Larry, I'm in the same situation, but I don't want to rip it off with a crowbar. I'd like to replace it with the cubby that comes in cars that don't have a phone so I have some place to put my glasses. The knee bolster pockets in later 126s work nicely but the 140 doesn't have them. The upper armrest cubby has cup holders and the phone handset so glasses don't fit too well there either. Well, optical glasses don't I'd like to remove the handset as well to make room for my wife's glasses and/or a handheld cell phone. I'll keep everything for provenance.

IMO, I'd rather deal with a used car with the factory phone missing than with a car with a cup holder attached to the door panel.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD