Saw a 1985 TD on SF Bay, Craigslist
 

1985 Mercedes 300TD Wagon ESTATE SALE!!!

Looks pretty good on-line..... but they almost always do!

Damm that is nice. Perfect color too I think. Rust might be a slight issue coming from SF but not as bad as from other places. If I had the cash I'd be sorely tempted.

- Peter.

Ya, the price point seems reasonable if it's in as good of shape as the pictures show.

-J

Depends on proximity to the ocean. If you're a few miles from the ocean you're OK but if this person lives on the shore rust happens SO fast on any exposed metal.

It all depends....
 

If this person lives right on the ocean like Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, Muir Beach then the mist from crashing surf is a killer for sure.

In Santa Cruz, just being away from the mist several blocks makes a world of difference.

I have seen many old vehicles, 30+ years; that live right around SF Bay with near zero rust.

In Maine, the killer is winter roads, stay off of them and vehicles are fine.

Yessah by golly !

Not really a comprehensive set of photos. Would be interested to see if the cargo area carpet and trim are worn from use. Also front seats and carpets.

From what little I can see of the front seats, the backs look like '85s but the front bottoms might be from an earlier car - they don't look the same as my '85 300d.

It's been detailed, so in the absence of really complete pics it is hard to tell if it's nice or just average with a $250 tartup job.

The ad points to the east bay.
510 area code is around Oakland etc.

Alameda has areas close to the bay but not ocean coast.

Are you in Santa Cruz?

Back when I lived with my parents in Aptos, they were renting a little shack on the cliff over Seacliff Beach. My Ford F100 turned to swiss cheese. :(

Loving how the desert treats these old cars now.

Looks nice, but a primo price. They don't mention blow-by. Ask for a video if serious and travelling to buy it. I see many classic cars in SF that look rust-free. If uphill from the Beach or Bay like most places, cars probably survive better there than here in Sac, since less sun damage. Of course a garaged vehicle is best, but rare. Most get side-lined and parked on a side driveway until grandpa can't drive anymore, then they sell.

Don't forget the drippy fog in SF., eevn when you don't live right close to the beach.

That has been the partial cause of my 300D's very minor rust spots.

But now for years, the car is garaged indoors.:)

I agree on the fog situation my 78 sat for 3 year in Alameda....when I got it, there was moss growing in every crevices, the body trim had green moss behind it and running down the body, mildew on all the windows, all the seat horse hair rotted and moisture built up and rusted the frames....it spent its life in Marin and then sat in Alameda...

He's lying. My 85SD doesn't get 30mpg and it is lighter. He left out the pic of the driver's seat & is relying on the rear passenger seat. I wonder why. $5,900 is at the top of the price point if the car doesn't need anything.

They always need something. I figure at least $1,000 for what I don't see.

I flew to SF once to buy a '85 td...

I flew home empty handed. Junkyard sedan motor, rust, no rear suspension, screwed up interior. So much for $6k...

Bought a '81 back in Washington in beautiful shape for $4k

The moss growing in that many areas leads one to think that your '78 was stored where it got little, if any; direct sunlight.

Good Boy Scouts know that the north side of a tree is where the moss grows, unless of course you are in the southern hemisphere.

I think so too, there was plenty of leaves in it showing it was stored under trees, then when it was sitting behind the car place in alameda, it was pretty shady...