The Mercedes-Benz 280 is a Bulletproof Beauty

Where is the beauty in an object if it isn't functional? About forty years ago, Mercedes-Benz set out to re-establish their reputation. Unfotunately, Benz had developed an infamy for underpowered engines and questionable ability. With the W114/115 chassis and particularly the brand-new M110 engine, Mercedes was on the offensive. The "new generation" of Benzes debuted in 1968, designed by Paul Bracq.
But for Bernard Bredehorn and his 1972 Mercedes-Benz 280S/8 the W114 holds more personal memories. His grandparents who lived quite far away had a W116 280SE (the predecessor of today's Sonderklasse, or 'S'pecial-class) and he fondly remembers the mechanical noises and sensations he experienced while playing in the rear footwells. His experience with this car however, was anything but easy going. For a long time this car sat in a friend's garage, awaiting restoration, and Bredehorn only saw it when he returned home during school breaks. Each time he returned to it, he had to exhume it from the piles of junk sitting atop the neglected 280.
Finally he was able to take the car apart, do the body work, and get it running even though it turned into a race against his child's birth and the coming winter...
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[@NostalgicNightRide]

The older I am the more I'm falling in love with old Mercedes cars

[@chrispark4310]

The W114 is still a gorgeous automobile and rock solid. Maybe not the most reactive engines but hey, when in a Mercedes-Benz you wanna live the moment. Would take one anytime. Loved it in the 70’s still love it today! Love the rectangular headlights, the huge grille, headrests, the dash...cool car!

[@18echosf]

I don't speak German and am not even a Mercedes fan, but I loved this video. It was all about the passion of automobiles....no matter the brand. And, wonderfully filmed. Great job!

[@mytmousemalibu]

A true Mercedes has the numbers before the letter!

[@jonnylivesinbr]

So true!

[@teddyhg3438]

So my 1986 ge280 isnt true merc?

[@rafiabiyyuanto6944]

@@teddyhg3438 na thats steyr puch

[@frankiethefin886]

Rafi Abiyyuanto Puch vz 50 Also calld puch dakota

[@philipplamenov8649]

Yup, that's true.

[@ipohboy]

love this car to bits. so wonderful to see them lovingly treated.

[@villeraudasoja8695]

my first car...

[@LoneWolf-wp9dn]

lol look at that wagon towing the old body ... like someone taking their very old father somewhere

[@pnwautocar5291]

I thought the same thing. What a beautiful sight

[@farahnomi]

W123 estate..awesome cars

[@silasmcgee3647]

Nomi64 Nomi64 Saving a Merc with the Merc not something you see every day

[@silasmcgee3647]

Seeing an old Merc helping out another those old Benz cars look out for each other

[@andrewb.5996]

Damn now I feel like a coffee!

[@paronychia7299]

I’m a JDM guy but I would absolutely love to own one of these Mercedes 😍

[@ItsTimePictures]

This guy must have serious money because restoring a car like this takes big bank.

[@RobertSmith-le8wp]

Beautiful video. The old Mercs were so classy. A different era for sure

[@ParadoxdesignsOrg]

If you can daily drive anything made in the early 70's today. thats some gusto right there!

[@tonny.c]

Oh that Noir music is just perfect for this video. Well done.

[@conradulyssestrybus5762]

I loved seeing the W114 being towed by the Mercedes wagon!

[@groovyhippie1165]

Beautiful car, I cringed when I saw the car all apart and full of it's own pieces. Great job in putting it all back together. She's a beauty!

[@egonolzen4720]

Beautiful footage, tasteful music. It is truly beautiful:-)

[@esskay430]

I have just purchased a 1972 280. Garaged for the past 20 years. Drives fine, strong car.

[@MrFNWO1]

These episodes are a work of art, everything it put together so well, it's great to see them in my sub box.

