1980 Mercedes Prices
In this installment of the Mercedes-Market original Mercedes MSRP prices series we’ll be having a look at all the 1980 model year Mercedes models and prices offered in the United States. We have two price cards for the 1980 model year. The late 70s into 1980 was a tough time for cars and the economy in the U.S.
Mercedes didn’t introduce any new models, but they did discontinue the big 6.9 sedan. There were just 11 different Mercedes models to choose from on three different chassis… the W123 cars, W116 and the R107 / C107. Today, I think you can choose from that many different E class models, my how times have changed.
The model list and technical information is on one side of each card, prices and options are on the other (two scans per card, front and back).
If you refer back to the last of the 1979 Price cards, you’ll notice that the price of the 450 SL went up almost $5,000 between June and November of 1979, the date the card above was printed. The value of the Deutsche Mark against the dollar had a lot to do with that as the U.S. economy was experiencing a pretty serious recession at the time and high interest rates.
Prices were increased in January 1980 and new, updated price cards were issued to dealers.
Notice on the ‘Optional Equipment’ list above that Velour interior was still available to U.S. customers. You don’t see many U.S. spec Mercedes from this era with velour, it was a much more popular option in Europe and other parts of the world. IT was just a few dollars less expensive than leather.
It’s likely that there were additional price increases for the 1980 model year, you can see, just by comparing the two cards above, prices were on the rise even in the few months between the printing of these two.