[V8] Touring car musings.

[Tony and Lillie]

A local guy is selling a one owner W123 non turbo 81K original "brand new" 
(my words after seeing it, not his) for $9500. It's the 300D. It's got a 
darker interior, some sort of red/brown with a light yellow interior. I 
couldn't believe the shape of the car, it's stunning. I've always liked the 
240D's better, as most of them came with teh four speed manual, but this is 
still one hell of a car for that price!

Interesting of course, that it was built in the time when MB did business as 
"this is the last car our customer should ever have to buy" instead of the 
09 C300 I just rode in, which feels like, and is built much like a fancy 
Camry/Accord.

The only significant thing that appears to go wrong with the w123's is the 
compressor. Built by GM of course, and thirty plus years old to boot. Do 
that, the R/D, and expansion valve, and you are good to go. BTW, when I was 
younger I always dreamed of a souped up 300SD (turbo five cyl) engine 
stuffed in an older body style (mid 60's) 190 or 220.

Anyhow, good reading as always, Roger,
Tony


> Then out on the wrong coast a guy is selling two interesting looking
> Mercedes Type W123 diesel coupes.  I think the nicest one is the Maple
> yellow '78 non-turbo coupe with less than 80,000 miles.  Then there is the
> most interesting one which is a later coupe that has the turbodiesel 
> engine,
> leather interior, European headlights and heated seats which are very rare
> in these cars.  Either one for less than $15,000 which might seem like a
> lot, but if these are anywhere as good as they look, they will run forever
> and provide really good long distance touring comfort.  I have owned two
> cars from this series, and although a bit dated, they are comfy, 
> economical
> long distance cars.
>