1980 116 300SD For Sale - BEAUTIFUL! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TClanton · #1 12-11-2005, 05:43 PM

My 1980 300SD is Manila brown with Bamboo interior. It currently has about 122K.

Originally a Texas car, so no rust. History is fairly well documented with books and records and I am the second owner. (Original owner was a physician in Texas and his son in Atlanta inherited it when he passed away, so technically I'm the third owner. The son didn't drive it much, though.) At any rate, my intention was to restore it to like new condition and I have replaced all of the leather & pads(covers from World Upholstery and professionally installed), the covering on the package shelf (have the original First Aid kit), put new Michelins, new Alpine CD with Fosgate speakers (in the original holes...the installers hated me...still have the Becker), new valve cover gasket, all new filters including the gas tank filter, new belts, new trans filter/fluid, r&r coolant and thermostat/cleaned radiator, new battery. New A/C was installed by the PO in 2001. New MB floor mats.
Also:
Rebuilt instrument cluster (Cruise works now!)
New RR Window Reg/motor/guides, both left window regulators/slides and new console switches for all
New Engine Mounts /shocks/shock bushing kit
New Alternator/battery
Overall mechanical is excellent; cranks on first try every time, even on the 20F mornings we've had lately. Had a compression check before I bought it and readings were:
#1 22 bars
#2 21 bars
#3 21 bars
#4 18 bars
#5 21 bars

My understanding is that 15 bars is the low end, so I guess #4 may be bit weak. My local guy has indicated that a valve job should correct any loss there, but the thing runs so well that he refuses to touch it. Never sluggish. Smooth shifts.

Needs:
Paint - older repaint, but is glossy and decent. What appears to be some minor bondo or paint cracking on front passenger door where paint is not as smooth, but not bad. Gramps must have had a door dinger. 3 small door dings in driver's door. 300SD designation was removed at repaint, but I have a replacement. Otherwise, body is excellent and straight. Chrome is beautiful with no oxidizing. All rubber is great.
Seals around windshield and rear glass are not great. (Planned to replace at painting)
Dash has small stress crack by sensor and tiny ones at instrument panel.
Wood is good with normal stress cracks @ AC panel and vents. Still glossy and clear.
Servo started acting up during the summer, draining the battery. I just set it on AC, then unplugged it. When it got cold, plugged it in, set it on heat, and unplugged again.

I almost had to sale about 3 years ago out of necessity. Bought my dad's truck and the 5K miles I've put on in the past three years makes it hard to justify keeping the car. It's also kind of stupid to let something this nice sit in the garage. I've got over $8K in repair/restore receipts beyond my intial $4K investment. I've also got over $3K in recent receipts from the PO . A slick paint job and this one is done!

First $5900 takes her.....I'm happy to answer any questions. Mechanical references available or I can assist with an inspection. Additional photos available.

TClanton · #2 12-11-2005, 05:46 PM

Also, installed rear headrests using frames from a 6.9 and new covers this past year. Photos and process documented in a seperate thread. They look GREAT!

TClanton · #3 12-11-2005, 05:50 PM

New Bamboo leather.

davestlouis · #4 12-11-2005, 08:08 PM

That's a pretty car! There was always something about rear headrests that I found impressive...a friend's dad had an Audi 5000 in the early 80's with rear headrests and I thought that was SO slick, made my mom's Cutlass Supreme look lame, which I guess it was.

TClanton · #5 12-12-2005, 02:06 PM

Thanks! I feel the same way about the headrests. Your comment reminded me of the Fiat Brava I convinced my dad to buy me when I was a freshman in college in '82....it had rear headrests and I thought they were the coolest thing about the car. Guess my fixation has continued....

suginami · #6 12-12-2005, 07:42 PM

Very nice car.

Seeing pictures of your W116 reminds me of how much I like the looks of the W116's.........probably even more than the looks of the W126's (blashpemy).

Good luck on the sale.

Aaron · #7 12-12-2005, 10:24 PM

Wow, beauty!

I thought at first when I glanced at the pic of the exterior that it was black, and let me say that would have sealed the deal with me to purchase

I've already had a brown W116 300SD, not that its bad, but black would be gorgeous on that car.

Anyways, I'll ask around here to see if there's any interest. BTW, how well did you like working with the kits from World Upholstery? I redid the seats of a Jaguar using their kits and I found them to be of very high quality.

TClanton · #8 12-12-2005, 10:56 PM

Thanks, Paul! And they are prettier than the 126's.....

Aaron, depending on the light, it can look black. I'm a little partial to the deep brown/bamboo, but black/black is very nice, too. I just wouldn't want to ride in it in the summer here in Alabama! The WUpholstery covers are very nice and fit well. I also got new horsehair pads from them when we did the work. All came out nice. There was one panel on the passenger seat where some ink started to bleed through. I let them know and they replaced the whole panel (no charge) for me a year after install. Nice folks.

At this point, I have so much time and money in her, I just want to be sure she goes to a good home.

braverichard · #9 12-12-2005, 11:15 PM

Very nice car indeed as others have said here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by davestlouis

That's a pretty car! There was always something about rear headrests that I found impressive...a friend's dad had an Audi 5000 in the early 80's with rear headrests and I thought that was SO slick, made my mom's Cutlass Supreme look lame, which I guess it was.

I love rear seat headrests. That was why I purchased a rear seat back with the integrated head rests for my 300SD which came without them. It looks great now.

#10 12-13-2005, 01:56 AM

And that chrome...zowwie! It just says "BAM...I'M A BENZ!...GET OUT OF MY WAY"

hehe...awesome looking car man.

boneheaddoctor · #11 12-13-2005, 08:28 AM

Wish I had the money right now..I would hop on that. It looks sweet.

TClanton · #12 12-13-2005, 01:38 PM

I knew better than to list here...you guys are weakening my resolve..

It's a great car and for minimum $$ would be close to perfect.

Ether · #13 12-13-2005, 03:28 PM

Oh man.

I am sorely tempted.

My wife would probably kill me if I pulled a second one of these babies into the driveway.

What a beauty.

I'm sure she would get over it in time though, wouldn't she?

TClanton · #14 12-13-2005, 05:30 PM

I've taken my share of beatings, so I understand. But they say it's easier to get forgiveness than permission.....

pastmaster · #15 12-13-2005, 10:20 PM

TClanton,
She is sure pretty! She would compliment my '79 BMW 733i. I have had the car for over 20 years, and it is Chocolate Brown or Sepiabraun, in BMWese.

I am searching for a V12, but I 'll keep you in mind. My Uncle Mike, had a 116, in Sydney, OZ. I have driven many miles in that car, in RHD, form. Performed many "sporting manueovers", in it.