This 50-Year-Old Mercedes W114 Comes From A Time When Cars Were Supposed To Last Forever

The pictured Mercedes-Benz W114 that will soon be listed for sale by a specialized dealer in Poland is a testament to the German automaker’s reliability and timeless design. Vehicles like this that remain fully functional five decades after they came out of the factory show that back in the ’70s, cars were built to last a lot more than today’s short product cycles, sometimes outliving their original owners.

The pictured model is a Mercedes-Benz W114 230.6 series produced between 1973 and 1976. It has the classic four-door saloon bodystyle designed by Paul Bracq with vertically arranged headlights, a large grille, and the iconic greenhouse, all highlighted by a healthy dose of chrome.

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According to KlasykaGatunku.pl, the car remained in the hands of a single family for all those years, which kind of explains the impeccable condition for its age. It has traveled 145,000 km (90,000 miles) since it left the dealership back in the ’70s and comes with hundreds of pages of detailed service and maintenance documentation.

While the post suggests that the W114 “still needs work” including polishing and throughout cleaning of the cabin, its state is very good considering its age and mileage. There are no marks, dents, or scratches on the exterior with the chrome still shining like new. Similarly, the cabin looks classy and luxurious with a sunroof and light-colored upholstery on the comfy seats contrasting the black shade of the dashboard.

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As suggested by the 230 badge on the tailgate, under the bonnet lies a 2.3-liter six-cylinder petrol engine mated to an automatic transmission that is powering the rear wheels. Those mils may be old but they have proven their durability covering hundreds of thousands of miles in similar vehicles that have been widely used as taxis all around the world.

The W114 sedan and W115 coupe produced between 1968 and 1976 were the great grandmothers of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Just like its successor the W123, the W114 is known for its reliability with many of the 1.9 million units that left the factory remaining fully functional today. We don’t know the price of this W114 but we are sure that the new owner will cherish it for many more years to come.

Photos by KlasykaGatunku.pl, Facebook