One of the little thrills that comes with being a car enthusiast is that which arises when, by chance, one encounters a car from the internet in person. When said car is parked, it’s an opportunity to investigate further, looking for the little details–distinct imperfections or unique traits that stick out, a dent on the rear quarter panel, a bumper sticker, an odd accessory–that can confirm that the car is in fact the one last seen on Craigslist three weeks ago. The odds of seeing the same car from your local craigslist parked or driving around your city are probably not that long, but it is nonetheless interesting to when it does happen.
This was not one of those situations. When I saw this car driving down my block in DC one Saturday morning in the waning days of summer, no further investigation was necessary to confirm a match. How often does one run across a convertible W115 240D after all?
How many could even exist?
I remember running across an eBay listing for this car last year, with the location listed as Arizona. Perhaps that makes sense for such a unique beast, W115s are prone to rusting and, with a mid-70s A/C system, the arid climate would make a logical home for such a car, if such a car can even have a logical home.
The small cloud of smoke flowing from the exhaust pipe as it drove by (with the top down!) might suggest it was in need of some attention mechanically, but it actually looked and sounded fine other than that.
Well, as fine as a 240D convertible with a maroon top could look anyway.
Unfortunately, I missed my first chance to snap a few pictures, but I was thrilled when I ran into the car again last week, this time parked up, giving me the chance to snag a few photos and do some investigating.
When I first came across this car on eBay I assumed it must be a hack job, but the conversation actually looks quite well done in person.
After I got home I did some more sleuthing and actually found that the car was listed for sale on several sites I had never heard of. According to the ads this is a 1975 240D with only 59,000 miles on it. The ad claims the car had been garage kept and, judging by the condition of the body and exterior trim, I believe it.
Interestingly, the conversion is said to have been made in 2015 by Newport Specialty Cars Inc. in Huntington Beach, California. The top does appear tight and well-fitting and the rear window even looks to be of decent quality. The only critiques I really have are conceptual and aesthetic, and the latter really only applies to the cheap looking diamond pattern red and black interior seat upholstery, certainly a downgrade from the original pattern dark red MB-Tex, which would have acquitted this oddball well, in my opinion. I also have to commend the previous owner for the daring choice of color for the top which on second thought, actually looks surprisingly good.
On the conceptual level, I’m not sure what would motivate someone to chop the top off of a well preserved and rust free w115, but hey, the top is apparently functioning and I’m sure it’s a blast to drive this around town with it folded down.
From the ad, it even seems like the roll hoop is well done and integrated into the design of the car. At the very least, it must serve to keep the car from folding in on itself, though I shudder to think about how it would stand up to a rollover.
I just wonder what went into the decisions on this one, as I’m sure there’s an interesting backstory or at least one interesting character involved. There are just so many gaps to fill in. Someone must have really wanted to have a convertible 240D, and must have spent a lot of money to get one, as the conversion doesn’t seem like the backyard hack job I initially suspected, and it’s still driving around nearly 5 years later. Surely an R107 could have been had for close to the cost of the conversation if not less, and that would have made a fine stablemate to clean, rust free, 240D. So what led someone to commission this?
Perhaps we’ll never know.
The car seems to be for sale now in Maryland though it wears historic Virginia plates. Maybe I will see it around again and get a chance to chat with the owner and get the story, which is sure to be an interesting one!
So many questions.
Like you, I had assumed it was a period conversion. Why someone would likely invest so much (likely exceeding the actual value of the car itself) converting a 40-year old 240D into a convertible almost defies belief. A diesel!
The end result isn’t all that attractive, I’m sad to say (at least with the top up). You can almost sense the Sawzall in the door frames, and the rear window opening no longer matches the door thanks to the huge amounts of fabric where the rear quarter windows used to be.
A REAL Sawzall – with a good blade
Almost unbelievable. If it weren’t for a quick visit to Newport Specialty Cars’ website, I might still be convinced it was a fake.
http://newportspecialtycars.com/index.php/category/custom-convertible-cars/
Of course it still doesn’t explain a few things in my mind.
