1980 Mercedes-Benz 280CE Coupe (W123) |

Closed Auction- Unsold

1980 Mercedes-Benz 280CE Coupe (W123)

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Mileage~109,900 on clock
TransmissionAutomatic
Engine2.8L
LocationHove

AUCTION CLOSED

1980 Mercedes-Benz 280CE Coupe (W123)

Introduction

Alan Stuart

Professional Consignor

The W123 280CE is both sophisticated and famously well built, with a 2.8-litre engine coupled to the hard wearing and reliable Mercedes four-speed automatic transmission.

Produced between the years of 1975 - 1986 the W123 replaced its ever popular predecessor the W114 and benefitted from revised styling whilst keeping the core mechanical aspects of the car unchanged. This resulted in the W123 succeeding at becoming Mercedes-Benz’s best selling car ever at the time. Widely regarded as bulletproof, the W123 was used in a commercial capacity the world over thanks to its reliability and comfort.

This particular example comes to us from owner David with ~109,900 miles on the clock and a current MOT, making it the perfect example for someone looking to improve, or even just enjoy this classic Mercedes-Benz as it is.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Alan after meeting David the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

From an early age I worked on, loved, and admired these cars alongside my dad who was an enthusiast himself - so when the opportunity arose to own one I jumped at the prospect.

David has always had a love for these classic Mercedes, with his dad having owned them when he was just a child. David found himself working on and maintaining his dad’s cars from an early age. Knowing he would always want his own one day, David surreptitiously left his details on the windscreen of this car on his way to work one day, he wanted to let the owner know that if and when the time to sell came along, then he would be more than interested in purchasing the car.

So as luck would have it the owner made contact with David some two months down the line to see if he was still interested and so David went along with his brother and purchased the car on the spot. Sadly as David is now moving abroad he can no longer keep the car and is now looking to rehome the 280CE before his departure.

David

Vehicle Owner

Ask Questions

CONTACT OWNER

Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Taking a simpler design approach for the W123, Mercedes opted for a boxy and flat design which was very much the style of the era.

Wheels and Tyres

The chrome wheels with body coloured centre caps are in a fair condition, with no visible damage to speak of.

The wheels are wearing Champiro VP1 tyres - these are DOT marked 2014 and the sidewalls are beginning to perish as you can see in the images.

Bodywork

This is sold as a rolling project which means the bodywork of the 280CE could use some attention. Whilst the panels are all straight and free from knocks or dents, there is rust present across the car and it would need a complete overhaul to bring it up to a good standard.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view at what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The paintwork, like the bodywork, requires some attention. The bulk of the painted areas are undamaged so to speak, however there is some fairly obvious bubbling present across the car.

Again, we have taken high resolution images and videos of the car for you to assess the condition of the bodywork for yourselves. The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass itself is in nice condition, with no major chips, cracks, or scratches. However the rubber seals are perished and would need replacing, especially around the rear window where the rubber is beginning to crumble.

VIEW ALL

INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

The 280CE delivers a predictably luxurious interior, with wood veneer dashboard, plush upholstery, and pillarless side windows.

Seats and Carpets

Overall the seats look to be in good condition, with no real damage to speak of. The only spot of noticeable wear is on the driver's seat base and bolster which can be seen in our images.

The carpets are in a likewise condition, with no excessive wear or damage in the front, however the passenger rear carpet is torn and would need to be replaced.

Dashboard

The wooden veneer dashboard is in good condition, with no major signs of damage.

The veneer is not suffering from delamination or overly faded, and the upper and lower dash is free from any visible signs of damage too.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

Both steering wheel and gearstick look to be in good condition, with no visible damage or heavy wear present on either item.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The reliable and well built 2.8L four cylinder DOHC engine has been widely regarded as bulletproof since the early days of the W123 line.

Engine and Gearbox

The 2.8L engine performed well during our visit, pulling well throughout all four gears and starting without issue, as can be seen in our ‘On The Road’ video.

The gearbox and kickdown both worked as expected and didn’t cause any trouble for us on the day either.

The car can be seen out on the road during our ‘On The Road’ video where you can both see and hear the car driving.

Suspension and Brakes

The vehicle has just passed its MOT, however advised on the MOT were all four coil springs due to corrosion, along with corrosion present to nearside inner suspension mounting area.

Whilst the ride felt comfortable enough on the day these advisories will obviously need attention at some point.

The Drive

The 280CE provides exactly what you would expect from a car such as this; a comfortable, quiet, and predictable drive. Handling is soft but decisive and the ride comfort is perfect for longer journeys, or even pootling around town.

Electrics and Other

The electrical systems are ok on the whole, with all external lights working as expected, however there are a few small electrical gremlins such as the drivers side window not lowering the whole way.

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History and Paperwork

This Mercedes-Benz 280CE is a well used example of a staple German classic that is ripe for restoration.

Having had ten previous owners and requiring quite a bit of remedial and restorative work to tend to the cars issues, this would make the perfect rolling restoration for someone with the time and know-how to carry it out. Having passed its most recent MOT, expiring on 14.11.2023, you needn’t be worried about any serious issues, however it is MOT exempt so this will not stop you from driving the car beyond the MOT’s expiry date - so long as the car is maintained well and fully functional.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in high resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
15.11.2022	MOT	109,939
12.07.2021	MOT	109,290
17.06.2020	MOT	108,933
31.05.2019	MOT	107,027
13.06.2018	MOT	107,027
08.06.2017	MOT	106,733
13.06.2016	MOT	106,399
13.06.2015	MOT	106,149
06.06.2014	MOT	105,513
31.05.2013	MOT	105,147
03.04.2012	MOT	104,607
14.04.2009	MOT	104,460
25.03.2008	MOT	101,179