2025 Fleet Update

Published March 8, 2026 · Updated March 8, 2026

With 2025 completed a few months ago now, it is time for an update on the fleet. As with both 2023 and 2024, I drove my fleet of classics around 18,000km over the year. Unlike last year, I needed to be towed twice this year, although one of them was my own fault for running out of fuel and my wife’s modern cars also needed to be towed twice with around half the total kilometers.

Highlights and Lowlights

The big highlight of the year from an automotive point of view was my trip to Longreach in my 560SEL. I also did a great trip to Brisbane in my 240D at the start of the year, then trip from Victoria in my 450SE later on. After a few false starts it was great to drive the 450SE up the Hume. It was pretty cool to visit the MBCA New Jersey June Jamboree too.

It was also a highlight to finally get my 1973 Daimler Double-Six Vanden Plas. From the lowlights point of view, the biggest one was a P-plater hitting my 300TE. I also managed to put a scratch on my DS when trying to test the oil pressure which was really annoying. I also found out I’ll need to have the intake manifold gaskets done on my 560SEL in the new year.

Fleet Changes

I sold the 1987 420SEL parts car during the year. while there were a few more things I could have taken from it, it was getting down to diminishing returns and I needed the space. I also replaced my wife’s 2007 E350 Wagon with a 2012 E350 wagon, this time an S212 instead of an S211.

Added this year was my 1978 Mercedes 450SE that replaced my 1979 Mercedes 280SE, and my 1973 Daimler Double-Six Vanden Plas.

Of the cars I’ve sold in prior years, I know the whereabouts of my 1981 280CE, 1986 300SE and 1979 280SE and all three are still on the road and loved by their owners.

Fleet Stats

The average age of my cars is 48.3, having owned each car for an average of 8.4 years. I did around 18,000km across all of them this year, which included 8,600km over 20 car club events, half of them being the monthly night drives. The oldest car is still my 1965 Jaguar E-Type, built in September of 1965, just edging out the 250SE which was built a month later, and the newest is still my 1990 Mercedes 300TE. While most people buy cars that are newish, the average age I buy a car is 36.

Both the E-Type and the 250SE passed 60 years old this year. I also passed 100,000km across all five W126 cars I’ve owned.

1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL

For a car that did 5,600km this year, I actually didn’t drive it as often as it might seem. Its had two separate coolant leaks that have kept it off the road for large parts of the year. In the first half of the year, that turned out to be a leaking radiator. And in the second part of the year, it seems that coolant is getting out through the intake manifold.

However, when it counted, I could rely on the car and it took me on an amazing trio to Longreach and back without incident. I also took the car on a drive up to Newcastle and back as a proving run, going to view the Rolls Royce concours event.

As of this year I passed 20,000km since I bought the car during one of the COVID lockdowns about five years ago. It has proven to be smooth, comfortable and powerful.

KM Driven: 5,600km
KM on Odometer: 347,000km
Spend Level: Moderate
Availability: Moderate
Highlight: The drive to Longreach
Lowlight: Finding out I had to do the intake manifold.
Ownership: 6 yrs / 20,500km
Fuel Consumption: 14.5l/100km (2025) 16.4l/100km (all time)
Work this year: Preparing the car for the Longreach trip.
Plan for 2026: Fix the coolant leak related to the intake manifold. Pass 350,000km.

1981 Mercedes-Benz 240D

I used my 240D a lot this year. There really is something special and endearing about the W123 diesel. While they make great city cars, they are quite capable of doing road trips and I went on a roadtrip to look at the Daimler I now own. There was something for driving the most frugal car I own to go and inspect what would become the thirstiest.

KM Driven: 3,500km
KM on Odometer: 192,000km
Spend Level: High
Availability: Excellent
Highlight: Very good
Lowlight: Having to regas the AC after new compressor, drier, condenser etc.
Ownership: 2 yrs / 4,500km
Fuel Consumption: 10.0l/100km (2025) 10.1l/100km (all time)
Work this year: Bluetooth box for the Becker, Instrument cluster grounding, Auxiliary fan, grille insert and Mercedes star, AC upgrade, glow plug relay.
Plan for 2026: 50 Years of the W123 events.

1990 Mercedes-Benz 300TE

I mostly used the 300TE for family outings and personal errands this year. Its a car I often use when taking my kids to various events and its very reliable and versatile. Its great to have a classic wagon in the fleet.

This year I used the car for general family stuff, plus a night drive. I finally got the wiring harness in the tailgate done, but unfortunately was in a small collision.

KM Driven: 2,000km
KM on Odometer: 386,000km
Spend Level: Low
Availability: Good
Highlight: Having the wiring harness fixed
Lowlight: Being hit by a P-Plater
Ownership: 3 yrs / 11,000km
Fuel Consumption: 14.3l/100km (2025) 12.5l/100km (all time)
Work this year: Wiring harness.
Plan for 2026: Finalize collision repairs.

1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SE

The 450SE replaced my 280SE and I couldn’t be happier with it. In my mind, the 450SE is the one to have. In my view, the short wheelbase cars are better to drive. The 450 is powerful and without some of the extra hassle of the 6.9.

The W116 is an underrated classic. It has a sportier and more ‘raw’ feel than the W126, but is still modern and comfortable to drive. It can be thirsty around town, but is quite good on the open road.

My car is exactly the sort of classic I like. Its in very nice condition, fairly original but not so perfect that I can’t use it.

