The car needs a new shaft vibration damper (there is a vibration between 60-80kph), the brake fluid needs to be changed and it needs some new tyres in order to pass it's 4yr Classic Car certification.
In order to qualify for Classic Car certification, we had to have the car inspected by mechanics from the Madeira Classic Car Association. This removes the need for an annual MOT test, exempts the car from annual road tax and also qualifies us for super cheap insurance (less than 50 Euros a year). The inspection went really well, aside from them finding out that the car was originally built in S.Africa as a right hand drive petrol 220!!! With a look of panic on our faces, they laughed and told us that this was pretty common. In Madeira, diesels are the desired option (the roads can be crazy steep, so the torque of a diesel is often essential, plus diesel is way cheaper than petrol and around £1 per litre), so it was apparently quite common in the 1970's to import rust-free S.Africa cars, convert them to LHD and drop in diesel engines. Panic over, we can now enjoy our new barge for cruising around at the weekend.
Haven't really had a chance to take many photos yet, but here are a few that I took at the weekend.
Hopefully this should satisfy my classic car appetite until I can get back to the UK (hopefully towards the end of the Spring) to pull my beloved Lancia Fulvia out of its winter dry-storage.
As some may know, car prices on the island are amongst the highest in Europe with huge taxes on anything 'nice' (ie German). This also means that used car prices can be comical to say the least. 9,000 Euros for a 15yr old Mini.... 12,000 Euros for a same-aged BMW 1-series, 13,000 Euros for a base BMW Z3!.... you get the idea.
My normal means on transport on the island is a 1997 Suzuki Vitara 1.9 diesel (Peugeot diesel) with just under 250,000kms on the clock. It does the job beautifully and the roof comes off which is nice seeing as it sunny almost every day of the year. A few weeks back we had snow up in the mountains, so for the first time, the 4x4 aspect really came into play. I guess one of these would be worth around £1k in the UK (if not already scrapped), but over here, it's a 3,500 Euro car all day long.
As the Vitara only has 4-seats and no real boot to speak of, wifey has been bullying me into buying something bigger. I really don't want to let the Vitara go, so I persuaded her that we could justify having two cars. We came close to buying a Mini Countryman Cooper D (probably the perfect car for over here), with a BMW X3 in second place and a Dacia Duster in third. We then spotted a Skoda Yeti which seemed to tick all the boxes, except that it was metallic brown (apparently a no-no). Having got thoroughly bored with car shopping for cars which were two or three times (at least) the price that they would ask in the UK, I decided to drink a lot of beer and surf Facebook marketplace. With beer-goggles firmly in place, I stumbled across a very smart looking 1971 Mercedes W115 220D at a pretty sensible price. A few drunken messages (always entertaining as I don't speak Portuguese so have to use Google translate) l arranged to see the car the following day.
The car was lovely. Definitely not perfect (the paint is pretty bad), but there was no rust. Mechanically, it was strong as an ox and the interior was near perfect. Most importantly, it had been in the same family ownership for over 25yrs and had not been used as a taxi. After a long test drive, we shook on a deal and a few days later it was in our driveway.
Having had the car for a few days now, the 'to do list' remains pretty short. The car needs a new shaft vibration damper (there is a vibration between 60-80kph), the brake fluid needs to be changed and it needs some new tyres in order to pass it's 4yr Classic Car certification.
In order to qualify for Classic Car certification, we had to have the car inspected by mechanics from the Madeira Classic Car Association. This removes the need for an annual MOT test, exempts the car from annual road tax and also qualifies us for super cheap insurance (less than 50 Euros a year). The inspection went really well, aside from them finding out that the car was originally built in S.Africa as a right hand drive petrol 220!!! With a look of panic on our faces, they laughed and told us that this was pretty common. In Madeira, diesels are the desired option (the roads can be crazy steep, so the torque of a diesel is often essential, plus diesel is way cheaper than petrol and around £1 per litre), so it was apparently quite common in the 1970's to import rust-free S.Africa cars, convert them to LHD and drop in diesel engines. Panic over, we can now enjoy our new barge for cruising around at the weekend.
Haven't really had a chance to take many photos yet, but here are a few that I took at the weekend.
Hopefully this should satisfy my classic car appetite until I can get back to the UK (hopefully towards the end of the Spring) to pull my beloved Lancia Fulvia out of its winter dry-storage.
What an incredibly cool pair of cars you have!
I love the 115. Interesting to hear its story too. That sort of thing wouldn't happen with a 5ish year old car these days!
Its a great looking car, and black really suits it. Very good purchase.
The fulvia also steals my heart. Iconic and unique. Always fancied owning one, started looking around 7 years ago, but never committed due to them being FWD. Started looking at the Guilia coupe but I have really missed the boat now!
