Arrg....I hate computers...lost the first, legnthy post.

This morning at 0630 my 15 year old son and I were on the road heading out to meet Damon, 1983 300TD, to take a look at the $100 240D he posted earlier about. 3 hours and 270 miles later we were at the agreed meet point sipping coffee. Damon arrived at the agreed time and after a brief chat we headed out of town. I really enjoyed watching his TD tool down the road but I hate him for his exhaust. He is running a WVO blend that smells of french fries and that aroma made me hungrier than all get out!

After a short 20 miles or so we arrived at the owners house. I began to have doubts, questioning my own sanity fro driving 300 miles to look at a car behind a barn. I've seen plenty of these "field" cars, most are a huge pile of rust and useless parts. Damon's description of "not too much rust" leave plenty of room for doubt because rust in Michigan is generally accepted - look at the posts by whunter about rust.

Out behind the barn we find




(thats junior heading towards Damon's TD)



Well, the right front tire is flat, battery is missing and the hood star is gone too. We pull the battery out of the 560 and lug it up to the 240. Once bolted in we give the key a turn. The starter starts turning, but slow. A couple tries later still no joy. The glow plug light appears to be functioning properly but I check the GPs with a DMM. Find none open but a wide varience in resistance (8.5 - 45.9 ohms). OK, she needs glow plugs, but it is 65+*F so it should start if we can get it spinning fast enough. A couple more tries with the key and the starter gives up the ghost. Starer is dead, Damon finds a receipt for a CarQuest starter dated a few years ago...most likely a cheapo rebuild.

OK, we need tires, glow plugs and a starter, but is it worth it? Maybe the next two pictures will help...


Yep thats a stick


presumed to be correct.

Beside the low mileage and stick shift, the car has manual windows, manual sunroof, no ACC. It does however have a factory AC unit.

I've made up my mind.

We talk with the owner, her and her late husband bought this little beastie new in 1979. Drove it for a year or two then sold it to someone else in their town. A few years ago it came home to roost when the owner stored it on their property, then paid them for storage by giving them the car back.

Besides this blue 240 they owned four others at one time or another, all 240's, all stick shift and mostly used just around the local area.

Left me with the feeling the mileage is true. Beneath the dirt, grime and whatnot, everything looked to be near new, especially the aluminum casting for the alt bracket and motor mount arms.

I gladly hand over a C-note and the now prior owner hand me a set of original keys, including the valet key. We talk a bit more and she will allow me to leave the car where it is until I have time to come up again with a set of tires, fresh fuel and glow plugs. Plus I'll need some way to bring back an engine...a second diesel engine comes with the deal. No idea what it fits, the lady wasn't sure and we didn't travel to the other barn to check it out.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.