Let’s say you decide your life can’t go on without a mint 1979 Mercedes-Benz 300D. Well, here’s your car, on eBay in Troy, Michigan. It’s as nice an example as you’re going to find of this diesel-powered juggernaut, a virtually indestructible automobile.
These Benzes were in the world’s taxi fleets for years, amassing millions of miles. This W123 has evidently been babied as it achieved a mere 102,000 miles. Bidding, with reserve not met, is in old used car territory so far.
The current owner has had the Benz for only a year, and uses it mainly for car shows. It was purchased from the family of the original owner, who kept it well-maintained and garaged. “No rust. No accidents. Paint is flawless, with a mirror finish.” All that stuff that attracts surface rust—front fender bolts, hood hinge bolts, trunk lid hinge bolts—are “untouched and original.”
The glass is good, as are the window seals and weatherstripping. Oil and coolant are staying where they’re supposed to be. The original Becker radio is there, and working. Also functioning are the power antenna, the AC (adapted to R135a), and heat. “Everything feels solid and tight on the drive. The engine is strong, with great compression.” The transmission shifts fine, and the brakes work.
Recent maintenance includes an oil and filter change, new coolant, a brake fluid flush, fuel and air filters changed. The valves were adjusted and the valve cover gasket was replaced. The photos showing the car’s underside reveal it to be quite clean, along with the rubber boots and bushings.
Nothing appears amiss. But the central vacuum locks “do not function.” It all boils down to wanting to own one of these. They tend to be slow (even the turbo-diesels), smoky, and dead-reliable. They make good conversions to biodiesel if that’s your thing.
There’s a lot of wiggle room here if the price doesn’t continue to climb. The average sale price of these, according to Classic.com is $19,125, with values ascending. Note: The “D” in this 300D means diesel, but Mercedes also created the 50s/60s 300D, a big boat with a gas engine that was the fourth iteration of the model. Confusing, I know.
You CANNOT go wrong with one of these. Sure it’s slow, but if you live in the right kind of place, it may not matter… I always thought these were one of the prettiest M-B had to offer.
Yes, anvil like quality, but more than 40 years ago, soccer moms didn’t drive 400 hp SUVs like today. I have been driving 52 years and dread it today. Some of these drivers today could beat most NASCAR drivers around any track. I deal with tailgating every day and mainly women drivers pulling out from STOP signs without looking. This Benz is slow, but will last almost forever with proper care. My uncle had a 77 like this. After 350,000 miles, it was still running.
Cockroach car. After a nuclear attack, it will still be running while all the “modern” cars are DOA on the side of the road…
Yep, and Keith Richards will be driving it.
Babied. That’s done fewer miles than my 2CV!
There’s a good half-a-million left in that.
Nice car, ditch the whitewalls though.
I love these and I love this one but if you look closely at the photos on Ebay, you can see overspray in several areas so it has had some work done. Is someone telling porky pies ??
Cream Beige was and still is my favorite color for these old Benzes. They’re rock solid drivers. Not very exciting but cool cars nonetheless.
Clack Clack Clack…..clackity clack
Average sale price $19,125? On what planet?
Yes, I have an ’83 with 315k miles and still runs and drives like it is supposed to. It is the maroon color of the era, it needs a repaint but is a solid car still. I had it sold for $7500 a couple years ago, but my wife wanted to keep it. A cockroach car for sure!