Crack price of the day, tear em apart boys!
 

The selling dealer seems to be confused in his description of the car by stating (I believe) that this car was built on the W123 platform.

They're definitely not knowledgeable on old Mercedes, that's for sure.

That said, I don't feel that the price is completely out of line if the car truly has 5,000 original miles. Probably one of the lowest mileage examples around.

Unfortunately, as we all know, long term non op storage of a car is probably not a good idea. Bringing such a car back to life can be an expensive proposition (replacement of brake hoses, fluids, etc). Looks like a beautiful car. Personally, I prefer the 123 body style.

Why? Most people woold be happy to see their assets appreciate.

Absolutely, but it will probably be sold to someone who is a collector, where it will sit for many more years. Car enthusiast won't buy low mileage, high dollar cars because they're not worth it. Car collectors would scoop it up in a heartbeat because it will just sit there and be extremely low mileage forever. I know people like this.

Was an SD really $40K in 1983? I remember buying my wife an '83 in about 1986 and we paid about $24K for it then - which was quite a bit.

I have mixed emotions about trailer queens like this one. Why own it if you do not enjoy driving it?

Are those the correct wheels? My '83 had bundts.

Chrome fender flairs and wheels in an attempt to maximize the appeal.

There was a concerted effort to buy and store cars in the 1960s. They were cheaper then and the expectation was to make a profit. By doing so.

Old time collectors warned not to pay too much. For 1960s cars. As eventually the ones in storage will be fed back on the market. I personally thought it was over by the 1980s.

$ 24,000 in 1986 = $ 56,000 in 2019

https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm

I can see that price in 20 years. Absolutely mental.

Well it's very pretty in any case .

I too prefer the W123 chassis, my brother had two W126's and they're fine cars to be sure, we've toured America from coast to coast in both, I'll choose a W123 every time if I'm driving .

Just saw the chrome fender eyebrows; never cared for them. Wish my '81 300SD with 260K miles was worthing something like that; however, I would never give up the fun I have had driving it all these years. And it still starts in about half a second.

In this area chrome wheel arches are hiding something; and polyester wool blankets would be also.

I'd be more concerned about the fact that the only the speedometer needle is faded yellow while the rest of the needles in the cluster are perfect orange.

Yes, they really were $40k in 83, I've seen the window stickers. And there weren't that many options in NA. I believe the Deutsche Mark exchange rate was the reason they were so high at that time.