Good morning! I hope you’re not in a hurry to get over the hump on this Wednesday morning, because today’s cars are… not speedy. Oh, they’ll get you there; they’ll just take their own sweet time doing it.
Yesterday we had a bit of an odd couple, in both form and price. A lot of you lamented the fact that the 280ZX had an automatic, but one commenter mentioned that the turbo might have been automatic-only for a while, and I do seem to remember that. Despite that, and its unjustifiably high price, the Datsun took home a comfortable win.
I think the price is more of a deciding factor for me. I just can’t see paying eight grand for an old Datsun, no matter what it is. Besides, I have always liked the Renault Encore; it’s a good-looking car, and I refuse to believe that it’s as unreliable as is so often reported. Renault made twenty-five million of those Cléon engines, and won a whole lot of road rallies with them, not to mention the abuse they saw in less-developed parts of the world. I’ll take the Encore.
Now then: Everybody’s in a damn hurry these days when they’re driving. Nobody wants to take the time to view the scenery; gotta go, gotta make good time. Outta my way; I’ve got a three-hundred-horsepower crossover and I’m not afraid to use it. That’s not likely to change, but I personally like the idea of an old car that simply can’t go that fast, or accelerate that quickly. Something that forces you to think ahead, conserve your momentum, and appreciate the power you’ve got. Something like one of these two. Let’s check them out.
1956 Plymouth Plaza – $3,500
Engine/drivetrain: 230 cubic inch flathead inline 6, three-speed manual, RWD
Location: Rockdale, TX
Odometer reading: 16,000 miles (probably rolled over)
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Before the 1960s, most American automakers pretty much made one basic car, and model designations were just variations on the theme. The Plaza was Plymouth’s entry-level model, with the Savoy, Belvedere, and Fury above it – but they all had the same sheetmetal; the only difference was the trim and options.
In place of the V8s found in fancier Plymouth models, the Plaza features Chrysler’s venerable flathead inline six, which found its way into a great many Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, and DeSoto cars, as well as various pieces of Massey-Harris farm equipment, and even tanks. This one displaces 230 cubic inches and drives the rear axle through a simple three-speed column-shifted manual. It runs and drives very well, according to the seller.
It needs some work inside, but if you throw a blanket over the seat, it’s livable for a little while. The carpet is missing, as are the door cards, but you can improvise those if need be. I think the seat upholstery has been redone at some time in the past; it’s giving more 1970s vibes than 1950s, and it doesn’t look like any other ’56 Plymouth seats I found photos of. It needs to be redone again, so you’re free to do whatever you want with it.
It has some rust outside, as well as in the floors, but nothing awful. It looks like the front passenger’s side quarter window glass is missing, but it should be a flat piece, easy for any glass shop to cut for you. It has all four hubcaps, and the trim, what little there is of it, looks intact, except for a letter or two on the hood.
1976 Mercedes-Benz 240D – $2,500
Engine/drivetrain: 2.4-liter overhead cam diesel inline 4, four-speed manual, RWD
Location: Austin, TX
Odometer reading: unknown
Operational status: Runs and drives, but alternator not charging
Old Mercedes diesels have a sort of a cult following, especially among those who favor waste-oil conversions or biodiesel setups. They’re simple, all-mechanical, and durable as hell, all of which make them ideal for diesel experimentation. And even better, while you’re messing around with alternative fuels, you get to ride around in a Mercedes.
This is a W115 chassis 240D model, featuring a 2.4 liter four-cylinder and a four-speed manual transmission. It only produces 64 horsepower and around 100 pound-feet of torque, so acceleration is, shall we say, leisurely, and a bit agricultural-feeling. It runs and drives well, but the alternator isn’t charging. The seller says the alternator is new, so either it was installed wrong, or it isn’t actually the problem. It doesn’t sound like the seller knows a whole lot about cars, so your best bet is to go look at it and poke around a bit.
The interior looks about like most of these old Mercedes: a little rough around the edges, but basically intact. M-B Tex upholstery is tough stuff, and usually the seat deteriorates out from under it before the outer skin fails. We have no idea how many miles are on this car, but I don’t think it really matters; these old Benz diesels are sort of ageless. Eventually, when there are only a few left, they’ll be drawn together, and need to fight each other to the death until there is only one. (Wait, no, that’s something else.)
Rust is one of these cars’ only natural enemies, but this one, being a Texas car, seems to have escaped it. The body-color hubcaps are cool; the dark tint less so, but that can be removed. So too can the giant US-spec battering-ram bumpers, if you’d rather replace them with the more svelte European versions.
Either one of these would make a nice project car, if you like to tinker and aren’t in a hurry. You could drive either one of them home, which is a good start. After that, it’s a question of whether you’d rather fix up the interior of a Plymouth or chase down wiring gremlins in a Mercedes.
