It's a boring story but I agreed to buy an '84 190D 5 speed 2.2 from a guy that owned it for a few years, the car for about 2 or 3 years when he was over seas. My plan was to get this car running and drive it while I work on my W123. As always, the guy "lost" the title and it was in his friends name still, so he said his "friend" has been dealing with the state of Mississippi about getting a new title. It's been a couple months since I've heard from the guy and he will not return my calls.

I did not finish paying him for the car so it's not a total loss, the local scrap yard said they will give me $300 for it but I can't stand the thought of crushing this car, so I figured the best bet is to part it out. The body is in great rust free condition, the interior isn't bad except for the dash.
He said it ran when he parked it but I don't think I will trust his word anymore, I have not been able to start it because there is no key. The oil is clean looking but maybe he dumped a bunch in before he brought it to me. The 5 speed shifts smooth but the clutch has no resistance.

There seem to be a lot of nice parts on this car that would be a shame to crush. If anybody is interested, let me know.

Wonder how hard it would be to swap your manual transmisson in my auto?

This allways happens when I have no money!

Legal issues aside (trying to sell a car without a title) - this sounds like a real diamond in the rough.

A rust free 2.2 5-speed is a gem, whatever you do, don't let it go to the crusher. Interiors and dashes can be replaced, a rust free body cannot.

There may be a way to petition the state for a title - there is usually some legal remedy.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't let this car go to the crusher. It can be made to start without a key - driving it is another matter (steering lock), but that can also be overcome with sufficient work.

On these cars, a rust free body is the single most valuable thing you can have. a 2.2 / 5-speed drivetrain is another great asset.

Now I need to look up your location and think about heading your way with a trailer.

SteveM

__________________
'93 190E/D 2.5 Turbodiesel 5-speed (daily driver)
'87 190D 2.5 Turbo rustbucket - parts car
'84 Dodge Rampage diesel - Land Speed Record Holder
'13 Ram 2500 Diesel
'05 Toyota 4Runner

PS - a 2.2 pressure plate combined with the hydraulics of the MB system doesn't offer much resistance - don't take that as a sign of a problem.

Man, I find myself craving that car - do you have any pics to post/share?

I've been wanting to build a "hypermiling" 2.2 5-speed 190 (stripped down interior, lowered to reduce the frontal area, some aero tricks to increase mileage - run it on homebrewed biodiesel.

SteveM.

__________________
'93 190E/D 2.5 Turbodiesel 5-speed (daily driver)
'87 190D 2.5 Turbo rustbucket - parts car
'84 Dodge Rampage diesel - Land Speed Record Holder
'13 Ram 2500 Diesel
'05 Toyota 4Runner

The crusher would be a last resort option if I needed money for a life saving operation lol. The car has been in my backyard for well over 6 months now so it's not like the car has to be gone tomorrow, it can stand to sit a little while longer.

If the guy won't return my calls and the car is on my property, don't I have the right to sell it? its an abandoned vehicle.

I'm not a lawyer, and don't play one on TV, so I'm certainly not authorized to tell you if it's legally OK to sell or not.

My "gut" tells me that a bill of sale would be sufficient documentation (CYA) that an abandoned vehicle left on your property was being sold off / removed from the premises. In some states (I believe KY and PA are 2 of them), you can obtain a title based on a bill of sale.

SteveM.

(do you have any pics of the car)?

__________________
'93 190E/D 2.5 Turbodiesel 5-speed (daily driver)
'87 190D 2.5 Turbo rustbucket - parts car
'84 Dodge Rampage diesel - Land Speed Record Holder
'13 Ram 2500 Diesel
'05 Toyota 4Runner

I will get some pictures up tonight.

If you have a name and can get a hold of the original owner ,have them get a lost title then have them mail that to you with their signatures on the back..

Pictures?