Aggie, 1968 Mercedes Benz W108 280S
This is my 1968 Mercedes Benz W108 280S (Aggie). It was my first car. Somehow my parents decided that a gas guzling classic tank was a good starter car. My friends thought that I had left the planet. The problem was that I got the car 3 years before I got a license.
In one of my pre-license journeys some silly chick in a Golf 3 skipped a dead robot and T-boned my the concourse classic. That was in 2000. So I drove around with two operational but very dented doors up until mid 2007. I stopped using Aggie as my daily car in 2002 when I got a Corsa Lite (bleh) and then my current 2003 Corsa 1.6 Sport (which is actually a great car) (My current vehicle is a Merc A170 Auto , it’s amazing how the feel of the car is unchanged from my 1968 W108. Keep up the consistency Mercedes Benz!) . This year with the kind assistance of ABSA I sent Aggie to the beauty salon. I had two old doors from another W108 that I found on a farm in the Eastern Cape.
So here she is in all her magnificence.
I used Guilo Sabbatini Auto Stylists, who did a very good job matching the paint (although one can see a slight difference) and doing the required panel beating. I would recommend them, they did however forget to put back some minor items which I now need to buy from Mercedes Benz.
BTW getting parts for any Merc from 1898 up is no problem, you may have to sell a kidney for some parts however.
There are still a few small mechanical issues with the car, but it is completely drivable. I normally take it to German Auto-Haus in Randburg, who while expensive do a relatively good job.
Enjoy the photos.
October 21st, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Cool car man
September 6th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Magnificent car. I have been planning to get myself one, but my dad scared me
I might have to spend a lot of resources to get it perfectly running. He say that since these
are heavy cars, are pronr to ball joints and tie rod end problems and if
the parts are not readily available
I might get stranded an be force to give it away.
September 7th, 2009 at 8:53 am
I haven’t heard of those problems. Parts are relatively easy to come by, sometimes they are cheap and sometimes expensive. Mercedes Benz, through their classic center provide parts for all of their cars, all they way back to 1898.
Currently Aggie, needs the gearbox redone. And that is expensive to fix, and I can’t do that by myself.
October 12th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
On friday the 9th, I found a scrap yard where they have 5-6
W108, may be if you contact them you can
Score yourself a gearbox
And other spares
November 29th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Hello
Im restoring an 1969 W108 280S, where can I get parts for this car? Im not going to pay the price Mercedes asks me.
November 29th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Yes, merc can be a bit expensive.
I found doors for mine on a farm in the Eastern Cape. So hunting through scrap yards is an option. I also recommend joining the Mercedes Benz Club of South Africa. Their forum has lots of tips and tricks. You also get to insure your car for around R1000 a year, if you are a club member. (ask me for details).
November 30th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Ross, please e-mail me on chuckyd@telkomsa.net I joined the club about a week ago
January 4th, 2010 at 10:26 am
I also have a 69 280s which I bought last year. I need to arrange insurance and re-do the diff and propshaft.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
I don’t allow people’s email addresses on this site for their protection. Please don’t post your email address in the message body,
March 26th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Cool Car. Very jealous.
Kholo could you send us more details of the scrap yards.
Any body else know of car parts around.
April 6th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Hi Guys
I am an old Merc lover myself, I have 2, If you are looking for an extremely competent Mechanic, I know a gentlemen named Peter, he keeps my cars in tip top condition. For a more than reasonable price. He is great at Gearboxes by the way @ross
Please get my email address from the website. I will be more than happy to give Peter’s details to any and all Merc lovers
For those looking for parts, Mercedes directly are great, however I don’t know how they do their pricing as some items seem very reasonable and others very dear! However found a place in PTA called Imcomex, they import quality OE spec parts direct from Germany for less than the dealers. Also a place called CJ auto in Edenvale JHB has a great selection of second hand and refurbished merc spares, everything from mag wheels to entire Dashboards.
Ryan
May 24th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
I can not find right wishbone for my car. Can somebody help me
Thanks in advance
Sany