My quest for the perfect family-friendly classic car had seen a few near misses. The Mazda 808, a personal favorite, unfortunately lacked rear seat belts, a crucial feature for family duties. Adding them to its pristine interior felt like a disservice. Then there was the Ford Falcon, but the timing just wasn’t right. Undeterred, I set my sights on finding a proper classic that wouldn’t break the bank, a family runabout on a shoestring budget. The answer, surprisingly, came in the form of a Mercedes-Benz 220 Classic.
This particular Mercedes-Benz 220 Classic came to me through a friend, who had picked it up as an affordable project. It had been owned by the second owner since 1970, potentially even the original owner, judging by the paperwork tracing back to a Calgary dealership and then a Lethbridge area one. Crucially, it came with a comprehensive history of maintenance records meticulously kept throughout its life.
A pleasant surprise within those records was the engine rebuild, carried out some 20,000 miles prior, back in 1982. No corners were cut during this overhaul, with a new head, pistons, and more. While the reason for such extensive work at relatively low mileage remained unclear, the presence of these low-mileage components was certainly a bonus. However, the maintenance history also revealed a less desirable aspect: an early front-end collision, resulting in the fitment of a plastic grille insert, an incorrect detail for its model year, detracting slightly from its Mercedes-Benz 220 Classic authenticity.
Years of use and, shall we say, less-than-expert bodywork had taken their toll. Rust was rampant across the exterior panels, yet the underlying structure remained surprisingly robust. Armed with my trusty welder, I thought, “How challenging could it truly be?”
The deal included a 1971 Mercedes-Benz 220D parts car. Also a four-speed manual diesel, it boasted slightly more options and promised to be a treasure trove of essential components. Though superficially less rusty, this cream-colored donor car suffered from severe structural decay. It was so compromised, in fact, that venturing underneath it while on jack stands felt genuinely unsafe.
The parts car’s interior yielded a rear seat cover of unparalleled ugliness, a shade of green reminiscent of artificial turf, and equally uncomfortable. Despite the worn condition, it provided invaluable rear seat belts and a gear shift lever, both missing from the blue Mercedes-Benz 220 Classic, along with a useful collection of spare parts.
Before tackling the extensive bodywork, a few minor mechanical issues needed addressing. A dose of white grease revived the stubbornly stiff door locks, making them function like new. A heater control valve, sourced from the parts car, replaced a leaky counterpart – a fortunate find, as these valves are notoriously difficult to obtain new for the Mercedes-Benz 220 Classic. Parts availability for these classic Mercedes is generally excellent, although prices can range from surprisingly affordable to eye-wateringly expensive. The still-serviceable rear shocks from the parts car were swapped in for the completely worn-out units on the blue car, dramatically improving the ride quality.
The driver’s side fender presented some of the most severe rust damage. Beyond reasonable repair, thankfully, the parts car offered an aftermarket replacement fender in marginally better condition.
After considerable welding and metalwork, a presentable fender emerged. The passenger-side fender proved salvageable with repair work. Then came more, much more, welding on the rocker panels and rear fenders. The previous shoddy repairs were cut away and replaced with properly formed metal, restoring the integrity of the Mercedes-Benz 220 Classic body.
Unfortunately, the rust saga wasn’t over. The rear bumper support had succumbed to corrosion, along with the lower section of the bodywork. The previous, rather inventive, solution to keep the bumper in place involved a hefty chunk of wood, large enough not to fall through the rust hole, secured to the bumper with wire. This entire compromised section was cut out and rebuilt, incorporating a substantial piece of trunk area grafted from the parts car, carefully welding it into place to revive the rear structure of the Mercedes-Benz 220 Classic.
The delicate surgical work, while not flawless, proved successful in bringing the Mercedes-Benz 220 Classic back to a structurally sound state.
The extensive bodywork necessitated a fresh coat of paint. Not wanting to embark on repainting door jambs for a classic beater, a close match to the original blue was essential. Operating on a minimal budget, a roll paint job was initially planned. However, the desired shade of blue was only available in spray cans.
Early results with spray can paint were encouraging, but the finish didn’t prove as durable as hoped. In hindsight, opting for roller paint would have been a better long-term solution. Perhaps a project for a future “Cars Of A Lifetime” update!
With the mechanics largely sorted and the Mercedes-Benz 220 Classic looking reasonably respectable, it transitioned into daily driver duty. The Dodge minivan was sold, my wife took over the Mazda 2, and the Benz became my sole vehicle. The most endearing aspect of this vintage Mercedes was the commanding view from behind the wonderfully retro dashboard. Fuel consumption, though never precisely measured due to speedometer inaccuracies from non-standard tires, was impressively economical. Performance is best described as modest yet adequate – definitely not a car for drag racing. The exceptionally short first gear often surprised other drivers, requiring a quick shift before clearing intersections.
Enjoying my daily commutes in this venerable Benz, plans for maximizing its classic car potential began to form. First up was an autocross event, where, predictably, I finished last but relished every moment.
Next, participation in the local classic cruise event was on the agenda. Having never owned a reliably running classic car before, entering this event was a novel experience for the whole family.
The remarkably spacious trunk meant the Mercedes-Benz 220 Classic frequently doubled as a pickup truck, proving its surprising practicality.
I even entered the car in a local car show. While not exceptionally valuable or rare, these W115 chassis Mercedes-Benz models are becoming increasingly scarce, making it a welcome sight at the show.
Inevitably, all good things must end. The 220D began to exhibit a reluctance to start from cold, a significant annoyance for a daily driver. New glow plugs failed to resolve the issue, suggesting a potentially leaky injection pump. Although a spare pump was available from the parts car, it felt like my time with the Mercedes-Benz 220 Classic had run its course. The same friend who originally sold me the car was looking for an affordable classic. Being more mechanically inclined but less enthusiastic about bodywork, a deal was struck, and the old 220D returned to its former owner, ready for its next chapter.
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