I love the 115. Interesting to hear its story too. That sort of thing wouldn't happen with a 5ish year old car these days!
Its a great looking car, and black really suits it. Very good purchase.
The fulvia also steals my heart. Iconic and unique. Always fancied owning one, started looking around 7 years ago, but never committed due to them being FWD. Started looking at the Guilia coupe but I have really missed the boat now!
Cheers for the positive comments.
If the sun is shining, i will head up to the mountains tomorrow (a 10-minute drive from my house) to get some more photos.
The car spent the day with my local spannerman (we have a great communication via google translate as he speaks no English and i speak no Portuguese) while I went off downhill mountainbiking. Everything seems pretty good although the plug in the bottom of the fuel tank is weeping, so it will be back again on Monday for that to be sorted. I also need to buy at least one pair of tyres once the Madeira Classic Car Association decide which size (I have slightly different sizes front to back) is 'correct'.
The roads round here are more than a little beautiful
If the sun is shining, i will head up to the mountains tomorrow (a 10-minute drive from my house) to get some more photos.
The car spent the day with my local spannerman (we have a great communication via google translate as he speaks no English and i speak no Portuguese) while I went off downhill mountainbiking. Everything seems pretty good although the plug in the bottom of the fuel tank is weeping, so it will be back again on Monday for that to be sorted. I also need to buy at least one pair of tyres once the Madeira Classic Car Association decide which size (I have slightly different sizes front to back) is 'correct'.
The roads round here are more than a little beautiful
I would imagine the Suzuki is great for sight seeing, with its lofty seating position and well suited to the local environment. The Mercedes looks fantastic, grace without pace, must feel low compared to most modern cars. Just think you could have had a boring Mini Countryman Cooper D, probably very practical though, instead, you get to smoke around in the this piece of automotive art. More pictures please.
Love it. 
Brings back fond memories of my 220 petrol that I had in my early 20s. It was a real cruiser but would hustle through the corners quite nicely once you got used to the massive wheel, Mercedes mock leather seats and the slight wollowy feel.
I do remember it was a hit with the ladies for some reason.
I'm not keen on the spotlights and are the wheels off a later model?? , mine had lovely 70s hub caps on steels.
Brings back fond memories of my 220 petrol that I had in my early 20s. It was a real cruiser but would hustle through the corners quite nicely once you got used to the massive wheel, Mercedes mock leather seats and the slight wollowy feel.
I do remember it was a hit with the ladies for some reason.
I'm not keen on the spotlights and are the wheels off a later model?? , mine had lovely 70s hub caps on steels.
Well, the old dear has been seeing plenty of use recently (probably more than she has seen in the last 50yrs). amongst my various vice, I also have a dirty habit of downhill and enduro mountain biking, for which Madeira is one of the best places in Europe. Yesterday, saw the Merc's maiden outing as the 'bike bus' with three bikes on the roof, a boot full of body-armour and three burly riders transported from sea-level up to circa 1,800m. She performed well, although a few stutters indicate that her fuel filters may need replacing (she is back at the mechanics this morning for these to be looked at).
She also has a nice powerful stereo system now installed which for some bizarre reason only seems to play the Rolling Stones (loudly).
She also has a nice powerful stereo system now installed which for some bizarre reason only seems to play the Rolling Stones (loudly).
Beautiful looking old Merc. I am actually really quite envious.
I've been looking at W115's myself recently and have seen a couple of similar 220D's for sale, how are you finding the 59bhp these produce?
I absolutely love a classic Mercedes, especially anything from their range pre-1990. Makes me a bit sad when you see a sea of them now and how run-of-the-mill they have become.
I've been looking at W115's myself recently and have seen a couple of similar 220D's for sale, how are you finding the 59bhp these produce?
I absolutely love a classic Mercedes, especially anything from their range pre-1990. Makes me a bit sad when you see a sea of them now and how run-of-the-mill they have become.
bob1179 said:
Beautiful looking old Merc. I am actually really quite envious.
I've been looking at W115's myself recently and have seen a couple of similar 220D's for sale, how are you finding the 59bhp these produce?
I absolutely love a classic Mercedes, especially anything from their range pre-1990. Makes me a bit sad when you see a sea of them now and how run-of-the-mill they have become.
the speed limit here is about 60mph and going up hills (which are STEEP), you can go as slow as you need... not sure i would want to keep up with UK traffic in one though!I've been looking at W115's myself recently and have seen a couple of similar 220D's for sale, how are you finding the 59bhp these produce?
I absolutely love a classic Mercedes, especially anything from their range pre-1990. Makes me a bit sad when you see a sea of them now and how run-of-the-mill they have become.
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