Dave, as a reply to your first post: A 23 year old girlfriend, in most cases IS the same thing as a HOT girlfriend.

ADAM

Right on Dave Thanks.

I, too, aged 51, have a 79 300SD, and a somewhat younger significant female other. Some time ago (9 years), at the beginning of our relationship, I was in the process of deciding whether it would be wise to become more involved (you know, the LOVE thing).

Well, she passed the hot Thai food test ("mm, mm good"), so I decided to apply the Benz test; heck, I was thinking of trusting this person with my heart... first let's see how she does with my car (I know, I know). So she borrowed Benzi for a few hours to go Xmas shopping. Gulp.

She brought the car back a bit late (OK a lot late), and running on fumes. But she brought it back! Test passed!)

Nine years later, Benzi is now her backup driver; that 1st drive was all it took...

My brother bought an 87 300SDL, over the objections of his wife (too stinky, won't run -- his 75 300D isn't in the best of condition), its slow, etc.

She drove it to work a couple times, and now he only gets to drive it to fill it up. Seems it isn't slow, after all, and she can park it places at work she wouldn't attempt with the Buick Century....! She still doesn't like the smell of diesel fuel on her hands, but hey!

She's pretty cool, though -- puts up with the buldozer, the sawmill, etc. too!

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Peter,

The bulldozer, saw mill, and etc.?

Indiana? Is that in Canada?

__________________
Ed
1981 300CD (Benzina)
1968 250 S (Gina) 266,000 miles!
1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6 (Guido)
1976 Jaguar XJS-saved a V-12 from the chevy curse, what a great engine!
1988 Cadillac Eldorado (better car than you might think!)
1988 Yamaha Venture (better than a Wing!)
1977 Suzuki GS750B
1976 Yamaha XS 650 (sold)
1991 Suzuki GSX1100G (Shafty Gixser)
1981 Yamaha VX920RH (Euro "Virago")
Solex Moped
1975 Dodge P/U camper


"Time spent in the company of a cat, a beer, and this forum, is not time wasted!"

Ed:

Nope, just here in the sunny Midwest. We sort of collect things.....! You got any logs you need sawn into lumber?

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Peter

I grew up in Benton Harbor, MI and lived in East Lansing for many years till I moved to San Jose.
This is why I have so much sympathy for folks who live in the rust belt, and why I anguish over all of these MB's and other cars whose pristine bodies are routinely crushed into scrap at the salvage yards here in San Jose, and of course all the other dry places i.e. Texas, Ariz, etc.
A stroll through my local PNP will make you weep. There are usually at least 2-4 Fiat 124 sypders with no rust ( and they are made with russian steel, the worst in the world for rust). The Peugeots are now all gone though, except the newer fwd models.
Volvos? ya gotta be kidding! A virtual "Volvos are us" wonderland!
Mercedes are well represented. Older S models, Finnies, and the occasional Ponton. These are not dented or crashed cars either folks, just abandoned on the streets and collected by the city and disposed of at auctions. The yards pick them up either for free, or pay $100 for them from private parties with the titles.

I keep thinking about a scheme to ship these non-running cars back east to you folks. Fixing the mechanical stuff is a cinch compared to body rot.
Even the paint is still good on these MB's (of course if it is silver, forget it)
How would you like to switch out your body for $500?
Maybe shipping by rail would be cost effective??

Jeez, I dunno. Just seems like a waste.

__________________
Ed
1981 300CD (Benzina)
1968 250 S (Gina) 266,000 miles!
1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6 (Guido)
1976 Jaguar XJS-saved a V-12 from the chevy curse, what a great engine!
1988 Cadillac Eldorado (better car than you might think!)
1988 Yamaha Venture (better than a Wing!)
1977 Suzuki GS750B
1976 Yamaha XS 650 (sold)
1991 Suzuki GSX1100G (Shafty Gixser)
1981 Yamaha VX920RH (Euro "Virago")
Solex Moped
1975 Dodge P/U camper


"Time spent in the company of a cat, a beer, and this forum, is not time wasted!"

Are you serious? Do people really just abandon MB's, Fiats, Volvo's, etc. on the street like they were last nights' styrofoam kung pao containers? You will need a yard & an agent up in The Rust Belt, and an account with a transportation (truck or rail) co.

I gotta tell you, I would seriously look into it. Fifteen or so years ago I had two friends who made a pile of cash doing what they loved, exporting old WWII vintage Harley Davidson WL & XA model motorcycles & parts from the Middle East to Germany, England, the US, Canada & Japan. You have an even easier opportunity, without the attendant international exportation hassles, language barriers & the potential for being kidnapped or killed. (My friends were a German & a Canadian of some sort of middle eastern descent) You have a very real opportunity, and all the car guys in Michigan etc. can score nice bodies for transplanting drivetrains into.
I cant believe that people abandon nice old potentially collectable/enthusiast cars just because they konk out or get a little dent, and they get crushed rather than recycled. Even if you acted as a broker, establishing a list of vehicles people want, picking up the car & arranging everything else with the potential buyer, you could most likely do ok.

Ducati,
thanks for the input. The truth is that the value of these cars is very low, extremely low. Yeah, yeah, I know. But there you are. If I could just have a place to store them, until they get valuable.

There are several MB yards here in SJ, and people routinely drop off their cars in front of the yards, leave the keys in them and take off. I mean, they drive them there!
This one guy charges $125 for a right side mirror!!!

__________________
Ed
1981 300CD (Benzina)
1968 250 S (Gina) 266,000 miles!
1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6 (Guido)
1976 Jaguar XJS-saved a V-12 from the chevy curse, what a great engine!
1988 Cadillac Eldorado (better car than you might think!)
1988 Yamaha Venture (better than a Wing!)
1977 Suzuki GS750B
1976 Yamaha XS 650 (sold)
1991 Suzuki GSX1100G (Shafty Gixser)
1981 Yamaha VX920RH (Euro "Virago")
Solex Moped
1975 Dodge P/U camper


"Time spent in the company of a cat, a beer, and this forum, is not time wasted!"

Do you have a yard where the zoning people wont come & harass you? Man, I wish I could use all the the bush behind my place for something else besides harbouring families of coyotes who have been eating all the neigbors cats. Filling it up with a lifetime supply of 123's & 116's would be perfect.