German auto inspections have been very strict for decades.
Maybe better luck finding older W123, etc. in Portugal, Eastrn Europe, Africa, Middle East, Southeast Asia.
Someone here posted a link to somebody's 300TD safari in Africa, with several photos of taxis in (I think) Morroco. In the taxi-depot photo there must have been 20 or 30 W123 240Ds!

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW