Today, I’ve got another outrageous Mercedes mash-up for you. Yesterday it was this 1966 230 S drop-top and today it’s a 1980 300 D with a heavy El Camino flavor. What is it with these modified Mercedes? Must be something in the water! I have always liked the El Camino, do I want to see one appended to the back end of a Mercedes sedan? Maybe, let’s see what’s really here. Chuck F. found this German UTE residing in Fairhope, Alabama; it’s available here on Facebook Marketplace for $8,400.
It’s not specifically stated but the guess is that this 300D started life as a sedan and then out came the hacksaw. My observation is based on the size and shape of the doors, they’re too narrow to have originated on a two-door hardtop. Of course, a wagon could have been this Benz’s former station in life too. The 300D is based on M-B’s W123 platform and it was offered in all three of the aforementioned body styles. BTW, it was a popular model having been offered between 1976 and 1986 and yielding a total production of 2.6M copies.
The seller tells us that the previous owner performed the conversion and it has minimal rust. There is some bubbling up around the rear window but the conversion work looks to have been well performed. The C-pillar isn’t that aesthetically integrated into the flow of this car’s lines but the whole endeavor is pretty boxy anyway so it really doesn’t matter.
The bedliner is a surprising discovery as it looks as if it were molded specifically for this vehicle, and maybe it was, but it would likely be a one-off affair if that’s the case. At first, I thought possibly it could be a spray-in type but that’s clearly not the case.
Said of the 83 HP, 3.0 liter, five-cylinder in-line, diesel engine, “cheap, cheap to run always starts very reliable“. It has 232K miles on the clock but maybe that’s not outsized for an M-B diesel that has been maintained. A four-speed automatic transmission gets the go to the rear wheels. Here’s a video of this Mercedes Camino in “action” (it’s not very informative – makes noise but doesn’t go too fast).
The interior, from the front seats forward, is about what you would expect. Other than the cracked dash pad, it looks fine. For 42 years of age and 232K miles, I was expecting something quite a bit dowdier. I would like to see how the area behind the seats is finished off but there are no included images.
Well, I guess it’s unique and I could see this M-B El Camino existing and working as is, especially for someone with a sizable piece of property that needs maintaining – it’s the perfect lightweight work truck. The only thing that I would do is fix the blooming rust and get on with it, how about you?
Some were assembled in Argentina but this was in the 60’s or 70’s.
Somewhere around 1970 I was visiting Honduras to call on a couple of customers there. One day I went with a Plant Mgr. of one customer to pick up his Mercedes at the local dealer and saw one of these trucks. It was assembled on the smaller frame and was painted a horrible green which I still have a picture of. By the was they also had a “40 model Ford 4 door in their drive in basement. It did look like it had seen better days.
Looking at the photo of the rear I can say that it was originally a SW.
This car is near me! I’ve been lusting after it every time the ad comes up on my feed!
Looks more Subaru Brat than El Camino, IMHO.
I propose a ute based on a German model should be called Die Straße.
Joe Pesci as trial attorney in My Cousin Vinny spoke of utes.
Such Mercedes-Benz Pick Ups are usually based on hearses or ambulances.
A number of years ago I had a 1978 300 CD cabriolet. Yes, a cabriolet! Had to sell it during my divorce but not a day goes by that I don’t miss that car. This was a custom conversion and while most of them were based on the 280 CE, a handful were diesels. Had a very nice Stayfast canvas top with electric over hydraulic operation. The company which performed the conversion cleverly utilized the sunroof switch for the convertible top operation.
I believe the floor was reinforced as there was no sag when I would open the doors. Only thing some people might find offensive was being stopped at a traffic signal while idling with the wind coming up behind you….
I would like to see pictures of the undercarriage as the roof was integral as part of the structure to keep the vehicle ridged. If the unibody floor wasn’t reinforced, I wouldn’t use it as a truck.
Another quick check is if the doors and tailgate open as they should.
Reminds me of a BMW 2002 that some of the factory apprentices turned into a small pickup that was reminiscent of those old VW Rabbit pickups. As they did it as a project in the plant they had access to the technology to do the job right. It was awesome.
No photos or info on how the tailgate works; does it fold down flat, or do you remove it completely to access your load?
JAM, I agree with you. I am a huge Ute fan (I have a Ford Durango) and I am always concerned when the floor/rocker sills are not reinforced for the required additional body strength when the roof is cutoff or modified. The work appears to be decent quality and there does not appear to be any evidence of door gap inconsistencies. But as in my opinion the test of a good appearing UTE MOD is how the rear portion of the roof is handled. In my opinion it was not done correctly. So I would pass.
keeps commin round.
I remember it from the B/C pillar
sail shaped window (and rust no
1 ever fixes). I like it !
Hope the poster is not sayin a Binz should be customized
(into a p/u). Shame, shame. (may b a W123 wagon model?)
The two Mercedes dealers in St. Louis had 240 or 300 series Mercedes-Camino’s as parts runners back in the 80’s. I always assumed they were custom made by a small manufacturer (like companies that did convertible versions of cars that never came that way) or were imported from Africa or South America. There seems to be enough of these around that they were made for Mercedes vs one offs.
This one I believe was made by a retired mechanic. Some conversions look better then others, especially at the B/C column.
Interesting car but minimal rust my fat backside !!! Look alone that rubber trim line in the photo and it looks like it is full of rust bubbles just under the surface. This thing is a can of worms and the more you look at it the more rust you see. Nope !!