My birthday is coming up in a few months, and in honor of turning [<error>/invalid_key], I’m considering indulging my love for classics and buying an antique Benz. I started my idle browsing at Auto Trader, but was disappointed when I quickly learned they cut their inventory off at the 1981 model year. That’s when I made a new discovery, a nondescript little link located beneath the Auto Trader year selection criteria titled simply, Auto Trader Classics. It’s probably been there for months, but in my pursuit of the ever-elusive 2008 Volvo S80 V8 with in-dash nav [come on Vo – you’re dragging your feet with standard equipment that’s technologically relevant, and I’m losing patience], I’ve never had a reason to search for models manufactured prior to my birth year [no, pencil and paper will not be provided, use mental math].

So I set off in uncharted waters for Auto Trader Classics, and I spent the first half hour or so sifting through 40+ year old Mercedes-Benz’s that cost more than a brand new one. Beautiful rides - but not exactly what I was looking for, I wanted something that hit that sweet spot between “total resto rod” and “complete p.o.s.” Before I decided to junk [har-har] the whole mission and hit eBayMotors, I noticed the “cars under 5k” tab and thought I’d give it a shot. I wasn’t expecting much more than rusted out frames, but hey, nothing venture, nothing gained…

…so I began half-heartedly perusing the ads when lo, a great light shone from the Heavens and there before my eyes stood a 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280S with 92950 original miles.

Single family owned, always garaged, never seen snow. I think I just found my g-spot.

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