Every once in a while, we are Barn Finds see and exceptional low mileage car that makes us say “Wow” where has this car been hiding. Today, we have a 1982 Mercedes-Benz 240D with only 24,000 miles. The car is listed here on eBay for a Buy It Now Price of $35,000. While steep, this car is really clean and well maintained. The car is located in Burlingame, California.
The car was originally bought in Ohio but is has been fastidiously maintained with only three owners. The bright work, head and tail lights and glass is in excellent condition. The car left the factory with the reliable 2.4 liter diesel engine mated to a 4 speed manual transmission. The engine was rated at 62 horsepower and 97 lb ft of torque.
The Code 137 Sienna interior is exceptional and the car boasts its original Becker Mexico cassette stereo, sliding sunroof, cruise control, power locks, automatic antenna, power windows and rear window defrost. The dash looks new and only the carpet shows some dirt or wear on the driver side.
The car is painted in its original Code 623 Ivory and still has its original spare tire and mint condition factory handbooks. While I am not an expert on Mercedes, I do have friends that marvel at the construction and quality of these cars. This one should last a long time.
I really want this car, but the financing just isn’t there. I had the wagon version of this car and loved it, but mine didn’t have the manual….
Too bad it’s a 240D and not at least the 300D or even best a 280E. I had a 83 240D 4-speed and it’s honestly the slowest car I ever drove. My 81 diesel Rabbit was even faster with the A/C turned on. Wonderful cars great build (overbuilt) quality. On today’s roads you are an obstacle driving that car.
Yes, on todays roads a car like this could be dangerous. These were truly one of the slowest cars on the planet IMO. They did last forever though.
These aren’t as dangerous as you think. They can definitely keep up with any speed limit here, the only slight hiccup is getting up to speed.
I drive a 1977 240d s 4spd all the time, and I trust it to take me everywhere, even on the PA turnpike
Actually, my father’s ’67 200D was the slowest car in the world. Really.
The AUTOMATICS were perilously slow, sure. But my experience with the manual 240s is that they’re perfectly adequate up to about 50-55mph. No dice after that, but if you wanted a higher-speed highway cruiser, you got the 300. 240-manuals are amazing city cars.
It’s been running flat out 24/7 – that’s as far as it got…
That’s damned funny.
Lovely looking car. Although I was way too young at the time to drive a car, I remember when the Mercedes-Benz W123 240D was being driven. Most that I remember had auto transmission, particularly the hilly areas of Seattle, Wa.
Just a tad bit faster than my 1973 Automatic VW bus is. :) This is a really nice 240D. Always wanted a really nice D W123 wagon to run used veggie oil in!
It may seem expensive but when one compares it to the trash coming out of Stuttgart these days, it’s beginning to make more sense than buying a new one and paying astronomical maintenance costs. After all, people today cannot live without their air conditioned cup holder or confounded cell phones!
My uncle was a realtor in the 80s and his conveyance of choice was a 1979 300 SD. You could hear it coming a mile away and as the years rolled by it started smoking but he kept it 30 years and logged about 400K miles. Sadly he chose to replace it with an E 300 D in the late nineties. He actually kept the ‘79 as a spare for when the new one was in the shop, which was a lot. The 240 D here will handy outlast anything in a Benz showroom today, even if it does need 19 seconds to crack 60 mph.
19 seconds, with a tailwind and downgrade.
Having owned 2 300 D´s, I love this car, if it weren´t for its lack of power. My choice would be a 300 Turbodiesel automatic, china blue with the off-white interior.
That would be a pretty car
Yes it is comfortable, yes it is slow, yes it is light on fuel, yes it will get you there and yes it will last forever.
It is what I want from a car now.
Oh and capable of 80 mph with not a too short run up.
This is what was used in Germany for taxi services in cities. You never needed to exceed 30mph and traffic didn’t allow much acceleration anyway. Standard equipment is a calendar instead of a speedometer but at 500 miles per year it will last forever.
Drove a 76 240D for several years and loads of miles! Slow but built like a tank! This seems to be an excellent example but i must be out of the loop on pricing for these as lots of interesting and excellent vehicles out there for a whole lot less money! guess since it has the Star on the hood it’s gold, way overpriced!
I wonder what a small shot a nitrous would do for this car? Vegetable oil and add a turbo?
AND IT’S MANUAL. The want is strong in this one young Skywalker. If I were in the US, this baby would be my DD.
In my younger days, I wouldn’t like this car. Noisy, slow, expensive to keep and maintain, etc. Now, at 67, fast doesn’t appeal to me. I would take the slow for comfort and great fuel mileage, etc.