Used Mercedes 260

The Mercedes-Benz 260 first appeared in 1936 as the Mercedes-Benz 260 D. It was a diesel unit named after the cubic capacity of its engine. Nearly 2,000 samples of the car were produced until 1940 when Mercedes decided to end its production and focus on military equipment instead. The four-cylinder 2545cc engine used the diesel injection system from Bosch and produced 45 horsepower at 3000 rpm. The car weighed around 1530 kg and was capable of 95 km/h top speed. For chassis, the Mercedes had an independent front suspension with leaf spring and rear swing axles. Brakes were hydraulic. It came in as either the cabriolet or the landaulet. Mercedes built two series of the 260 D. The first was the W21 based landaulet called the Nullserie, which were used as taxis. This body type was produced from 1936 to 1937. The cabriolet was manufactured from 1937 onwards. It was derived from Mercedes’ W143 chassis with 4-speed completely synchronized transmission. An example of the 260 D is on display at Mercedes museum in Germany. The 260 made a comeback in 1987 to 1989 with the 260 E, a saloon based on the Mercedes W124 chassis. It carried a 2.6-liter M103 I6 engine. The saloon was succeeded by the 300 E 2 in 1990. The 260 E was one of the first models of the long enduring W124 line – a line many believe is the best used Mercedes ever built. The 260 E featured the kind of automotive engineering technology that Mercedes accumulated over its long history. Like all W124 models, the 260 E had the lowest drag co-efficient achieved by any car at that time, due largely to its excellent body aerodynamics. Its undercarriage was made of plastic molding, which allowed streamlining of airflow underneath the car, thus reducing wind noise and fuel consumption. An odd mechanism extended the reach of lone wiper so that it reached even the top portions of the windscreen. The saloon had optional rear headrests that folded down remotely to increase rearward visibility if required. Fuel injection system was standard and the engine boasted of integrated features that optimized performance. The major improvement of the 260 E and all of the W124 series cars over its W123 predecessor was the inclusion of a mechanism in the exhaust system that monitored oxygen flow. This system produced more engine power, making it run more smoothly and efficiently. The 260 E also had the Mercedes 4matic introduced in 1986 in the first W124 vehicle.