You know, I expected to pick the Plymouth, but that Benz looks so clean and it has a stick, so yeah lets do that.
I was going to say that Benz seems like a great deal at $2,500 even with the bad alternator and rebuilt title, but then I found this on my daily Craigslist search:
https://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/cto/d/riverview-clean-85-mercedes-300sd/7844451255.html
I prefer the styling of the ’76, but I would have a hard time choosing it over a $3,500 clean title ’85 that is fully functional. The ’76 might be a solid deal, but the ’85 is a steal.
The ’85 would be a turbodiesel as well, so less slow and, as an S-class, roomier and more refined. Assuming there aren’t any major undisclosed issues, it’s a steal.
Both are cool, but I grew up with a W115, and I’ve always wanted one of my own, so the Benz gets my vote today.
Give me the Mercedes-Benz
I’ll call it “Kapitan Slow”
The Mercedes looks *insanely* nice for the price – but there are few cars more expensive than a cheap Mercedes. I’ll take it anyway.
Not sure that seat is original, it looks like it’s out of a later caravan by the seatbelts.
We had a Mercedes TD, automatic, I bet the stick is fun tho!
I could see buying the Plymouth, but knowing what Exner had up his sleeve the very next year makes this one seem especially frumpy.
Of course, you can’t get frumpier than a W115, but it’s the winner here, especially with a manual transmission to help make the most of its eight horsepower. Lose the tint, fix the alternator and drive until the heat death of the universe… which at the present rate should be next Thursday or so?
I like the Plymouth because it’s transitional and unloved. It would not be fast or ever show-car worthy, but should be simple and cheap to work on. The Benz is very nice too.
Going Rat Rod Plymouth today. I can’t get past those dog dish steelies! And that dash!
I’m firmly in the “Why not both?” category this morning. Having previously owned a ’57 Plymouth with the flathead 6 and 3-on-the-three as well as a ’74 240D, I can comfortably say either would be good slow fun.
But, since we have to vote for one, the Benz it is. Mine had an automatic and I imagine a manual improves the experience significantly. Having no rust to speak of and being a grand cheaper sealed the deal.
That Benz just exudes class and sophistication, despite the diesel. It’s such a great looking and timeless car that I would love to drive around in. It’s something Hollywood DT would drive. The rolling advertisement for your tetanus shot looks like something Detroit DT would drive and be frantically trying to repair for some crazy journey.
The Plymouth would be Detroit DT’s “winter beater.” “This thing is MINT!”
“Only three rust holes in the floor! My foot barely even fits through the first one!”
This one is hard. As someone who owns a Plymouth with one of those straight sixes I can tell you they’re one of the few engines of the era that you can simply go out and use as a daily no problem. The downside is that they are SLOW! They are also as close to working on a lawnmower engine as one can get. But the Mercedes is seemingly in better shape. But I think I’d rather go with the Plymouth.
I’d grab the Plaza and name her Aubrey.
Both have their spot in my heart.
The rust free Benz could be a daily driver easily with a little work.
Bonus is that it’s a manual transmission .
if that was close to me I’d buy it today.
The Plymouth could be a cheap weekend cruiser .
I once test drove a Mercedes 220D of that same generation, and it was the most dangerously slow car I’ve ever driven on Atlanta roads. 0-60 in 30 seconds or so. I later owned a 300D TurboDiesel and it at least kept up with traffic.
Lead Sled or the Merc Diesel sorry the Merc Diesel just fits me more. The plymouth I would want to do a restomod on and all the original parts would be just tossed.
But the Merc I would drive as is.
There is no way that 4-door Plymouth, in that condition, is worth $3500. Maybe $1500, but that’s still a stretch. Benz all the way for me.
I just love the style of the Plymouth. I’m going to pick that every time.
Rambler is a movie prop car. The Benz is a driver.
I know the Benz will last forever is a very boring sort of way, but I can’t pass up the much better looking Plymouth.
Another day when we need a BOTH button. I voted Plymouth because I just can’t resist a car with fins. I’d love to enjoy it and slowly upgrade it over the years.
I see the Plymouth as an interesting blank slate. The Mercedes is too… to a point. Against most other cars I’d take the Benz, but the gold and the poverty caps speak to me.
What is also not mentioned here is the phenomenal fuel economy diesel Benzes of the 70s/80s get. You’ll be money ahead in running costs vs. the Plymouth.
That Benz diesel will still be running when the sun finally flames out. Have to take the Benz for me, even though I do love the tail fins on that Plymouth.
As a diesel Mercedes owner, I’ll gladly add another diesel Mercedes to the fleet anytime. They’re excellent cars and will outlast cockroaches. There’s a reason they’re STILL being used as taxis 50+ years onward into their lives.
The Benz will be serviceable, the Plymouth not so much.
Wiring in that age of Mercedes is so easy to sort as well. But I’m slightly fucked in the head and actually enjoy automotive wiring.