[@rxj0765]

Beautiful car, I just bought a 1972 250 and I could not be happier with her :)

[@AxCYeR]

fantastic! wish i had one of these. or a 123. despite being 26 years old, my 190E still doesn't look and feel old enough :(

[@kennethj1956]

Sigh; I had the diesel version of this car....... 0 to 60 time was measured on a calender. It was So slow, my wife wouldn't drive it. Dangerously slow. I also had the w116 450se...that was a different story...... I currently have a 1972 280sel 4.5 with only 29,000 miles on it. Tobacco Brown; I will sell it in the spring. (garage queen)

[@WTGRacing]

Just read some info on your old diesel. 55bhp......Oh dear. 55bhp would be good in a poptart, but in a big Merc, nope. Could it do 60?

[@kennethj1956]

TheLeafySpring Zero to sixty was 30+ seconds; getting on the freeway was sweaty scary.(A 1960's VW camper bus was much quicker.) Brand new, theoretically it could do 84 with no hills;.... the secret was to drive fast to keep momentum.

[@WTGRacing]

Mr. Johnson 84? seriously? That's quite impressive considering power to weight ratio. Must have had top speed favored gearing and decent aerodynamics. Anyway thanks for sharing.

[@Hvitserk67]

***** It was another era where cars were going a lot slower :)

[@kennethj1956]

***** I am currently trying to drive a 240D automatic around the block;.... Sigh, I hope to finish the trip someday.

[@Knezicdex]

beautiful music, suits the video very well

[@yellow6ird]

As a classic Mercedes owner I share his sentiment & love towards the brand. Great video.

[@arifjatmiko7014]

this beauty is a labor of love...good job..

[@rompowertube]

Superb video. Guys what you do is amazing!! Thank you so much Petrolicious! :)

[@jgpwlcs36]

Nothing like an old Merc, my father owns a 1965 230 sl.

[@vdochev]

Beautiful car! Please take care of these and keep them on the road!

[@marino4691]

i love this youtubechannel. such high quality. awesome shots

[@sabbathian]

Ah... my dad used to have a 240D in the eighties... I still remember it as being a ship... huge, comfortable and quiet... damn I loved that car... I wish you and your family many more happy kilometers in it!

[@moochincrawdad]

My neighbour had one of these, she gave me a lift one day - it was like riding on a magic carpet, it completely irons out road bumps!

[@mytmousemalibu]

Lost count of how many W123's I I've had. A mix of 240D's and 300D's. I grew up with those cars and diesels in general. I love & trust them. Robust and reliable. Also have a W126 300SD thats likely to have 7-800,000 miles on it. It has retired. A few W124's, couple 300E's one a TE 4matic and my daily driver, 87 300D turbo diesel that is about to have its OM603 swapped for an OM606! Hopfully a T56 6-speed too. The making of a superturbodiesel! My favorite and most missed Mercedes was a beautiful black W110 190D, the fantastic fintail! My family had it when I was a kiddo, me and dad took it out for nice Sunday drives once in a while. Loved that car, the look, the smell, the push/pull control for the starter/glow plugs..... Special!

[@Robert8455]

My mother owned 1972 280SE 3.5 (V-8) when we lived in Spain. Such a wonderful well built machine. We brought it from Spain to the U.S., paid dearly to convert it over to U.S. Specs. Unfortunately we did not get to enjoy it much after that and sold it for a ridiculously low amount when we had to move to Alaska. It has such a peppy motor and a transmission that would be eager and willing to bark the tires at will. Felt rock solid at high speed. Sorry we did not hang onto it.

[@missionDan]

i have this exact car, with injection and even the same maple yellow. the best thing about it is how classic it looks following from behind, with the tall windows and low body lines you can see the drivers head and shoulders, just looks cool

[@j1234ss]

Great videos

[@Hless421]

What an awesome video. Seems this time period was golden for MB. They came out with a lot of amazing automobiles around that time period and for years to come. Many, many years.

[@urgolf1974]

Beautiful car, nice story / music . But that stunning, genius camera work !

[@TRIUMPHINT]

Congratulations and thank you for her! This lady really deserves love and passion. She's beautiful, the first serie's are the nicest and this yellow's just great with her. Have a nice and long road together.

