A few days ago I saw a really nice 280SE 4.5 that dated from about ’73. Anyone know if MB made a diesel engine version of this cool body style? Also, what is the chassis number?

~Thanks~

__________________
...Tracy

'00 ML320 "Casper"
'92 400E "Stella"

No.

Look here:

http://www.geocities.com/mbz109/

Louis.

W108/W109 was all gas models. A number have been converted to diesels, though (this was popular twenty years ago in Europe). A 617 turbodiesel give similar performance to the older non FI sixes.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Thanks for the great feedback, even though it created dashed hopes!

Any recommended models using a diesel engine from this time frame (early 70s)?

__________________
...Tracy

'00 ML320 "Casper"
'92 400E "Stella"

I've noticed that some of these cars have the single vertical lights while others (in fact most of them) have the double round lights on each side. Was this another case of US-spec lighting or what determined the type of lights on each car?

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

That "1973" 280 SE 4.5 is actually a 1972. It may have been titled in 1973 but Mercedes changed from the W108 to the W116 in 1973.

Yep, those double vertical lights are U.S. spec, they are IMO some of the nicest looking U.S. spec lights put on a MB.
-Joe

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

For the 1973 model year, they had both 108 and 116.
David

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_____________________________________________

2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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Single lamp headlights are euro spec, and I want some!

The only early 70's diesel was the 220/240D in the W115 chassis. In '75 Benz stuffed in the 617 non-turbo to make the 300D, only sold it in 75 and 76. Also available as a two door coupe (300CD). In '76 the W123 came out, lots of those available.

I'm partial to the W115 chassis, but they are mostly very rusty by now, and will require total reconstruction to be very usefull.

None of them, coupes included, are very collectable, although the 300CD is the most desirable.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Bump....

__________________
...Tracy

'00 ML320 "Casper"
'92 400E "Stella"

The diesel models from this time frame were 115 chassis. 220D to 73 and 240D / 300D from 74 to 76. Not many 220Ds survive but you still see an occasional 240D. I had one up until about a year ago. The 220D looked better as it had the shorter bumpers.

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Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



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