Richard, the Virginia Beach neighbor who bought 'Beirut Taxi', my rusty but nice-running '81 240D, called my up his morning with a sad tale. Seems a carpenter hired to help enlarge the loft above his garage turned out to have a phony name and a felony rap-sheet. After several days work, said carpenter (hereafter known as Dirtbag!) became familiar with where Rischard kept the car-keys.
Ignoring the keys to Richard's nice 2.6 190E, and the wife's late-model Volvo SUV, Dirtbag decided to help himself to Beirut Taxi. After an unsuccessful attempt to fence the old car, Dirtbag then drove to a deserted street near the Virgina Beach Pick-N-Pull and torched it. Unfortunately for Dirtbag, he was unaware that security cameras at the nearby industial-park, caught his bonfire on videotape!
About a week after the car dissappeared, the arson investigator for the local fire department showed up to inform Richard the his car had been found and would he like to accompany them downtown for questioning! Richard informed them that he'd reported the theft to the police the previous week, and that the car only had liability insurance coverage, which probably took some of the wind out of the arson investigator's sails.
Dirtbag was arrested, and with his prior record, they say he's facing a minimum 5-years for arson, plus grand-theft charges.
Unfortuately, Richard is still out his nice-running 240D, plus what he spent for the new brake master-cylinder, timing-chain, shocks, tires and stereo.
Despite it's cosmetic flaws, Richard and his wife really came to like that car. Just a week before it was stolen, they drove it down to Beaufort SC for a weekend holiday.
To top it off, Dirtbags attorney called Richard to claim his client was owed $2500 for the work on the garage! Richard replied the amount was actually closer to $150 and Dirtbag was caught red-handed on tape.
The attorney's response "Well, he hasn't been convicted"
Richard's final word "Go ahead and sue!"

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Well that just sucks... amazing what people will do....

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed

Sorry to hear of your loss. Dirt Bags attorney is probably trying to get some money from some place as he realizes that dirt bag has none. The counter claim if he was stupid enough to sue would be interesting, Maybe $10k, when you consider that he failed to complete the work & you have suffered significant psychological injury from his actions!

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

It's actually my neihgbor Richard's's loss, as he bought the car from me last year, but I had some good times and fond memories with it during my brief ownership, and I'm sad to see another old 240D destroyed.
Not sure he would collect for mental anguish, but since it was a deliberate and malicious act, Richard might be awarded a sizeabe sum in punitive damages if it ever went to civil court. But I doubt Dirtbag has any significant cash or assets.

Richard told me the car is actually intact from the windsheild forward. I'll have a look when I get to Virginia Beach next week.
Wouldn't it be ironic if I wound up getting some spare parts from Beirut Taxi's remains at the Virginia Beach Pick-N-Pull!

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Pick n pull atleast here has a policy of Crushing burnouts right away

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed

I've seen some burnt vehicles linger awhile at the Virginia Beach Pick-N-Pull. So long as they still have some valuable undamaged parts like engines, trannys, etc...
Richard was talking about getting some parts off it BEFORE it gets sent to scrap.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

I had a middle school math teacher that used to teach in Chicago. Said his SAAB was torched, but he was able to drive it to the junkyard.

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CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?

I went with my neighbor Richard over to where they towed the charred hulk that once was his (and my) 240D.
Turns out the fire made it to the engine compartment, and burned for some time before the fire department arrived. Everything around the top of the engine - fuel lines, vacuum hoses and other combustible items have vanished.
So it looks like the engine is toast. Richard managed to save the hood-star, and I got the left front corner-light. There were a few other undamaged bits, like the alternator, and possibly the transmission, but we brought no tools and Richard will probably leave them. He does plan on returning to recover the three undamaged new tires, and four aluminum rims to use on his 250SL.
So sad!

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DrDKW

The scumbag that torched the 240, should be offered as a burnt offering to the MB Gods. In the middle of a busy intersection .

Seems odd to sell the car to the PNP, then go back and buy parts off it should have removed the parts first.

The MB dies and the Scumbag lives on............


Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Well, the car isn't mine anymore, but belongs to my neighbor, so he has the final say on it's disposal. The only thing I'd really like would be the manual tranny (if it's the aluminum-case) but the car is secured in the back-lot of a local bodyshop, they want it out by tommorrow, and I need to get back to Alexandria Tuesday, so I don't think I'll have an opportunity.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

****ing scumbag losers piss me the **** off and some of these lawyers are becoming awfully close to them in my book......

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

Yeah I knew it was you neighbors from the first post. If you wern`t so far away I`ed pull the trans for you. hate to see good parts crushed.

There should be some kind forum member that would pull it for you in your neck of the woods. Hey guys!!!!!!! don`t be bashful

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

then down the road these Lawyers become Scumbag looser politicians.


Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Well. My neighbor told me a local Virginia Beach scrapper gave him over $400 for Beirut Taxi's charred remains, and he was able to keep the 4 alloy hubcap-wheels, with the three remaining new undamaged tires for his Pagoda 250SL.
last I heard, the price for junkers was around $250 so it sounds like the price of scrap is up.
If I can figure out how to do it, I may post Beirut Taxi's final photos if anyone's interested.

Happy Motoring, Mark

__________________
DrDKW

Yes, we are a Visual Groupe More pictures.

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works