The Facts :
1974 Mercedes-Benz 200 (W115)
Engine M115 2000 cc , 4 Cylinders, Carbureted
Power 95 brake horse power @ 5000 RPM
Torque 120 lb-ft @ 2900 RPM
Transmission 4-speed manual ,
Weight 1335 kg
0-62 mph 14 seconds
Top Speed 100 MPH
Fuel Consumption 25.5 MPG
Years produced 1968-1974
Overview :
The W114/W115 or stroke 8 models were a big success and their enduring elegance and bombproof mechanicals make them affordable classics for the Mercedes enthusiasts of today.
Words and images: The Editor (some facts are taken from various sources)
Mercedes model designation codes have a well known tendency to be rather confusing, but of all the Mercedes model ranges, this one has got to be the most confusing. Regardless of fuel type and body style, all the six cylinder models were designated as W114s and all the four cylinder models were W115s. To make things simpler and to help differentiate them from earlier ‘Fintail’ W110 models, since 1968, they are collectively known as /8 or stroke-8 (strich-8 as it is called in german). The "stroke-8" name comes from the designation for the 1968 model year cars - they were informally called "W114/8" and "W115/8" the first year. This name stuck in common usage even after the "W114/9" was introduced in 1969. Today, "stroke-8" refers to the entire generation of cars.
The first sketches for the new series of mid-sized Mercedes limousines were drawn in 1960 by fritz Nallinger and the board of directors gave the green light in 1964. The new generation of Mercedes was launched in January 1968 in
The original W114/W115 range comprised of six models, from the 200D four cylinder diesel powered 54 bhp engine, to the 250 with six cylinder petrol engine and 128 bhp. In April 1973, along with some facelift to the interior and exterior (including a lower bonnet line with lower placed headlamps, new front side windows without the old-fashioned quarter panels, two big rear view mirrors, new padded 4-hole steering wheel, the now famous ribbed tail lights and a few more minor changes) the line up was completed with top-of-the-line 280 and 280E (with bosch fuel injection) models. A coupé variant of this model was introduced in 1969 with a 'C' designated after the model number. Where the saloon would just have '280E' written on the boot lid, the coupe would have '280CE'. Although the coupé was the same length as the saloon (from the A-pillar forward it was identical) the passenger compartment was 19 inches shorter, the roof was two inches lower and the boot was considerably longer. It also had a more elegant rear window reminiscent that of the “Pagoda” SLs, chrome strips down each side of the roof and a pillarless design where all the windows could be wound completely away for "summer motoring".
The stroke 8 was a benchmark in the history of Mercedes-Benz. This is the model that cemented the image of Mercedes as manufacturers of exceptional quality products. Nearly 2 million stroke 8s were built (note that at the time the world’s population is less than half of today’s) until production ceased in December 1975. And today we can still find many solid examples of these models on the roads across the globe. The car has a distinctive appeal owing to its subtle and beautiful, classic lines, safety features and advance chassis/suspension engineering. The car’s exceedingly good handling (compared to cars from the period) and remarkable comfort is prove to the ingenious chassis/suspension design. It is so good that the R107 roadster models (a car whose achievements in motorsport and 19 years production run elevated it to legendary status) borrows its front subframe and wishbones along with the rear suspension from these rather ‘humble’ stroke 8 models.
It might be easier to find a highly collectable, top-of-the-line, rare models in excellent condition today than a classic everyday mid-range model that has been especially well cared for. Everyday models can live hard lives whilst more iconic ones like the 300SLs are often pampered like royalties.
Now, after almost 40 years since the model launched, many have covered hundreds of thousands of miles and succumbed to rust. This is why the editor is stunned when he met this beautifully preserved 1974 W115 200 by chance.
See, your editor lives in a typicall flat complex in north Bandung where the parking spaces is ‘littered’ by the tenants’ Japanese econoboxes. The editor used to think that his flat’s parking space is a testament to Oscar Wilde’s claim that “nowadays, people knows the price of everything, but they know not the value of anything”.
That is until one morning in September of 2007. The editor is washing his beloved W 202 which he affectionately christened ‘Ben’ after an all night’s monsoon rain, his eyes is stunned by this pristine 1974 W115 200 in Citrus Green on crème velour interior coming up the flat complex’ driveway. After the Mercedes was neatly parked, the editor immediately dropped his hose and came up to the middle aged driver and started a conversation.
From the driver he learned that the car is his Father’s, which is the owner of the complex, and that morning he was told to warm up the car and take it for a spin. The driver said that the car only got driven about once a month and his Father has owned it since new and no matter how high enthusiasts bid for the car, none of them ever manage to persuade the Old Man to sell the Mercedes, he’d rather see it sitting in his garage as the years went by.
When the editor stepped inside the interior, he is amazed by the show room fresh condition. The light brown velour trimming is clean, all the panels are intact even the carpeting is free of any stains. He then popped the hood and the engine bay looked like the way it must have been in the early seventies.
Since he was washing his Mercedes anyway, he offers the good gentleman if he would let him wash the car. And surprisingly enough the driver agrees. That is when he started the engine and the editor once again amazed by how easily the four stroke cycle started and how smooth the pouring sound came from a 33 year old engine, it sounded better than at least half of the econoboxes parked there..
He carefully taxied the Mercedes alongside ‘The Ben’ and started washing the subtly curved body panels in pure nostalgic bliss.
But it was not until later that day when he was applying interior detailing spray to the mint instrument panels (that shows 44000 kilometers on the clock) and gazing through the windshield to those pale pimped-out-Macpherson-strutted imitations of automobiles parked out on the driveway that he came to a quantum leap revelation. At that moment he felt as if the ghosts of Oscar Wilde, Emile Jellinek and Coco Chanel were conversing in the back seat, and for the first time in his life he noticed a connection between them: Fashion has got to be something that is so ugly that you have to change it every six months, style on the other hand is forever, and that is one of the reasons why, Mercedes-Benzes are built like no other.
