Fintail'd: 1962 Mercedes-Benz 220SE

You know what 10 grand cash with get you at the new car showrooms across this country?  Nothing.  Zip.  Zilch. Nada.  Not even a stripped out power-nothin econobox from an emerging region.  Even the most basic cars are quite expensive when you get 'em fresh from the factory.  But head over to the used side of the world and suddenly 10 thousand smackeroos can get you something that makes you look like a drug kingpin or a warlord from one of those emerging regions.  Find this 1962 Mercedes-Benz 220SE here on eBay offered for $9995 or best-offer located in Palm Springs, CA.

4-Speed Heckflosse: 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230

The W110 fintail (Heckflosse in German) generation of Mercedes-Benz executive class sedans was built in 2 series from 1961 through 1968.  Today, the W110 won't be on the podium at any drag races, but it offers a leisurely approach to vintage car ownership.  Find this 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230 here on eBay bidding for $2,801 with 2 days to go, located in Fort Wayne, IN. 

Hecka Flossin': 1967 Mercedes-Benz 200D

If you're one of those kinds of car guys (don't worry, I am too) you'll automatically recite both the official German nickname for this car and it's far less imposing sounding anglicized translation the instant you see the photo below. In 1950s America tail fins were all the rage in car design, and even staid old Daimler Benz decided to add a few pieces of flair to their Eisenhower era volume-model sedan, if a bit late to the party. In Deutsch, es isst die Heckflossen, but in the land of EPA-induced mine disasters we call it the Fintail.  Find this 1967 Mercedes-Benz 200D for sale in Campbell, CA for $7,900 via craigslist. Tip from Fueltruck.

5k: Vintage Bomber: 1967 Mercedes Benz 230 W110

 The Mercedes-Benz W110 is a classic sedan from the mid sixties and has gained the nickname Heckflosse (German for Fintail).  Technically, the rear fins were called peilstege (German for sightlines) and weren't designed for aerodynamic stability, but to help the driver find the ends of the car when backing up. A decent running/driving example with nice paint for less than $4k seems almost too good to be true.  You be the judge.  Find this 1967 Mercedes Benz 230 offered here on craigslist for $3300 located in Fresno, CA. Tip from FuelTruck.

5k: Ze Old School: 1967 Mercedes-Benz 230S W110

We gave the Autostick Beetle a severe verbal beating yesterday ostensibly because it is a preposterously slow car to drive.  How can it be that the very next day we can wax nostalgic about a similarly slow car also saddled with an autotragic transmission?  Because driving an autostick Beetle makes you look like a poor dick, while driving a fintail Benz makes you look like a poor dictator.  Small suffixes make a big difference.  Find this 1967 Mercedes-Benz 230S currently bidding for $5,100 on eBay with 3 days to go, located in Riverside, CA.

5k: Right Hand Drive: 1967 Mercedes Benz 200 W110

The W110 Heckflosse (German for fintail) was a 4-cylinder powered executive class sedan built in Germany between 1961 and 1968.  It was the baby-brother to the high-end W111 chassis that later transformed into today's S-Class.  Regardless, the economical W110 has its own set of fans today, mostly people who appreciate it for its simplicity, style and economy.  Find this 1967 Mercedes Benz 200 W110 offered for $6,000 in San Gabriel, CA via craigslist.

5k: Hecka Cheap: 1965 Mercedes-Benz 190C Heckflosse

The W110 Heckflosse (Fintail) was built from 1961-1968 as the affordable 4-cylinder option from Mercedes-Benz and is instantly recognizable from its 50's throwback tailfins and single headlights with vestigial pontoon styling up front.  With an automatic transmission, the W110 will be excruciatingly slow car in today's traffic, but it exudes a charm, charisma and tank-like solidity that is unmatched by the cookie-cutter crap that is squeezed from the sphincters of today's automobile factories.  Find this 1965 Mercedes Benz 190C Heckflosse offered for $3,600 near Portland, OR via craigslist.  Another great tip from the tipper only known as FuelTruck. 

5k: Time Machine: 1964 Mercedes-Benz 220S W111 Heckflosse

The Mercedes-Benz W111 chassis will be forever remembered as the Heckflosse, for its small fins in the sedan version, but it could as easily be remembered for introducing the world's first front & rear crumple zones or the use of Mercedes' patented retractable seat belts.  Drive a W111 sedan today and it won't make you feel like a F1 driver, but more like a Sheikh or a Sultan.  It will remind you of years past when Sheikhs and Sultans didn't have to keep an eye out for predator drones and could just cruise the desert with five favorites from the harem -- searching for an oasis when petrol was only ع.د500 dinar per gallon.  Find this 1964 Mercedes-Benz 220S W111 Heckflosse for $5,900 in Long Beach, CA via craigslist.

5k: Desperately Seeking Horsepower: 1967 Mercedes-Benz 200D Heckflosse W110

The W110 Heckflosse (German for fintail) was a 4-cylinder powered sedan built in Germany between 1961 and 1968.  It was the baby-brother to the higher end W111 that later morphed into the modern S-Class, but the W110 has its own set of fans today, mostly people who appreciate it for its simplicity and economy. It's even more economical when equipped with a manual transmission.  Find this 1967 Mercedes-Benz 200D Heckflosse for sale in Ventura, CA for $5,500 via craigslist.

5k Flash: Beware Of Wet Paint: 1967 Mercedes-Benz 230 W110 Heckflosse

This 1967 Mercedes-Benz 230 W110 Heckflosse (Fintail) is currently for sale in Ashburn, VA for $3,450 with a few hours to go.  The car is currently offered on a no-reserve auction and is going to cheap, but it has recently had a respray that the seller admits has some flaws...and everybody knows those sort of flaws only get worse as paint job ages in the first few months.  Still, its a lot of vintage metal for the money.

5k: Last Of The FinTails: 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230 S W111 Heckflosse Sedan 4spd

The Mercedes-Benz W111 was the equivalent of an S-Class Mercedes in the mid sixties and has gained the nickname Heckflosse (German for Fintail).  Technically the rear fins were called peilstege (German for sightlines) and weren't designed for aerodynamic stability, but to help the driver find the ends of the car when backing up.  We would welcome such appendages in most modern sedans whose monstrously high belt lines (for "style") have turned locating the bumper into a game of bumper tag.  Ironic that a modern S-Class lacks both the style and function of a classic W111.  This 1966 Mercedes-Benz W111 Heckflosse is for sale in frosty Anchorage, AK via craiglist for the hot price of $5,500.  Thanks for the tip from ANCMatt.

5k: 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230 Fintail Hechflosse

We at the DT love classic 60s/70s/80s Mercedes cars for good looks, rock solid build quality (before the marketing weenies in the unholy Daimler-Chrysler years took over and forced engineering to compromise quality in an exchange for wild dreams of market share) and they are rarely seen in the wild.  The 4 door W110 sedans are a bargain today and we originally we had our eye on a 67 MBZ 200 on ebay (bidding at $1425 reserved not met)- but then we found this 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230 Hechflosse on craigslist for $3950 located in SF Bay Area, CA.