If you want to make your net worth known in as understated a manner as possible, a Mercedes-Benz W123 limousine might be just the ticket. This one was delivered to its U.S. owners early on in the car’s history and features the desirable turbodiesel engine along with the full assortment of features unique to a stretched version of this popular Mercedes model. The seller notes it remains in time-warp condition due to being used only sparingly, and that it features a vegetable oil conversion in the event the next owners wish to run the luxo-barge as frugally as possible. Find it here on eBay with a suggested opening bid of $18,700 and no action yet.
The interior is in immaculate condition, with the listing noting it has just over 110,000 original miles. This is notable not only for being a limousine with relatively low miles, but also for being a W123, which is perhaps one of the longest-lived models ever made in terms of reliability. This also carries over to the interior, which is trimmed in the sort of upholstery that’s been long believed to be capable of surviving a nuclear blast. Of course, this being a European-market example, the MBTex that’s seen most frequently in U.S. cars has been replaced with velour upholstery, which traditionally is just as hard-wearing. The limousine is equipped with the middle jumpseat seen here to accommodate an extra row of passengers.
Despite already being the kind of drivetrain that can run reliably with years of neglect baked in, the previous owners decided to make this W123 as cheap to own as possible, by installing a conversion kit that allows it to run on vegetable grease. The listing notes it is an Elsbett Style Dual Tank Vegetable Conversion that allows the car to start on diesel, run on vegetable oil, and then shut down on diesel. The system isn’t functional at the moment, having been converted back the original configuration of just running on conventional diesel, but all of the components are there should the next owner wish to revert back to the veggie oil setup. The previous owners also installed aftermarket stereo and alarm systems.
The driver’s compartment remains in phenomenal condition, and it really does beg the question as to why the original U.S. owners chose to import such a vehicle. The listing says they used it for shows, but even so – who gets to drive and who rides in back? The range of cars you could have imported in the heyday of gray market transactions would put a diesel-powered W123 limousine pretty far down my list, but then again – if you’re big into car shows – having something no one else has is a major driver of the types of cars you tend to purchase. The opening bid may be a fair price per the value of the car, but I still think it’s a long shot a buyer is going to step up to that number for such an unusual specimen.
Wow, this must be diesel day on BF! I dig any silver star with an oil burner in it, but I am definitely not digging the veggie conversion or the price on this one.
Nice car but it has to be slower than molasses
Nothing says you’ve made it more than driving a 36 year old car that smells like French fries LOL.
When you have a desire to roll coal in the classiest way possible
A big car that would have difficulty outrunning the cloud of diesel stink it made.
In my town this would go down a treat. Diesel is 30% cheaper than petrol and this barge probably does a decent 35mpg. Price is a bit steep but not unrealistic given its’ condition and desirability.
A regular w123 got 21 city and 25 on the freeway (at 55 mph)
So I think you’re over estimating a tad
Not as cool as the Chevette stretch that a friend of mine saw and photographed in Ohio, years ago. That one had a B&W TV (do you young ones know what that it?) and an ice chest.
This might be improved if it were repowered with something from the Briggs & Stratton range fine engines. Really 20HP would be fine, right?
There were two demographics MB was targeting: 1) “Nuevo up and coming” dictators who couldn’t afford Grosser and 2) discount funeral homes.
Sam61,
Yep. this car was produced by MB for sale to funeral homes, as well as taxicabs in Europe and the rest of the world. That upholstery wears as if it was woven from steel wool, I’ve seen one with over 400,000 KM on it, and the seats looked great.
I’ve ridden in a couple in Europe, in the urban areas they are great, but used out in the country or in mountainous areas, they are so slow you feel like getting out and walking.
When you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on a 600 Pullman and save your bank account and marriage.
About 20 years ago I was asked by an insurance company to appraise a burned out 600 Pullman limo. I realized the car was a 300D 9-passenger before I even got out of the car. I noted a hole in the forward center of the roof, where the wiring had been for the “TAXI” light. Someone had put a “600” emblem on the trunk lid. Don’t know what happened with the final claim payout, but I’m sure the owner never got the value of a 600 Pullman. Probably had no coverage at all if the owner had created his own 600 and then insured it as such.
Slap the biggest garret turbo you can find on this with some side pipes off an old C2 corvette and take the family to the beach!!
Before minivans, these were used as shared taxis in Israel. They would ba at a stand that said where they were going and would leave when full. They would also do metered rides if someone hailed them on the way to the stands. Replaced by Ford Transit vans long ago.