1985 300td & (2) 1983 300td in Rhode Island

[Quahog]

1985 Mercedes Benz 300td t Turbo Diesel Station Wagon

not mine, no affiliation.

crossposted to CL alert thread as well

[Quahog]

from NJ, purchased from elderly 1st owner some years after current owner assisted with roadside tire change & left contact info if ever for sale

I did drive the 85 around the block.

the accelerator is not attached (rusted hinge)
idles smoothly & quietly but has loud knock under load
seemed sluggish, transmission shifted hard
ride was bouncy

brakes rusty from sitting but stopped car well
parking brake inop

large rusted through area at front of rear wheel well
rust hole at bottom of spare tire well big enough to stuff a cat through
battery tray rusted
hood hinge assembly not attached at drivers side
hood pull missing

interior in fair condition, minimal fade.
manual sunroof works but stiff
had rained hard the previous day so was damp under carpets & cargo area

origional paint in good condition, some pinstripe wear

will require more money & time to repair than I am able/willing to afford or it would be in my driveway

both 83s were less accessable for inspection so I could not accurately assess their condition.

[brian_V]

Worth resurrecting for the color alone... but looks like it will need extensive rust repair.

Thanks for posting your notes, Quahog!

[NCfriend]

IF anyone grabs this and parts out please let me know, same color as my euro wagon that I AM investing too much into restoring despite rust
Would trade my clean (dark green) hood and hatch for this correct color (thistle green), maybe some doors too?!

We could work out a split on cost if you could bring the car/body parts by close to me in NC

IF anyone goes to see this wagon, PLEASE ask if the owner saved the matching hub caps, I would love to purchase a set of those alone

If the interior was the same green cloth, it might be worth me fetching it but time and funds won't allow right now

[Quahog]

regarding the 2 83s:

blue/palomino:

involved in front end collision on 95 in New Haven, towed back to RI for $700. Has radiator/support & oil cooler damage. a separate oil cooler has been rigged, so it may run & drive, does not appear to have done so in some time.

when I saw it, it was covered in ratty blue tarp & parked between garage and fence surrounded by parts/debris making inspection difficult/impossible.
air cleaner & support missing. I pulled back enough to peek though windshield. Front seats were mildewed.

brown/palomino:

this was the parts car for the other 2
also covered by ratty tarp but parked at neighborhood mechanics shop, allowing closer inspection. had the least body rust of the 3 but paint faded, windshield broken. full of parts including 3rd row seat. did not inspect interior closely.

1985 thistle/mushroom(?)

rims are from an SLK iirc, in good condition, newish tires.
bottoms of doors rusty, hood & rear hatch in decent shape
driver's seat had tear on left bolster but was otherwise par
glovebox trim broken, right hand bit that wraps around dash missing

these are located about 45 minutes away from me, but would be happy to return for another look, with owners permission, in exchange for beer/w123 bits. The owner (Kent) is a super nice guy who has owned and driven a number of these cars over the years and is reluctantly getting out due to work/family commitments.

[JB3]

AAARRRRGGGGHH.

I am so close to these cars, and I don't dare go look at them.

[Quahog]

my hope is that they languish on CL for a few months & can be had for substantially less as they are all project cars.

it would be nice to keep them local & in the family, as it were.

[MBZ123]

Asking on all those wagons is quite reasonable. A score for anybody rebuilding a wagon.

If that's still available in a MONTH you would do well grabbing them. My quess is they ain't lasting several months. Besides, how much lower do you think he'd go? Current prices not too far above calling the scrapyard to come haul away, which some would do just to not deal with the BS anymore. Dunno, but don't wait too long.

MBZ123

[Quahog]

all valid points, I'm sure

fact is, money is tight right now & will continue to be for the forseeable future.

also, I wouldn't endear myself to management if a couple more rusty heaps showed up in the parking lot.

I am thankfull to have just one mercedes to care for & feed. It is rusty & leaky, but it runs like a top and the purchase price made the hours/$$$ I've spent thus far entirely worth it.

Posting here has hurt my chances to score one of these, but I feel strongly that they should go to an enthusiast & thats a rather small group

[NCfriend]

Still willing to split the 1985 investment for the hood and hatch, but not worth $400 at the scrap yard after stripping. Also parts are slow to move these days and hard to find the personal time to take cars apart, photograph/post details, and then have interested parties drop communication with you about what they asked for.
No complaining guys, just sharing my true experience in recycling parts cars.

This one is 900 miles one-way from me and a winter storm discourages pickup. Don't think they will move too fast during this cold season.

The northern rust and extensive maintenance lends all to donor parts only IMHO.
Hope they get parted out with due respect and not just scraped though!
Like to help how I can; someone want the engine and '85 drivetrain? I can pickup the shell later this spring

[Quahog]

give him a call by all means

I'd be willing to assist with photographing, dismantling & shipping if it comes to that.

[Quahog]

thistlegreen 1985 300td - sold

blue 1983 300td - sold

brown 1983 300td parts car - still available

[Quahog]

working out a deal on brown parts car...

[NCfriend]

I never got an answer from the seller, very disappointing.

Would you inquire about the rare chance the thistle green hub caps are still around the shop some place?

Course I have a nice wagon for you...

[Quahog]

thistle green wagon back on RI CL, a few miles north of original location & greatly inflated price.
Interested to know what his back-story is, but not enough to contact, as I now have a non-mb wagon in pieces in the driveway awaiting restoration.

wonder if he knows hotwing