[@thetesla2348]

I agree with everything stated in this video. My 280se 4.5 has never failed to turn on. Beautiful, reliable cars

[@ArthurSperotto]

Oh God, the goosebumps....

[@PiotrTester]

Amazing car enriching - tests and opinions

[@ericp.9497]

I think I just fell in love with that car, too.

[@t.benani5186]

That's what Mercedes-Benz is all about, practicality and style at the same time. I love how its balanced

[@KUBR30]

Yep... Fog and a Merc, that's what fits perfectly to the Germany i live in ;)

[@silasmcgee3647]

Ladefehler_404 nothing is more beautiful to see and then a Merc in the fog

[@CreativeComander]

Wow sehr toll dieser wagen gefällt mir und der Bericht ist einfach nur klasse vielen Dank für diese Bereicherung

[@mixizettpitelka]

Sehr schön gemachter Film. Dem Eigentumer dieses W114 nimmt man jedes Wort ab. Ich habe selbst 2 Fahrzeuge aus dieser Baureihe gehabt. Sehr schöne und zuverlässige Fahrzeuge. Echte Mercedes-Benz.

[@Turbobuttes]

Great video, and I'd love to see one about the /8 coupe some other time in the future. Personally I think Bracq did an even greater job on it with its sunken roofline and pillarless windows that integrate into the shape of the car with their upright styling so fantastically.

[@paulnoack7018]

Überragend! Schöner Strich acht aus der Karlsruher Gegend...

[@simonsafi7589]

The story remain the same... Mercedes is and will be the best automobile in the world. I live my childhood admiring the amazing design of this car

[@jijopvarkey]

Beautiful

[@MINIben80]

tolles Video ;-)

[@HLife719]

As always you‘ve put together a tasteful , satisfying and interesting video. The icing on top is the unpretentious und likable owner/restorer. Perhaps my cars and I will qualify for an episode on Petrolicious some day. 😉

[@StuartOliver83]

Enjoy it buddy 👍🏻🇬🇧

[@Tight87]

:D geil, teilweise gefilmt auf der Schwarzwald Hochstraße ^^

[@TassieLorenzo]

What a car! :)

[@mescko]

'A very balanced shape'. German cars of the '70s and '80s fit that description well. We have 2 BMW E28s.

[@Blue-moon12]

I have just purchased a 1975 280. Beige leather is unmolested, needs a bit of body work and paint. Runs and drives like a dream.

[@AnthonySchnitzel]

Speaking of Mercedes, I am hoping for a SL Pagode... What a classic !

[@vitokhait9696]

The best channel

[@GuilhermeRochaDIRT3]

Finally some Mercedes love!

[@UgurAkdag]

Indeed a lovely car. The video depicts very intimate relationship between a man and his dear car, and she reflects this caring and attention very well.

[@silasmcgee3647]

Ugur Akdag This is why you take care of your car you love it it will love you back this video is a great example of such affection

[@alexandreanonimous7056]

I already tought about it once but the new mercedes are getting better and better in terms of design, luxury, engineering, confort. Now the off-road and high performance sportive versions also became so outstanding that only the new models makes it worth to buy a mercedes

[@Dr.Fiendish]

A beautiful thing indeed.

[@jlacc1]

wow. did not know that w114 came in with the 2.8 twin cam engine. I love the sound of this engine.

[@jonnylivesinbr]

Oh that carburator. I'll have to learn all the details of that damn solex one day.

[@dannygeuens8570]

Jeden serie von paul bracq ist super!!meine lieblingauto ist der w115 200 automatic auf boden 050 weiß innenausstattung blau baujahr 1971. Aber deine 280 automatic ist auch eine supermachin eine w114-115 fan!.

[@ZR1Gamer]

One of the best from Petrolicious :D

[@megamanski8183]

Dear petrolicious. . Please make a volvo 240 or 850 video. You only have a 1800 model video. Regards Johan

[@michaelmeliambro5117]

Don't encourage them!!!!