KM Driven: 1,600km
KM on Odometer: 117,000km
Spend Level: Negligible
Availability: Excellent
Highlight: Driving up from Victoria
Lowlight: None.
Fuel Consumption: 14.0l/100km
Work this year: Fitting a Bluetooth box behind the becker.
Plan for 2026: Get the AC fixed and drive the car.

1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC

I had quite the scare with my 560SEC this year. The work to repair the crank pully on the car showed that the nose of the crankshaft was damaged. Worst case would have required a second hand crankshaft and an engine tear down. Luckily it could be repaired by drilling into the crankshaft and inserting a pin.

I also had the front suspension rebuilt. The highlight was probably using the car for the Youngtimer Sacco event. I also drive the car a lot generally, as while it may not be cosmetically as nice as some of my other cars, its great to drive.

KM Driven: 1,600km
KM on Odometer: 177,000mi (285,000km)
Spend Level: Very High.
Availability: Very good.
Highlight: Youngtimer Sacco Day
Lowlight: Finding out damage to the crankshaft
Ownership: 6 yrs / 20,500km
Fuel Consumption: 17.0l/100km (2025) 15.8l/100km (all time)
Work this year: Crank Pully repair, front suspension.
Plan for 2026: Nothing specific.

1977 Mercedes-Benz 450SLC

It was a uneventful year for the 450SLC. Last year there was a lot of mechanical work and a big road trip. This year I mostly used the car for personal drives. I fitted some 3D printed rear speaker trims which are the same design as the factory trims, but a bit larger. I also experimented with brighter bulbs in the headlights and removed the old window tint.

After owning the car so long I still enjoy driving it. There is a minor vibration that comes and goes on acceleration. I would like to try and trace that in 2026. I’m wondering if the exhaust is touching so I sprayed some black paint where it might touch the body under acceleration and will look to see if any of it has rubbed off.

KM Driven: 1,300km
KM on Odometer: 319,000km
Spend Level: Negligible
Availability: Excellent
Ownership: 23 yrs / 57,700km
Fuel Consumption: 20.1l/100km (2025) 18.9l/100km (all time)
Work this year: Speaker Trims, Headlight Bulbs, Tint Removal, Oil Change.
Plan for 2026: Trying to trace a minor vibration.

1965 Mercedes-Benz 250SE Cabriolet

This year I mostly used the 250SE for club events. I did six this year including the MBCNSW Cars and Coffee, The eastern Creek car show, Two night drives, The Sydney German Car Show and the MBCNSW Chrome bumper day.

I didn’t have any major issues with the car. At one point I had a lot of vibration from the power steering, but that turned out to be a loose belt. I also had an issue where the A/C would work very well for about 30 minutes then become warm. My mechanic thinks it could be a TX valve, but since its an aftermarket system, we need to work out what TX valve to buy.

KM Driven: 1,100km
Spend Level: Moderate
Availability: Excellent
Highlight: Multiple club events
Lowlight: None
Ownership: 14 yrs / 16,000km
Fuel Consumption: 17.6l/100km (2025) 15.5l/100km (all time)
Work this year: Major Service
Plan for 2026: Fix AC issue.

1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 OTS

This year I took the E-Type on one of the night drives, plus displayed it at the All British Car show. It was quite rainy in Sydney this year so I found myself not driving it as much as I wanted. Every time I got the car down from the hoist and ready, it would then start a few weeks of rain.

KM Driven: 600km
Spend Level: Negligible
Availability: Very good.
Highlight: All British Day and Night Drive
Lowlight: Brake fluid leak.
Ownership: 15 yrs, 14,000km
Fuel Consumption: 16.6l/100km (2025) 15.1l/100km (all time)
Work this year: Nothing.
Plan for 2026: Get a minor leak from the brakes fixed.

1970 Citroen DS21 BVH

It was a year that I really didn’t drive the DS very often, which is a shame as I very much enjoy driving it. In the first part of the year, it had quite a bad LHM leak, and I was reluctant to drive it like that. With work travel and family commitments, it took me time to get that fixed, as I assumed it was a suspension boot and it turned out to be a seal for one of the rear spheres, which I could have done in minutes.

In the second half of the year, I was worried about low oil pressure, due to the light coming on. It turns it the oil pressure is fine, and the instrument cluster is faulty.

KM Driven: 350km
Spend Level: Negligible
Availability: Poor
Highlight: Finding out the engine is very healthy and is not suffering from an oil pressure problem.
Lowlight: Not using the car much this year because I was worried about oil pressure.
Ownership: 13 yrs, 12,000km
Fuel Consumption: 15.5l/100km (2025) 13.3l/100km (all time)
Work this year: Oil pressure investigation and a suspension seal replacement.
Plan for 2026: Drive the car more now I know it has good oil pressure.

1973 Daimler Double-Six Vanden Plas

The highlight of the year for the Double-Six was getting it registered again for the first time since 2005. While it was driven sporadically on a trade plate, its been basically unregistered since 2005 and has only done about 6,000 miles since the year 2000.

As the car was only registered and on the road late in the year, there were few opportunities to drive it. In addition, I wanted to stay close to home during any initial drives to get used to the car.

KM Driven: 200km
KM on Odometer: 67,900mi
Spend Level: Very High
Availability: Poor
Highlight: Getting the car registered, on the road and driving it.
Lowlight: There was a bit more to do to get it on the road than I would have liked, but it was all good maintenance that would have needed to be done in due course.
Work this year: Getting the car registered and on the road and doing a few small improvements.
Plan for 2026: The big thing is to drive the car more and get to know it. There is a leak from the diff that I need to get sorted out, and I would like to get the air-conditioning working. There will undoubtedly be some teething problems as I start to use the car more.