The Jetta ECOdiesel is less common then any SDL... they sold 750 of them in 91 and 51 in 1992. Yet, somehow, I've come in contact with quite a few of them, and own two!

If you are always looking for something specific that is sprinkled around, you'll notice it amidst the other items. There were 2 1998 Passat TDIs sold, and between all the "lookers" on TDIclub we actually spotted one of them once. That is a rare car

In Michigan Mercedes cars are a lot less common then out East. Makes spotting a clean one that much more of a treat

It would be interesting to know how many examples of a specific model still exist. Every state's DMV would have that kind of data, but I don't know how one could compile all of it.

-J

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

Sage advice certainly Joe, the problem comes when one decides to make the car perfect, or in some cases, better than it was new, ... and the costs will soon eclipse the value.

It then becomes a hobby, and the hobby is allowed to cost something, provided one is enjoying the hobby.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Understood.

At 28 yrs. old I took stock in what my car hobby was costing me in dollars versus getting ahead. I decided to curtail the car hobby back to a car needs issue. I've never regretted the change, although I live for my cars/vehicles. I just don't spend all my money on them anymore - although I could. Too many other life-projects that keep me busy. In my case I spent so much time on-the-road making a buck, it helped me keep my vehicles in proper personal perspective. That may change......I'll keep everyone posted.

__________________
'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

This is true, but when you are done you are left with your car, which is equipped exactly as you would like. And that's almost priceless

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

Here are some definitions of the terms antique and classic
http://automotive-insurance.suite101.com/article.cfm/classic_vs_antique_car

The 300SDL is ALMOST antique, but will never be a classic as defined by the Classic Car Club of America, which has very strict requirements...
Even my 1957 Chevy Nomad would not be a classic under their rules and that was one RARE car, rarer than my 1996 Impala, 1971 Buick GS and my 300SDL...

__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

As my students would say, "Word!" I've had a real eye-opening object lesson lately of how priceless my car is to me. My friends and family think I'm out of my mind.

There's a list of the CCCA's approved classics here.

For MB, it says, "all 230 models and up", K, S, SS, SSK, and SSKL, Grosser and Mannheim. This is only cars between 1925 and 1948, oddly enough. There's quite a few 60s era vehicles I expected to see on the list. Age and rarity seem to be a big focus with them.

__________________
Current car:
1982 300D A New Hope! Three-plus tons of China blue steel, rubber, and magic.

Past cars:
1985 300D, Glorious anthracite on black. Gracie. (R.I.P.)
The rest were crappy--including a 1970 Orange Gremlin.