[@goldmartijn]

True story, I own a 1976 W123 280 6 cil. I think it has driven 300.000kms and it just never breaks down. REALLY decent cars!

[@Catimann]

Awesome, being German it was a super pleasure to listen to this. However I still had to read the subtitles even if some are wrong. Well I would have picked other words. Thanks for doing these in the original languages, I love the Italian ones too, don't understand them, love the flavour it gives them. Please do a Lada one.

[@guautovlog]

Que história linda. Parece a minha com meus Monzas.

[@NoahCinema]

What's the music in this?

[@laservader1]

Perfect.

[@PerfDayToday]

nice restore... what's the jazz soundtrack @Petrolcicious?

[@TheXsK]

what a beautiful car. I hope to see a BMW 2002 video from Petrolicious at some point!

[@pinzgauernorcal]

do you prefer the aluminum wheels or the hubcaps?

[@taylorjs2534]

I had the same car, but robin's egg blue. Loved it. Twin cam, but 2 valves/cylinder. Sound of engine was amazing. But, it burned oil and was not as reliable as this one. View over the front from driver's seat was great.

[@herrbela84]

Wählhebel am Lenkrad, geil :)

[@lenniebruce]

Classic Benz!

[@RamuPradip]

B500, schwarzwald hochstrasse! :)

[@jehl1963]

Nice moody video, but no sounds of the M-B 6-cylinder growling under acceleration?! Just about every other Petrolicious video has ample recordings of the cars engine being worked. Why nothing for this car??? My uncle (in Germany) had one of those engines in the 280 SE and I was lucky enough to drive it a few times. The engine sounded just as nice as a BMW straight-6.

[@itxfilms3125]

Apologies for that. The bad weather alongside the terrible sight and the cold (icy mounatin hills ain't no fun...) made it nearly impossible to drive it at more than 30km/h without being totally reckless, so we decided to not do it.

[@lptomtom]

itx Films Great job nonetheless, you guys are very talented!

[@tonytiger943]

I really enjoyed this atmospheric video; thank you 😊. I have a 1969 W114 250/8 saloon. I'm in Australia. It is hard to find metal repair panels here. Does anyone know a suppler that will ship internationally? It looks like the OP had to do the same sheet metal repairs I have to do. A lot of work, but a labour of love. Beautiful result here 😍🚙💨🇩🇪

[@uhugvjkbkjh]

What a great film. There are still many of these in Thailand (and Bangkok) and I think I will buy one as my first car. I've seen one in great condition with a white steering wheel, 5000 euros is ok.

[@Jimi_7-7-7]

Great video! If I want to compare the 280 w114 with the carburetor M110 engine… what is the consumption per 100 km? I know that's less important with a classic car, but it just interests me. The old / originally 12.5l specification is certainly no longer correct after all the time I guess. Many are talking about 14-17l. Is that true? I‘m on my search for a good w114/w115 👍

[@Any_Friday]

This is when Mercedes knew how to build a car, not the crap they produce today!

[@k-rexkowjareun7016]

goodcar

[@AmesiesCorner]

These are the Mercs that all the people who own new Mercedes expected to buy, something that will run nearly forever with very little going wrong. What they get is expensive cars that after the warranty is up it's a pretty piece of junk with miserable resale value. A 6 year old Benz with over 100,000 miles is a sure bet for a bunch of aggravating issues and persistent warning messages for the next $1000 service.

[@TheMetalButcher]

Amen. Old mercs were the best in the world, new ones are garbage.

[@zsoltpodgornik3994]

***** In my 1985 300td the odometer reads 556k kilometers. Matchings numbers, Engine never overhauled, gearbox, rear diff also original. you know, w123 is the beginning of the leichtbau era.

[@AmesiesCorner]

***** I believe him those are the Mercs I'm talking about. The mid eighties early nineties will run forever just like the old ones what I'm talking about is the newer ones that are crap..

