This 1979 Mercedes-Benz 300TD looks like a potential bargain for any W123 shoppers out there. The asking price is just $1,850 for a car that looks decently clean with no major rot visible. It’s hard to decipher from the ad whether it still runs, with the seller just noting that it hasn’t run in a while. You’ll find the wagon here on craigslist and located somewhere near Vancouver, WA.
The wagon shows some non-matching paint on the hood, but the rest of the body looks quite nice. U.S.-spec bumpers always plagued these cars, but the exposed metal trim still shines nicely. Matching hubcaps are always a bonus, along with the factory roof rails. The rear wipers have a tendency to need repair, but at least this one isn’t drooping.
In typical Mercedes fashion, the interior is holding up incredibly well. There’s almost 300,000 miles on this estate-bodied W123, and it still looks that good! It’s just incredible how hard-wearing these interiors are. The dashboard appears uncracked in the full-size photo, and the backseat appears to be just as sound of condition as the fronts.
This engine needs no introduction here, given their reputation for longevity. The seller doesn’t disclose much in the way of details about engine health, and even with its can’t-kill-it reputation, I’d like to see more info here about maintenance records or possible faults. If it has a clean title and the mechanical health can be verified, this looks awfully cheap for a running W123. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Miguel for the find.
This example reminds me of the one my now late-SoCal expat buddy had in Europe. He liked his USA-spec Benz so much he shipped it to his new home. I ended up giving the car a service when I visited his wife and him in 2017.
It was a very nice car to drive, and I’m sure this wagon is no exception.
Nice find at a nice price!
The wagons have a self leveling feature that can be troublesome…. especially if someone has used ATF instead of the proper fluid.
A friend had a similar one to this and the engine blew so he replaced it with a V6 Holden Commodore supercharged engine and trans, same as the Pontiac 3.8 V6. The car went on for many more years to come and is still going strong. He changed the name badge to ‘Mercadore”.
This has always been my favorite style from Mercedes, but I have never owned one.
This is an unbelievable price for this car. Very nice ones go for $10k-$15k.
But, Mercedes didn’t start galvanizing their chassis until 1981, so this one being without rot is a bold claim….
$$$$$$$$$$$ down the drain.
I’d disagree’n remind U of ‘the million mi motor’.
This is just bout the DD I want (from the Right Coast, tho). Wagon too, mmm, mmm, mmmm.