An interesting Euro 300D on ebay
 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1982-300d-43k-actual-miles-all-records-NO-RESERVE_W0QQitemZ140118940280QQihZ004QQcategoryZ6330QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I don't think I have EVER seen a W123 with a column shift before...how odd!

I'm sure this was only a euro feature as every US spec model I have ever seen has the floor shifter. It's also interesting in that it has no A/C and manual windows, another euro only feature...

IMHO Probably started life as a taxi:)

Finally I know!!
 

I always wondered what the rectangular slot in the middle of the instrument cluster was. Its for the PRNDSL on a column shift.

It seems so obvious now, but I had no idea they ever made a column shifter.

No VDO speedometer on it, (and 140 mph seems a bit optimistic!) but a unique car, I never have seen one of them with a column shift automatic.

Impecable provenance, since day one with first German owner, which is very remarkable, the paperwork is really, really complete on it, mileage is known and confirmed, often hard with gray market cars, all this AND and ultra low mileage on it, (with the pros and cons you get with that)

Great interior/exterior color combo. It looks impecably clean, and very lightly optioned, crank front and rear windows, no AirCon, not even a tinted windshield, Euro lights gone, but euro bumpers retained, although I don't understand much about those bogus looking rear side marker lights. I really like that car, and it appears to be honestly presented. If its not rusty, it's a good one, well worth chasing, if you can get by without aircon.. Easily worth $5,000 or $6,000 I would say, even if it comes without tool kit, trunk warning triangle and first aid kit that it should have.

A savvy bidder might be well advised to negotiate with the seller right away, and stop the auction if he can buy it "now" It's already at $3,849, so the interest for the car is definately there.

Thanks for putting this one up, Marty


EDIT: Up to $4,250 already in just a couple more hours......the low mileage on it is going to drive the price sky high on this one, I'd wager.

I can't live without A/C, not even in NH so it is not for me, but I think it is a really unique example.

It's strange that both the front and rear bumpers are dented (even the front grille is dented) at the same point off center, like there was a pole they hit both pulling into a space and backing in.

I can't be sure, but those may very well be the original lights (the clear lenses on the fogs are not US specs).

Somehow "euro" lights has become synonymous with the more modern looking solid square glass lenses. There were many w123s sold outside the US that were originally equipped with round glass H4 headlights and round H3 fog lights (I believe with clear lenses and yellow tinted bulbs). Personally, I feel that the round style lights lend a more classic look to the car and pair very well with the painted wheel covers.

It does appear to have a headlight adjuster thumbwheel on the dash.

It is a very pretty car to be sure.

I only wish I could find a set of round headlights with the vacuum pods still attached. Mine were swapped out for US spec sealed beams by the PO. :(

Those are US spec lights. Very cool car. That interior is very nice and that column shift is pretty crazy, the first 123 I've seen with that.

This may be the LOWEST optioned w123 EVER! It does have an electiric sliding roof and that is IT! No locks, no AC, nothing! I'd love working with that vacuum system. I would be a little worried about that EGR conversion (see blue vacuum lines in hood) and those side markers in the rear as Jim mentioned. Odd they decided to drill instead of just replace the tail lights with the US versions. It also appears that the car has been outside for awhile. That rear deck carpet is toast. In any case it looks like a nice car with a lot of potential.

Per the Russian vin decoder site:
 

Well, well, well.........

inputting the VIN# WDB12313012282030......

http://www.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/view.html

you get this: "Option #421: Automatic transmission, steering column shift"..

Only other option is, as Zack noted, the sliding sunroof.

This one came almost stripped bare naked, as a new car, in Dusseldorf.

Just fancy that

Here's a printout of the Russian site:

VIN WDB12313012282030
Model 300 D
Chassis 12313012282030
Engine 617912 12 146503
Transmission 722118 02 147047
Order 0 8 216 01019
Approx. year 1978
Dealer Duesseldorf branch (216)
Interior leather "Twin" gravel+pebble beige (135)
Paint
501 Unknown code
Options
254 Unknown code
410 electric sliding roof (с 01.03.1965 по 29.02.1988)

421 automatic transmission, steering column shift (с 01.10.1964 по 31.01.1986)

Odd, odd, odd car.

rare.....

it has to be a euro.. The fuel pump has the shut off vacuum thing on top

How can you tell?

Not trying to be argumentative, its a sincere question.

Here is a pair of round H4/H3 white lenses on ebay Germany.

http://cgi.ebay.de/Scheinwerfer-Mercedes-W123-links-H4-Hella_W0QQitemZ160115491904QQihZ006QQcategoryZ44243QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

the plastic "headlight doors" and euro rounds are one glass piece instead of those sealed beams

Got it. I can see the bezels on the sealed beams.

Danke.

thats a nice 123..I like the simplicity of it. I just got 2 brand new round euro lights, make the road so nice at night....

i predict it will sell to someone who live far north.

very very nice looking car.

tom w