For Sale: 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300CE in Ft Worth, Texas

With new Mercedes-Benz cars creeping closer and closer to six-figure territory almost across the board, vintage Mercs like this 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300CE coupe are suddenly red hot. With incredibly durable and strong Straight 6 engines, handsome good looks, and loads of new-found collector appeal from younger enthusiasts, '80s Mercedes-Benz automobiles can be great collector cars or awesome daily drivers. And given the way this handsome coupe looks and drives, you might just want to drive it every chance you get.

Wearing a period-appropriate and handsome two-tone paint job, this early W124 is straight out of the '80s, but features a timeless Astral Silver Metallic over Gray paint job that never seems out of style. That's a good thing, because these cars are virtually indestructible and are arguably the last Mercedes-Benzes built by engineers rather than the marketing department. Styling is conservative, especially when you consider some of the gaudiness you see coming out of Germany today, but the smooth profile is slightly raked and makes it look sporty, and the coupe is vastly more desirable than the more common sedans and wagons (and rarer, to boot!). That's original paint and showcases the quality workmanship that the three-pointed star represents, because it still shines up nicely and looks great as a top-end driver. It's not perfect after all these years of course, but it's very presentable and the car still has that rock solid feel for which Mercedes-Benzes are famous. Someone has obviously loved this car all its life and it hasn't spent any time in the snow or salt, so the bodywork should last as long as the engine... which can be many, many years yet. These are VERY hard to kill.

Inside, it's typical Mercedes-Benz luxury with supportive bucket seats that are still in great shape with Code 277 Burgundy leather upholstery that's as tough as iron yet all day comfortable. The giant steering wheel and simple instruments with big, white letters are trademarks that were part of the Mercedes mystique for decades and it all works properly. The light wood paneling is in fact real wood and the carpets are plush to help control noise from the outside world. The only deviation from stock is an upgraded Kenwood AM/FM/CD/AUX/Bluetooth head unit in the center of the dash, and it actually sounds pretty good. Like any Benz, it comes loaded with amenities including cold factory A/C (although the center vents aren't currently blowing), power windows, locks, mirrors, and seats, cruise control, and a big, comfortable steering wheel mounted on a tilt column. The doors close with a heavy THUNK and going down the road the car feels indestructible, so even with its somewhat modest performance (compared to modern Mercedes), it still represents the very top-of-the-line of '80s excitement. The back seat is comfortable enough for a pair of adults and the spacious trunk will carry just about anything you need on a long road trip.

The 3.0 liter inline-6 engine is legendary around the world for its reliability, torque, and spirited acceleration up and down the throttle. It's been a symbol of mobilization all across the world, from the richest of the rich to the emerging and developing nations, because everyone knows it won't leave you stranded. As long as there's fuel and air, it'll run. It looks complicated packed in tight under the hood, but it's not, and with a little experience, you should be able to keep it in top condition for many tens of thousands of miles. It shows about 143,000 miles, which are believed to be actual, but in Mercedes-Benz terms, that mean it's only been broken-in, so don't let the numbers scare you. And you'll be shocked by the fuel economy on this one, turning long highway drives into an endurance test between the car and your bladder. Ride quality is German firm and commanding, power steering is precise, and power 4-wheel disc brakes are highly effective, and it cruises serenely at high speeds without any real effort at all. The 4-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly through each gear, and the exhaust note is very familiar and even has the catalytic convertor still in place. Underneath, you can see there's no evidence of this car ever being rusty and it sits on classic Mercedes-Benz alloy wheels and 205/65/15 Michelin Defender radials.

Nicely documented with lots of maintenance receipts, this is a rather unusual find that's affordable, practical, stylish, and sooner rather than later it will be very much in demand. Call today!