I saw a metallic green 83 240 D at a yard with 284000 miles, transmission is shot; shifts funny (not the shifter bars) no reverse. Car has no rust, in good shape, engine will probably need rebuild, what impressed me is body--no rust and paint color-dull metallic green- I think its factory original piant! Just needs buffing-interior worn a little. Hesistating to buy because I have a 240D wanted a 300 D Turbo to rebuild. My 240 D has an engine I rebuilt, wouldnt want to do it twice--

Sounds like a good parts car if you want one of those. As a project it could be a time and money eater.
Harvey

It is easy to get seduced by an extra clean car that needs major mechanical work. It's usually hard to come out ahead even if they give it to you unless you just happen to have a matching donor car.

If the body is absolutely perfect, it may be worth it if you are patient enough to wait until you can find another 240 where someone rebuilt the engine, trans, etc, then either wrecked the car or discovered that it had structural rust. Buy this donor car for another $400.00, transplant the drivetrain into your perfect body, then you have a nice 240 for about $1000, once everything is done. It would not be worth it to buy this car and rebuild the engine, etc. because (in Boston anyway) decent 240s go for about $2500-$5000. If you do a complete drivetrain rebuild, you are going to exceed the cost of a good running complete car.
Colin