The Mercedes-Benz W123 is known to be an incredibly durable machine. Overbuilt from the factory, it has been used by privateers and businesses alike to be put through grueling conditions, from simply the rigors of daily driving to acting as a taxi across the Sahara region. In sum, its exploits are well-documented, which is why you still see them being used today and showing up at your local auto recycler like any other 10-year-old Hyundai. That’s why when a car like this 1980 Mercedes-Benz 300TD shows up here on craigslist as a project for $2,500, it seems quite manageable for almost anyone to get back to daily driver condition.
The seller notes that the Mercedes was his daily driver for a few years before being parked. This is the kind of car that even when a small repair crops up that makes you think twice about using it for a long drive, you don’t get rid of it – you keep it handy until you can either fix the issue or keep using it for safer, shorter trips. The 300TD shown here is a pre-turbocharged version, which makes it particularly pokey and generally speaking, worth a bit less in the eyes of people willing to daily drive an old diesel. The wagon body checks the desirability box, however, to keep hope alive for this down-on-the-farm W123.
The 3.0L OM16 diesel engine is virtually unkillable like most Mercedes motors. Whether you find a diesel in a Unimog or a sedate sedan, you can rest assured that even if the body rots out around it, the mill under the hood could be used to power other equipment in your jurisdiction. This car, however, has some impressive signs of use, most notable in the driver’s seat condition. The original MB-Tex upholstery is typically in mint condition no matter the mileage, but this car shows some very real signs of use. I can’t recall seeing a driver’s seat in this condition in a W123 that wasn’t already in a junkyard; fortunately, you can swap in a replacement without much of a struggle.
With close to 250,000 miles on the clock, this W123 is just getting warmed up. The 5-cylinder diesel makes around 90 horsepower with 127 lb.-ft. of torque to help it get off the line. You will never accelerate briskly in a car like this, which is why the later W123s with the turbocharged 5-cylinder tend to be worth more and more sought-after by enthusiasts. However, if this 300TD is rust-free, that’s a significant argument on its own for restoring this wagon back to good health, as these older Mercedes aren’t immune from the tin worm. Would you restore this wagon and get it off the farm? Thanks to Barn Finds reader Chuck Foster for the tip.
Check for rust under the undercoating in all of the usually places. Also, being a wagon, check out the inner hinge mounts. If rotted, the are almost unrebuildable.
Thanks for the photo with the dash clock. A bit on older Mercedes: in the late 60’s my father bought a 190D which already had 100,000 miles on it. We kept in the family for more than forty years, it was a daily driver, and when finally T-boned by a school bus in LA the clock still worked perfectly.
Your enthusiasm for Mercedes-Benz wagons is anything but uncommon. My two each reached 300,000 miles. This 300D may be a tempting project, but for a little more money, thousands of better examples are easily found. Thus, instead of doing even a partial restoration, you can enjoy using the wagon right away.
It’s practically guaranteed that someone will scarf this up even being non turbo. Although a close visual inspection would be necessary it looks pretty darn solid from the photos. The problems that the seller has disclosed are fixable especially by those aficionados who are knowledgeable about these old Mercs. It is priced right and the seller appears to be upfront. I would be surprised if this is for sale very long. I would probably buy it if it was local. GLWTS.
Yup. My first thought is it would probably be easy enough to find a rusted out good running turbo diesel powered w123 and you’d be all set. Of course that’s if you know what you are doing, or know someone who does. Easy enough to find replacement seats, etc.
Nice project for the right person. And cheaper than buying some generic new throwaway commuter on the market now.
My one worry would be if it has been sitting in that same spot on the grass for while, which from the pictures looks to be the case. What does the underside of the chassis look like now?
i C “TD”, not turboed- Frank, bob?
A fav of mine, here affordable, condition or not.
Something for me to seriously consider…
TN not far, I shipped an engine there.
Too bad no ‘under’ pic~
CL, lucky others are a bust 4 me
Don’t know much about diesels or Mercedes but I agree with chrisful. The badges say TD, turbo diesel. Why would they present it as normally aspirated? No engine shots either. Like the color, with the seats resine this could be a nice driver if you can address the known issues.
In Germany these are refered to as Touring cars. So, Touring Diesel. If it were a Turbo, it would have to be at least an 82 and a half MY, and would spell out TURBO on the right side of the hatch.