Keine Slushbox: 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300E 5-Speed

Tank-like build quality and engineering to avoid or withstand assassination attempts are hallmarks of the W124 generation of Benz. The cost that came nearly always was the mandate for an automatic transmission, especially in the more powerful models. Alas, one can have their bombproof cake and eat it too. Find this 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300E 5-Speed for sale in Huntington Beach, CA for $2,000 via craigslist.

 From across the internet, the car looks to be in decent shape and appears well cared for over the years. Clear signal lights are the anklet or choker of the used car world. Though reversible, it doesn't necessarily mean stay away but it may point to a history that you may not want to know about.

The owner claims that the motor was rebuilt two years prior, however, states there are no receipts. The 'who' and 'how' of this rebuild could be the necessary information to determine if this is benefit or detriment to the car, as opposed to swapping a used motor that hasn't been opened up.

Aside from some cracking leather, the interior has stood the test of time as well as the body. There does appear to be a fair amount of recent maintenance which could lead to some cheap operating costs for the next guy.

See a cheaper, faster manual Benz? email us here: tips@dailyturismo.com

Matt, a self-proclaimed bottom-feeder of the classic car market, spends half of his time buying cars, half of his time retrieving them, and the remaining third on keeping them on the road.