[@zsoltpodgornik3994]

When the cluch disk have been changed (oops it's not original...) the Burgman needed to be changed too - with some experience you can see many things. But keep calm I don't ask you to believe me

[@freibier]

Amesie's Corner Yes, the 80s/early 90s Mercedes (especially the Diesel versions) were built to last. Like the guy in the video said, back then all the parts were designed to be able to handle much more than what they ever experienced in normal usage. Even the paint was much thicker than it is today. There is a reason that the stereotypical German taxi of that time is a Mercedes Diesel - one million km is nothing for them. And then in the late 90s the accountants took over.

[@TheCatMilton]

I see these driving regularly in Dallas TX.

[@isaaclemasters8432]

That white wagon pulling the bother benz on a trailer.... ahhhhhh I love the rear air suspension on those wagons that made that possible.... Seriously.... 1500lbs of auto self leveling.... boss

[@rabidraccoonrabies]

Beautiful video. Does anyone recognize the name of the song playing in the background? I would love to know.

[@carlostn]

rabidraccoonrabies I'm looking for it too!

[@anthonyalet343]

Did you ever find out what the was ?

[@tulsatombob2769]

I owned 2 1972 280 SEL's. One I drove for a couple of years with no problems. The other one I sold to a friend and after he drove it for 2 months, everything on the car broke. It was a money pit and it cost my friend probably $10-12 thousand dollars to keep it running. He only paid me $4,000 and when it was all done, he still only had a car worth $6, 000 and had invested $14,000-16,000. Plus it only got 10 MPG! It was a monster on the highway with the 4.5 V8, but hardly worth all the maintenance.

[@Focusonbehind]

What the hell, parts ain't that expensive and most of them can be repaired or done by anyone. Geez

[@khunopie9159]

S Class is wunderbar!

[@chimpynews7208]

Extremely reliable, confortable car. You dont need to be fast with this car, cause its a little piece of eternity crossing the road.

[@suede7799]

BEAUTY

[@joeysarmiento1925]

What's the music?

[@John-YV]

Anyone know the piano song at the beginning?

[@coscorrodrift]

Nice car, maybe in future episodes a newer W124 E500? Or some AMG magic!

[@VioletGiraffe]

W124 is so mainstream, and at the same time so outdated. At least in my eyes.

[@coscorrodrift]

VioletGiraffe But the 500E is anything but mainstream! Hand built in cooperation with Porsche; 5,7 0-62; NA 5.0 V8; and with lots of parts from the SL performance roadster series. And all of that in a midsize sedan from the 90's!

[@MarquisRex]

coscorrodrift I have a W124 400 E- incredible value for money compared to the others

[@bennyhannover9361]

I am born '68 and for my generation this 280 with the double bumpers was the revelation for us 10,0 0-63 and revving up to 6000 was already. I remember my dad bringing us to a family party in 1979 with such a 280, handshifted and he asked my grandma : how fast are we going ? She said I suppose 90km/h(56m/h), my dad said: we have passed 140 km/h already a while ago (88m/h) and the six was still purring like a kitten. ( On the Bundesstrasse between Lueneburg and Hamburg I have to add)

[@Sanpedranoazul]

Do you have any W123?

[@dixy2k]

The models which created the really good image for MB. It all changed around with W210.

[@hpwan2]

+D. Alex Oprea w210 is one ugly car... they tried to improve the concept in w211 and finally gave up in w212/213

[@zhemin]

Nice Modified Gaggia Classic ^.^

[@mercedesbenzformula1]

Great video. I love the w114/115 /8. There is a small mistake in the description though. This is a 280 /8 not a 280S. A 280S is a W108 or a W116 and not a W114. The W116 280S used the same M110 as the 280 W114 mentioned in the video but W108 used the M130, an enlarged version version of the older M180 which was first unveiled in the 1951.

[@tarransanders21]

Amazing shots in this one. Where was it shot?

[@itxfilms3125]

This was shot on the famous Schwarzwaldhochstraße in Germany. And around a week later it was all covered in snow.

[@tarransanders21]

Wow. The fog really adds to the dreaminess of the video.