I ran the carfax

03/09/1993 72,625
Florida Motor Vehicle Dept.
Daytona Beach, FL Title #22032050
Odometer reading reported for title or registration

01/27/1999
Florida Police Report
Case #506412490
Accident Reported Involving right side impact
with another motor vehicle

Dude, the Wentzel guy got owned.

Honestly though, I'm going to have to say something about these cars in Florida that we've all seen, and it's the same thing I have to admit that I think is the best approach towards Lovecraft's system:

Anyone who buys a car like this and doesn't do their research gets what they deserve.

Scam
 

I have no idea if this is the same guy I dealt with .... but maybe 4 years ago I was living about 60 miles south of there, and looking for a MB diesel; saw an Ebay ad -- don't remember if the background was the Bayfront shown here (which I'm familiar with), went to St Pete to see the car, a 123 300D turbo.

The "dealership" location was a triple bay in a typical Florida light industrial area, with shops in a line on both sides of a steel building, no sign, no personnel besides the man showing me the car... and I had to make arrangements to meet him there.

The car looked fair, but when started had an ominous rhythmic clank that seemed to be from the AC compressor -- or the balancer -- I couldn't be sure. He let me drive it, and the car would hardly get out of its own way - very dangerous in traffic. It just wouldn't accelerate. It felt like the brakes were stuck. I could envision arriving from far away to drive this thing home - what a rude awakening that would be !

I remember figuring out that he had gotten the car from the Lakeland auction, the biggest around (close to Orlando), and therefore knew NO history. The car we're looking at came from Daytona (also close to Orlando), possibly through the same auction ... in which case he again knows nothing about any dealer maintenance.

The gentleman looked Indian or Pakistani, just as a clue.

I was SOOOOOO happy I hadn't bid!!

Ed

Looks they are back in business. At least, back in business at eBay. However they do use a new account.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1983-300SD-W126-TURBO-DIESEL-WARRANTY-FLORIDA-LOW-MILES_W0QQitemZ330198218509QQihZ014QQcategoryZ6330QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1984-300SD-W126-TURBO-DIESEL-WARRANTY-FLORIDA-CLEAN_W0QQitemZ330198218188QQihZ014QQcategoryZ6330QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1983-300SD-W126-TURBO-DIESEL-WARRANTY-FLORIDA-LOW-MILES_W0QQitemZ330198217567QQihZ014QQcategoryZ6330QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The last one, with the famous turning lights in different colors :rolleyes: