Minneapolis Street Sighting: Mercedes 200 fintail

I've always had a fondness for classic Mercedes; some generations more-so than others. I only recently started getting into Mercedes products, and I'm still at the bottom of the learning curve if you will--but I know a good looking car when I see one. I sort of got into these cars last summer, and I obviously still like these; I did shoot a few before I really knew much about them, and this is one of the first fintails I shot--ever.

The reason it's called a fintail is simple-- just look right above the rear decklid. Yes, this Benz had "fins" too, and in my eyes, the Mercedes interpretation looks quite a bit better than the American interpretation. No flashy chrome, and no random emblems, just clean, uncluttered sensible Mercedes styling. Usually, I see these in less-pedestrian colors, but somehow the brown makes this appear to be not as much of a luxury car as it is.

Sadly, the W110/111 cars mark the near-end of good looking Mercedes midsized cars; yes, the W114/115 cars look good, and the W124s do too, but I don't think either of those will ever climb in value the way a good fintail has--but that's just me.

Honestly, since this is one of my earliest "full-car" shoots, the pictures suck; I realize that. But, I do like the color combination depicted here. I often love luxury cars in untraditional colors, and I think the brown over tan works--quite well. Hell, Porsche proves this by offering a Panamera in this combination-- oddly enough, Mercedes makes one pay extra for it via their designo program.

The paint isn't glossy--far from it, and these is nasty fender rot; there's not telling what else this poor car hides under the surface. I imagine it had to be fairly bad, because I never saw this car after that summer (of 2010), shortly later, a brown 1965 Mercedes appeared in a Minnesota U-Pull-It. I wonder if this is it? (Or was, since this car is likely crushed by now). I hope wherever this car did end up, it got stripped of its usable parts if the whole thing wasn't saved.

I hate blogging cars from my archives because more often than not, they're not alive anymore, or they've deteriorated enough that they're not blog fodder anymore. Shame, really, especially considering what a nice car this could've been if it was saved--and what a nice car it was when it was new, too.

Minneapolis Street Sighting: Mercedes 190 Fintail

Yesterday I brought you one vehicle from a local guy's collection--the Chrysler 300 two door. Now, here's the other piece of the dynamic duo that I shot recently. Garaged for most of the winter, this classic Mercedes only comes out on nice days, but its use is not limited to sunny days; I've seen this old gal cruising in the worst of rainstorms, so it cannot be cited as a "never seen rain" vehicle if it comes up for sale.
Classic Benzes are quickly becoming a hobby for me, rather than simply an interest; In addition to the W114/W115 cars as well as the obvious SL lineage, the W110/W111 are fast becoming my all-time favorite Mercedes.
With production starting in 1959 for six-cylinder cars, this lineup would hold through 1968, with the W114 and W115 replacing it for 1969. The six-cylinders were introduced first, followed by the more economical, and slightly cheaper four cylinder cars. Engine ranges included a two 1.9L four cylinders (one diesel and one petrol), two 2.0L fours (again one diesel, and one petrol), and a multitude of sixes, and a lone 3.5L V8. Since this example is badged as a 190, I can assume that its a 1963 model and that this Fintail is one of roughly 130,000 cars built between 1961 and 1965. Numbers for diesels were far greater, with about 230,000 cars built in the same time-frame.
Aside from the love-or-hate looks, this generation of Mercedes Benz was the first to be analyzed for occupant safety, as well as pedestrian safety; it's also the car that launched Mercedes' reputation for safe, durable, long-lasting cars and trucks. To call it just another classic Mercedes would be a definite understatement.












Now, I would normally say this missing hubcaps and faded paint means "looking a little worse for wear", but not here; this is "patina" exactly how it should be done. No fake rust, no deliberate mismatched body panels, and no random parts from other cars clutter up this classic tank. I've seen this vehicle before with all of the hubcaps, and I have to say I like it better without them. No idea why, either.
Inside, this Fin looks absolutely incredible; I would almost go so far as to call this a show-car in terms of its interior quality; no rips or tears, all the gauges are intact and work, and even that oh-so-awesome speedometer is left untouched. Truly a remarkable car in outstanding condition--at least when it comes to the interior.
The only thing left to do, is to lightly clean up the body, and perhaps get the original hubcaps back on, and just cruise; I have always sort of liked these cars, but now that I can appreciate them more, I would totally drive one if given the chance--and hopefully I will.