I visited that page, and I’m curious as to why anyone would have Newport Customs convert a fixed-roof Camaro into a convertible, when a factory-built one could undoubtedly be had for less money.
And even if the conversion is cheaper, I’d seriously question its structural integrity. Hell, I’d still question it at nearly any price, compared to a factory-built one.
Until you see it with the top down, assume its a faux convertible.
I hope it has a French-fry oil conversion, as my 240D was definitely not even a make-believe clean diesel.
If it did, you’d be constantly hungry when the top’s down!
I saw this car last week. It looks great in real life. Can’t explain the cost/benefit but you’re sure to have the only one on the block. The cost of most cars new cars beyond 25k in the US doesn’t make sense as far as utility in return, but I do it anyway.
That would seem to be a long shot. The only thing odder than turning that car into a real convertible, would be turning it into a fake convertible.
Access to the back seat is quite awkward with the top up. Yuck!
I’m not sure I’d like a diesel with my convertible top. The smells of other cars in stop and go are bad enough without bringing along your Eau-De-Kenworth along with you, not to mention the soundtrack.
My thoughts exactly. Throughout history, there haven’t been many manufacturers who offered diesel convertibles. I‘ve always assumed noise, and until fairly recently, fumes, were the primary reasons.
This seems like a “parade car” – in the fashion of its contemporary sibling the 600 Grand Pullman. But that was for the pope, Tito or Mobutu. For whom is this car?
I guess the 240D would be OK for a parade – until that emergency getaway would be needed. But then whose parade?
The star on the trunk is off by 180 degrees. Does that mean anything?
This can’t be a parade car. The average marching band would overtake it too easily
I’m afraid so, most likely. Or, it would be a crowd of slow march
Almost, almost.
Republic Of China still uses Lincoln Town Car for this purpose,
“Seemed like a good idea til they delivered the car, and we sobered up”
Main question is “WHY?”
Newport Custom Cars was formerly named Newport Convertible Engineering and was owned by a man named Al Zadeh. He’d convert(ible) virtually anything. In the early 2000s he would do a PT Cruiser for around $10,000…add $3,000 for a power top. A Car and Driver report said his work was okay but choice of materials was only middlung. They implied that they weren’t quite up to the level of the standard PT, which at the time was a cut above a typical sub-$20,000 car. But the mechanicals seemed to be done well.
What a coincidence – I used to own a Newport Custom. Wait, what?
It’s ugly with the top up and it’s ugly with the top down. Plus being really expensive and really slow. I am not sure I see the point. I like these old Benz’s pretty well, but would take a hard pass on this one, even if they came down to $3k and would deliver it to my door for free.
I don’t want it if someone came to the door for free and offered me $3000 to take it.
Hopefully there’s an appreciative owner out there somewhere
The first thing that pops into my mind is just because you CAN do something, it doesn’t always mean that you SHOULD.
That applies to things besides cars as well; ask me how I know.
With the top up, it reminds me of the Volvo 262c Bertone. Not a flattering comparison.
Reminds me of my ’67 Impala ‘convertible’. Four door sports sedan with the roof cut off. At least mine had frameless windows.
This looks to me like someone’s lame attempt at cashing in on the high-value 280SE convertible market on the cheap. Can’t afford the real thing? No problemo. Here’s a big Mercedes convertible for half the price. No one will know the difference…
That cut down job doesnt quite work, too many doors left on now if the front two had been lengthened with a section cut from the back doors and those welded shut and the seams bogged over it would be almost nice,
What a coincidence — I saw the eBay auction for this car and saved it with vague thoughts of placing a low bid and seeing what might happen, and now the car is in my city, parked in front of a Sunoco station that I know.
Thanks for spotting this car and posting about it, and glad to see another Washington, DC area resident active here.
Interesting – any ideas where the roof came from? Bespoke would surely be very expensive.
Four door convertibles are always unusual – was the roof rusted out that it led to this, and was the chassis beefed up adequately? Overall, it looks like it’s in good shape, but the three-pointed star on the back is upside down. Someone mentioned a 107SL in the comments earlier – I saw a late model 280SL the other day, but it hasn’t been registered since 2011.