Crayford Wagon available on ebay USA

[John Hubertz]

Way overpriced - but if you want one, where else would you get it?

Great ad - reads like a history.

[oscar]

Oh no, where's the link?  I was up for a read.  Plus I wanted to see what the size of those bundts were.  They look suspicously like 15" ones.  The car looks stunning.

[Bandolero]

Here 'tiz.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-400-Series-450-SEL-Mercedes-Benz-1977-450-SEL-Crayford-Estate-Wagon_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6331QQihZ008QQitemZ180286575049QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[GreaseMonkey]

That looks great, and a good price. definitely worth getting, even including shipping and duties, and if you don't mind LHD that is probably as good as it gets.
Nice colour too.
There is that nicely restored blue one in Germany, but otherwise if you want one, go for it. I will spend at least that getting mine back to concours, if I could persuade 'her-who-must-be-obeyed' I would be on it right away.
The small rust areas and stress cracks match mine exactly, seems to be standard on these, but can be fixed.
Here is the link;
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180286575049&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:us
Check it out, and get bidding, Wasabi could use a playmate.
Chris M.

[oscar]

Ah thanks guys.  Great reading and has to be amongst the rarest of w116's surely.  Though there was a 6.9 crayford or two as well wasn't there?  And I've just realised the fact it's an SEL, Most would be SE's aren't they?  So many questions
I love that red.  Medium red I think it is.  Did you see the Q & A?

Q:  I remember seeing this car on US 23 south of Ann Arbor, MICH, in about late 1977 or early 1978. I was doing 100mph and it passed me. dlm
Answered on Sep-08-08   
A:  Hi, I guess it's an impressive car that you would remember it after 31 years! And you probably thought, there is no such car! Regards, Gary


Fantastic

[GreaseMonkey]

Ah thanks guys.  Great reading and has to be amongst the rarest of w116's surely.  Though there was a 6.9 crayford or two as well wasn't there?  And I've just realised the fact it's an SEL, Most would be SE's aren't they?  So many questions
I love that red.  Medium red I think it is.  Did you see the Q & A?

Yeah, nice colour. I am not sure how many were SEL, but John Green is restoring an Astral Silver 450SEL and his blue wagon is a 280SEL. I heard a rumour that one in Germany was to be rebuilt as a 6.9, and I know of an owner in England who had thought of doing the same, whether he will remains to be seen, but I have never heard of an original Crayford conversion on a 6.9. If there is one out there, that would be the Holy Grail!
Chris M.

[nathan]

i like the look of the house in the background oddly enough!
that and the estate badge i havent seen on other crayfords....

there is a guy on m-100.cc who has a 6.9 crayford, he uses it to tow his 6.3 to shows!  now there is a legend

[MB_Mike]

Gorgeous! My heart is a flutter and my wallet empty. 

Do you suppose the spare doesn't fit in the compartment because they are in fact 15" bundts?

[GreaseMonkey]

that and the estate badge i havent seen on other crayfords....
Crayford being a British company called it an ESTATE which is Pom-speak for Station Wagon. Some had the badge, some not.
there is a guy on m-100.cc who has a 6.9 crayford, he uses it to tow his 6.3 to shows!  now there is a legend

If you are refering to John Olsen's car it was in fact a conversion made in Germany by Pollman, not a Crayford. Although Crayford did list a 6.9 in their price list, none are known to exist.
Chris M.

[GreaseMonkey]

i like the look of the house in the background oddly enough!
that and the estate badge i havent seen on other crayfords....

Crayford being a British company called it an ESTATE which is Pom-speak for Station Wagon. Some had the badge, some not.
Chris M.

[oscar]

Do you suppose the spare doesn't fit in the compartment because they are in fact 15" bundts?

Speaking of which, where does the spare go?  I mean, I know it must be under the carpet, but would the original spare wheel well still be part of the chassis.   You'd think if the 15" tyre had the same rolling diameter as a stock 14" tyre there shouldn't be a problem.  And were do they put the fuel tank?

[GreaseMonkey]

The fuel tank is a wide flat one under the floor, I guess they had to make one to fit the space available, keep a flat floor, and hold at least 80litres (I have never dared try to run it to empty).
The spare sits in a well on the left, and there is a fitted cover made from the same carpet material with a pocket for the warning triangle.
Never having had a W116 sedan myself, I am not sure how much this arrangement differs from standard M-B, but certainly the tyre cover is a tight fit.
Having said that, these were hand built, to order, not more than twenty made over a five year span, so it's not surprising that those that do exist all seem to have minor differences.
I know the blue one in Germany looks great, the two in UK both have rust issues, and mine and JG's are the only two runners here, so given the apparent condition, spec and rarity, I would say that price is about fair.
Mine was cheaper but I have spent a lot on it to make it driveable, and will spend a lot more before it's done.
The ebay car has minor, apparently standard Crayford, body problems but is otherwise a seemingly good low-mileage 450, and even the LHD should not put anyone off.
If I didn't already have one, I would be interested.
Go for it forumsters!
Chris M.

[Markz116]

WOW!

Being that I don't know nearly as much as you all do about 116s, I had NO idea there was an estate version! Guess I have to pay more attention.

But this is amazing. Sorry for being such a noob haha.