Does anybody remember that TV commercial from 10 or so years ago where at the beginning the actor says: “Opulence, I has it.” It’s probably more fitting when this car was new in 1979 than today, but that’s the first thing that comes to mind when I see this 1979 Mercedes-Benz 300TD. It was sent in by a Barn Finds reader who found it here on eBay in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After 53 bids have been tendered, the current high bid is $12,525 in this no reserve auction.
Maybe it’s because I grew up regularly seeing these on the road, but I find the W123 Mercedes-Benz to be timeless. There were more than 2.5-million built during their run from 1976 to 1986. This 1979 model presented here was the first year for the station wagon variant. For the wagon’s first 2 years only, that diesel engine was naturally-aspirated.
This Mercedes presents very well. The Icon Gold Metallic paint was repainted about 15-years ago, but still looks fresh. The wheels show minor curb rash and the passenger fender is described as “wavy” due to an aborted paintless dent removal attempt, but overall the exterior shows well, especially compared to many other W123 Mercedes. While not necessary, I’m partial to the body color-matched wheel covers on these, so that’s the only change I’d be looking to make.
The bamboo leather interior has withstood the test of time. I see some minor cracking on the seat piping and some very minor perfections elsewhere but considering this is a 41-year old station wagon with 138k miles, I’d say its condition is impressive. The carpet is clean with just minor signs of wear, most notably on the spare tire cover. The dash appears crack-free. Overall it’s a very clean, well-preserved interior.
You’ll find a 3.0-litre inline 5-cylinder diesel engine under the hood. Power is sent to the rear wheels by a console shifted automatic transmission. The seller says it “runs and drives wonderfully” but also notes while being fun to drive it is very slow. The condition under the hood matches the condition of the rest of the car – clean and well-preserved.
I don’t deserve an example this nice, but I could see myself behind the wheel of one of these. The estate (station wagon) version would seem to be the most practical choice and is my favorite of the W123 Mercedes. Which style is your favorite – wagon, sedan, or coupe?
The paintless dent guy probably broke his tools trying to reshape that Teutonic steel.
Good for many more miles. And lingering slow smiles.
Photos taken at the Philbrook museum in an “old oil money” neighborhood of Tulsa. Former home of Waite Phillips. His brother and he started Phillips Petroleum. The mansion has tastefully been added on to and now a museum with gardens. If you going through Tulsa – need to see and see the neighborhood.
Car is pulling some serious money for such a snail. Excellent long-term craftsmanship of MB of the day. These diesels are climbing in value.
That’s not leather interior, it’s a thick vinyl called MB Tex and it’s impervious to damage short of a chain saw attack.
Unlike the MB Tex used on the newer Mercedes. My 2010 E350 cracking and splitting, even though parked indoors.
It actually is leather. That was an option. Pre-83 the MB Tex had wider pleats with 5 panels. You can always spot the leather option because the pleats are narrower on the leather with a total of 6 panels.
Also, Champagne was the original exterior color. This is a close match but too saturated. The interior is Palamino.
From the days when you could actually buy a luxury car in an interesting color.
It’s just begun. Buy it, give it to a Mercedes Dealer’s service Department for a good look over, and drive it slowly for another 150,000 miles at least.
Good post, I agree about the wheels, and nice car. Well done, BF.
That’s a leather interior.
Might be replacement but it’s real leather.
Just curious, How can you tell that it is leather as opposed to MBTex?
Because I have one with Palomino Tex.
Oh I’m sorry I didn’t realize this was your car. Looks nice.
I have a ’79 300TD with MB-Tex. The front seat panels have 5 small panels across the seat. The leather “option” has 6 smaller panels. Rick.
My sister’s ’85 300SD Is bog slow, but if you leave the auto stick in D3 it delays the shifts a bit, and accelerates a bit better. Or manually shift it too keep it in the power band and floor the smoke pedal, and she moves along.
I was surprised as well to see Ikon gold on a 79 W124. I bought a 76 450slc in Ikon and 76 was a partial year for that color. I’d much rather have that color than champagne. Someday soon I will have a Barn Find success story to match up with the original story.
The real negative with the 79 is the climate control system which was developed by Chysler. It was extraordinarily troublesome AND expensive to repair. With the turbo in 1981+, the cars had very adequate power if mechanically together. I drove my 85 300TD today and had absolutely no problem with acceleration.
We had a Brown ‘79 300TD when I was a kid. In The Colorado mountains, it was ungodly slow. I remember loaded semis passing us on the passes. My mom traded it the moment the turbo came out, and that was a great car, though still not quick. I now have a medium blue ‘85 and still love it, And considering doing a manual swap (the load leveling is loving all that back there right now lol.) I adore the power And handling of the ‘87 124 300TD, but the classic style and bulletproof quality of the 123 has it beat.
A very nice example of the 123 wagon but OMG that color is awful. IMO very, very few cars look good in that deep gold shade. It’ll run (slowly) and stink up the neighborhood for another 150k miles with decent maintenance but give me a 124 any day. Oh, wait, I already have a bunch of them.