1963 Mercedes-Benz 220 b review from South Africa

I was stranded without fuel once, right when I just got the car, because the previous owner failed to mention that the fuel guage was inaccurate when empty. Otherwise, runs like a dream.

The wipers worked incorrectly, which I fixed myself by adjusting the linkage from the motor (15 minute job).

My brake lights stopped working after getting caught in a severe storm - water must have gotten in somewhere.

As many people, I have found myself frustrated by the bland boxes they call cars these days. Strange, considering that I am not even 22 yet - so I can't go on rambling about "Back in my day..." :-) I have an obsession with 1960's cars, and last year I spent my life savings on an AC Cobra - I was fortunate enough to be able to do this, as I am a Web Architect at the Stock Exchange. I stopped driving my ratty Opel, and drove the Cobra every day. There is nothing on the road that matches the sound and pure lust - not to mention unsophisticated speed - of the Cobra. But I felt I was ruining the car driving it every day, and it was time for something more "practical", and relegate the Cobra to weekend driving.

I did some research, and bought my Pearl Blue 220b from a person who had bought it from the original owner and completely overhauled the engine etc.

Driving a car like this is such a different experience. Sheer quality if evident in everything - the (big) seats sit like fine old white leather couches, the heavy doors open and close with a light touch. The accelerator and clutch pedals are so light to step on, it almost feels wrong.

I am used to rocketing along at illegal speeds in the Cobra, but cruising along at 90km/h on the highway is strangely not frustrating, as I am taken back to a laid-back era just sitting in this car.

I specifically wanted a pre-'64 model, because it still has the "old" features - no orange indicator lenses in the back, a foot pedal (!!!) for adjusting headlights (high beam/brights), and the old style "solid" vertical headlamps.

This car is a real looker, and gets almost as much attention as the Cobra :)

I can truly recommend the experience to anybody who wants to "slow down" their stressed pace of life, especially if they get one in such perfect condition as I was lucky to enough to obtain. I use this car daily - it never overheats in our severe summer temps, has good fuel consumption, and seats 6 if it has to!

Wish they'd invented Air Conditioning in '63 though :-)