I've been trying to prepare for retirement and a cross country move next year, and have been trimming the fleet (MB and non MB).

So..... I'm on leave and visiting my family in Tucson, AZ. (Mom, siblings, daughter), when we have lunch with an old family friend. He's been a MB dieselhead for many years, and recently sold his home (4 car garage) and moved into smaller digs.

I enquired what he was doing with his cars, and he told me he was looking to get rid of one of them. He wanted it to go to an appreciative home. Even though I need another like a hole in the head, I had to ask, how much?

Here's the zinger. Free. No charge.
Well, given my last name, he was singing my song.

So the next day, my cousin Tim and I went down to the storage building where the car was. The paint was flat (not a surprise in Tucson), but the car is rust free and no big dents. The interior was decent as well, except for the usual cracked dash. Car looked stock, down to the round headlights and Becker GP radio. The antenna worked, as well as the A/C. It had been sitting for two months, we hooked up the battery, cranked it over and it started right up. Sounded great for 229K. Drove it around the lot a bit, needs a tranny mount/ front flex disc, but otherwise ran and drove smoothly. Called my daughter up and told her we were dropping off a spare car, drove it over to her place and parked it under the carport.

Now, to get it registered and insured, then address the issues next time I'm out for a visit. It's driveable as is, but I'm picky, so I want it to be right. Nice set of Michelins on it as well.

It all happened so fast I didn't get a chance to take pictures, and now I'm trying to get my daughter to send me some...

The really cool thing is what the car is...... It's an 85 300TD, silver with a creme interior. Surprisingly, even my wife was happy, she has always missed her 87 300TD. Ironically, it is also the third silver MB wagon in a row for us.

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles