We’ve featured numerous fine automobiles from Mercedes-Benz on Barn Finds over the years, but I don’t recall coming across many wearing the O 309 D badge. This moniker signifies a bus, one small enough to be driven with ease, yet providing ample room inside to haul around a decent-sized crowd comfortably. This 1975 model here on eBay once served as a church bus, but was later converted to a camper by a previous owner. It’s been sitting for a while, but the seller believes this could become a reliable driver after some minor work has been performed. This one is located in Eugene, Oregon, and can be purchased right now for $6,000, with offers also being considered.
Looking around the interior, there’s not much evidence remaining that would indicate this one was ever used to transport passengers to and from a church gathering. Once this bus was retired from that duty, the inside was transformed from a bus-like atmosphere to a setting more fitting for rest and relaxation, including the addition of seats from a Mercedes sedan. While it still appears to be in fairly decent condition in here, it might be time to gut the inside again, then remodel it into something more modern to ideally suit the needs of the next owner.
Although the finish is fading, the body appears pretty good overall, but there’s one important exception. The roof is showing rust in the rear area, which is believed to have been caused by a giant A/C unit that once resided on top, leaking water onto the metal during hot days. At least the damage is up high, so even if the repair isn’t made perfectly, most people won’t ever notice. Once the corrosion has been dealt with, it’ll be time for some new paint, either in the current blue and white combo, or perhaps customize the exterior with more catchy and exciting colors.
Power is from a Mercedes OM314 four-cylinder diesel engine, which will still start and run from a remote fuel source. However, this one hasn’t been used regularly since 2010, so the seller believes fuel-system work will be necessary before it’s able to perform properly again. Better news is that both the automatic transmission and brakes are stated to be operating perfectly. There are several interesting possibilities here, and I’m curious to find out what our readers have to say about this 1975 Mercedes-Benz O 309. What would you do with this one?
If you are using this as a camper and something breaks when you are in the middle nowhere, what do you do? Are all parts readily available and at what cost? If you have to wait for parts to be shipped what do you do, sit around and wait or leave and have a local mechanic fix it? There is too much downside to likely use it for anything other than local outings.
Steve R
Steve R
If I broke down in the middle of nowhere….I’d be fine with this thing….for a while
@Steve R
You sound as if you’re a squimish camper, Steve, that is if you’re a camper at all. You brought up all negative aspects of camping. Any trailer or camper is going to have those problems. The whole idea to camping is to relax, chill out, don’t worry.
If something goes wrong in the middle of nowhere (been there, done that, bought the tshirt) what are you stressing about? Youve got everything you need with you. Call a service truck or tow truck, or if you’re a I can do it myself kinda person, order the part to the nearest post office and fix it. I don’t see a problem here.
I’d give my eyeteeth to have this. Yes, the interior would need a major overhaul and facilities would need to be added with black water, gray water and clean tanks.
The older I get the more I want to ditch the apartment and hit the road…..
To answer your question I would pull the engine and transmission maybe the rear diff and put it in something else and scrap this thing
Mercedes-Benz of North America imported these for years, trying to sell them to hotels, airport limo companies, etc., but they were never popular, and even then mostly on the East Coast. The puny little diesel means they are VERY SLOW! Sane buyers picked a domestic van that had a V8 and could be repaired easily anywhere.
Really cool van by MB. Look at the headroom. It’s crying out to be converted into some kind of RV or race bike truck. But as noted where are you going to get parts? That’s the story my older brother used to tell back in the 80’s when I was a kid.
But wow, cool van. Maybe the answer is upgrading to a more modern sprinter drive train. Readily available parts and lots of used motor/drivetrain options out there.
How many others of these have you seen in the states?
“…seen in the states?” Two. BUT…
all over europe, for awhile. Not sure they’re there now.
Great rigs, I’d B less worried bout the company & more worried bout the age?
(for prts?)
Never owned a Benz, tho (wanna W123 or 1st gen, in-house MB waggy – 300TDi – the mil mi motor, OM617).