w123 body style will be 40 yrs in just a few yrs. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

chasinthesun · #1 09-11-2014, 11:33 AM

Thats a very old design ,well out of todays sleak looking plastic wrapped econo cruisers of today its a bit dated but I still get looks driving the 300cd . In yrs past what cars can you think of that you still see around on the road in abundance ,Im thinking the VW bug may win the award for longest run of a design .If Mercedes would retro the w123 chassis Design I wonder what it would look like?

Mölyapina · #2 09-11-2014, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chasinthesun

Thats a very old design ,well out of todays sleak looking plastic wrapped econo cruisers of today its a bit dated but I still get looks driving the 300cd . In yrs past what cars can you think of that you still see around on the road in abundance ,Im thinking the VW bug may win the award for longest run of a design .If Mercedes would retro the w123 chassis Design I wonder what it would look like?

The W210?

The W123 is pretty much the only car from the early '80s that I still see around with any sort of regularity.

uberwasser · #3 09-11-2014, 04:39 PM

Around these parts you still "see" lots of American 80's cars. Caprices, Mustangs, Suburbans, things like that. Our rust free environment helps.

But while I "see" them I don't really "notice" them. I definitely notice all the W123's rolling around. Sometimes I see 2-3 a day.

I get bummed out when they don't seem to notice me in mine, waving at them

My black one gets all the attention. My '85 doesn't get looks, with its current paint job.

Skippy · #4 09-11-2014, 04:51 PM

We have a lot of old stuff still running around here. Cars don't rust much in my area. We even have AMC Eagles still driving around.

cooljjay · #5 09-12-2014, 12:34 AM

I know, I still can't believe my 78 is 38 years old and I am still cursing down the high way in style. I have a hard time wanting to paint her too....as she looks so much classier with the faded silver paint.

MBeige · #6 09-12-2014, 12:41 AM

I always thought of the W211 as the next W123, while the W212 was the next W124, mainly due to the round (W211) vs square or angular (W212) lights.

sleepstar · #7 09-12-2014, 01:08 AM

i'd say technically the design is already 40 years old! i'm sure the plans were finalized at least a year or two before the first one came off the assembly line. in fact 1500 or so were made in 1975.

chasinthesun · #8 09-12-2014, 11:31 AM

To retro a design has been in the auto marketplace for many old brand designs , the Camero ,Mustang ,Charger ,Cooper ,VW Bug to name a few.Its all about keeping the lines of the orig. but bringing down the roofline including the doors ,and slooping the fenders then the lights .To keep the frt grill would be a must then one piece the frt lights w/2 round lights as the orig and retro the back lights keeping the lines of what was used,to give the extra toughness to the design with larger but era correct rims ,17 in bundts would be interesting.If you take the opinion the design was altered to its next generation is like saying the same happened when these famous designs step through the model change ,its just not a true statement.The 86 model was not ugly ,just not what I consider a retro w123 like whats been hitting the market . Mercedes hasnt answered this very important calling ,especially when their buyers are previous owners of their brand.If their interest are to provide the highest engineered cars with a zillion new technoligies on board I believe they have forgotten their roots ,thats what the w123 chassis brought to Mercedes ,a car that was recognized and to this day is a favorite family friend that will take you anywhere .

vstech · #9 09-12-2014, 11:45 AM

I disagree.

the MB has ALWAYS been a leader in automotive technology.

the 123 was not just a well designed vehicle with bumpers... it was a technological leap in handling, and suspension. a people's car with durability, class and modern handling. the 126 went further, the 124 went further still, etc, etc, etc...

I totally agree, a throwback vehicle with a nod to the 123 would be an amazing car, I doubt it would sell like the grunt throwbacks have. the beetle was first I think, with ties to the flower power group.

the charger was next, but just the name, not the styling. the mustang was next, and then the challenger, then the camaro... all popular muscle cars with that draw.

I think the 123 would appeal, but would not sell. "economy" has a different face than it did in the 70's where diesel took the world by storm with fuel sipping of 25+mpg... and aside from the classy look, there's not really a way to bring that face and style to the 60mpg crowd... hmm... unless they put in a electric powerplant... ala volt... now that would be something... a DIESEL backup power generator on the battery to run the electric motor with a 500mile range... it might work.

H-townbenzoboy · #10 09-12-2014, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepstar

i'd say technically the design is already 40 years old! i'm sure the plans were finalized at least a year or two before the first one came off the assembly line. in fact 1500 or so were made in 1975.

You're right, the W123 design is already over 40 years old. The 123 was also heavily influenced by earlier models like the /8 and the W108/109, and those designs are now approaching 50 years old.

During that time in MB's history, designs were frozen 3-4 years before the car was ready to be introduced. The design process usually started 3-4 years prior to that, which was usually shortly after the predecessor's production began. The W126 project began around 1972-73, after the W116 came out. The design was frozen in 1975 and the first ones were built in 1979. The W140 project began in 1981 and the design was frozen in 1986 with a planned introduction date of October 1989 that got delayed to 1991. The W222 S-class just came out, and I bet they're already working on the W223, or whatever the successor will be called.

MBeige · #11 09-12-2014, 08:25 PM

Design origins?

H-townbenzoboy · #12 09-12-2014, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBeige

Design origins?

That looks like a proposed W100 refresh for the 80s using W116/123 leftover parts. The date card shows it to be from 1977. I'm glad it didn't go through. Yuck!

ROLLGUY · #13 09-13-2014, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippy

We even have AMC Eagles still driving around.

Funny you should mention the Eagle. Here in So. Cal, California's largest Eagle collection is in my back yard! (actually-was. I had 6 of them at one time). In fact, I used to have one of only 5 TurboDiesel Eagles made (only 2 known to exist today). I don't see too many Eagles anymore on the road. They are mostly in places that have inclement weather many months of the year. So. Cal. is not one of those places!

Phillytwotank · #14 09-13-2014, 08:35 AM

Long live the Eagle!!