What a sad day for me!!
China was picked up this evening by Jim, Tyler's new shipping guy.
I drove China this morning to put some fuel in her. It was a rather spirited drive, and I used the AC, the cruise control, and even locked the doors. In other words, all systems go!!
She is a great little 240D, and I truly hope she goes to someone on the forum. The amount of work put into that car is substantial.
So, it was just about dark this evening. First pic used the flash, the brighter ones were without the flash.









Loaded up on the single trailer:



And it was dark, but the driveway goodbye shot:



There goes a really good one!

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

So you fell prey to the "concept, of over saving" eh?

So sad. I could never imagine driving a plastic car on more than a highly temporary basis.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

China came back from the detailers today. Holy Moly... I think its the nicest original W123 I've had. Over the last week I've been driving it more than any other car.

__________________
1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Sure, I miss the '95 and the white wagon, but this one hurts.........
More time and sweat equity in China than any car I've ever owned.
Boy she cleans and polishes up nicely!!!!
When the time comes I really hope she goes to a forum member. She shouldn't be cheap though.......

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

That's a GREAT looking 240D! Congrats and take good care of her. I'd love to have another w123 in my stable in the future.

__________________
#dieselFLEET
---------------
'97 E300
'99 E300

5 years ago I sold China to a fellow in Florida, and its had a rather hard life since then.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-cars-sale/293001-1980-240d-4-speed-china-great-condition-%243500.html

Last year she was offered up for sale for a fantastic price with another w123 and I couldn't pass up the chance to own the nicest W123 I've ever owned. The car has arrived after a mechanical refreshing and is still the nicest DRIVING W123 I've ever owned, but unfortunately as you can see its had multiple scrapes and sat unprotected in the harsh Florida sun.

A buff and polish won't bring the paint back this time. So once more into the breach.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

W0W! Pri$ey little car there!

Boy that's a tough condition to see her in!! But she can always get a boob job and a better hair style! What you can't always do is find one that is such a pleasure to drive!
Hope to see her brought back to her former glory and find a deserving home. She came from a wonderful family originally!!!

...from Tyler when you sold her, Jimmy. Too bad -- clearly bought by someone "
not one of us"

__________________
Anthracite 1980 300D -- 64k original miles with a new engine, on the road again!
Silver 300D -- second owner, Sunny's old baby, Ilse, 210 miles,
Having to thin the herd….
Silver 1983 300SD -- second owner, 325k miles
Gold 1981 300D -- well-traveled, solid little car
Beige 1984 300D -- 292k miles, grease machine, parting out
Seafoam green 1981 300SD -- 250k, windshield frame damage
too many assorted w123 & w126 cars, parts cars, and extras

You rescued her!!! Poor thing has had a rough life...

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

You have China again? Hmmm......

__________________
daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

Well it could have been much worse. Imagine if it went to the North and was subjected to the salty roads? Instead it went to central Florida, so the body is in great shape. Also Jimmy's window tint saved the interior from being baked. It needs a lot of cleaning and some minor fixes, dash cap, and it will look fantastic in there.

Today was a big day. My SL was finished after getting its nose job (new fenders, euro lights, AMG front spoiler) so I decided no reason to wait on China and take her right down to the painters. The battery was dead in the garage, but I rolled it backwards down the gently sloped driveway and she bump started right up. Ice cold AC, cruise working, wound up high but smooth sailing at 70MPH on the highway. Really a fantastic driving car.

So I get to play body man again. My painter doesn't mind body work and painting but hates taking apart and putting back together old cars. So I will take off the trim pieces for paint on Wedsday, he will fix the fender, doors, strip the hood and fix other little dings, paint, and I will reassemble. China will be back to being as clean as it was soon enough.

__________________
1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Is back glass still tinted? That defroster used to work also....

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

The tint is still there, worn out but saved the interior.

__________________
1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Here I go again... Stripped down ready for body work, prep and paint. Hood will be stripped, fender and doors fixed, and plenty of dings taken out.

__________________
1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!