I just couldn't let this classic go to the crusher....!

Pics to follow when I get back to her on Wednesday, but for now, just a very few basics, so those who need such a car can start to think about this opportunity.

I found her at a boneyard while searching for 300D parts. The first MBZ I ever drove was one of these new, so I know what she can be with the committment to bring her back. Ugly as homemade sin, but the body and hardtop are straight and true except for the hood. It doesn't appear to have ever been wrecked, just abandoned, and the boneyard folks didn't think anything of dropping other MBZ parts on the hood . Missing a few bits -- front grille, wheels, maybe some other things that the pics will show.

Tan or light brown, but the color doesn't matter -- the paint is picked up in chunks, with VERY superficial rust in those areas. This is fresh water rust, not salt damaged with bubbly cancer. (I've seen enough of that nasty stuff to know to keep away from it!) It won't need patching, just cleaning and priming if someone keeps it dry and gets to it within a year or two.

The dash is cracked all to he!!, the interior wood is probably not salvageable, and the seats will have to be restored from the metal out.

I wouldn't know what to look at to tell you a darned thing about the engine -- I toyed with the idea of dropping in a 617, but it turns out the 107 is a particular PITA for that conversion, so that's out. She needs to go to someone who loves these cars and either wants to restore her or use the bits and pieces to maintain their SL.

I'd like to get $1,000 for her, but will entertain any reasonable offer.

I'll post pics as soon as I have them, along with mileage. I gotta learn to take the camera when I go bonepicking -- you never know what you're going to find!!

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Anthracite 1980 300D -- 64k original miles with a new engine, on the road again!
Silver 300D -- second owner, Sunny's old baby, Ilse, 210 miles,
Having to thin the herd….
Silver 1983 300SD -- second owner, 325k miles
Gold 1981 300D -- well-traveled, solid little car
Beige 1984 300D -- 292k miles, grease machine, parting out
Seafoam green 1981 300SD -- 250k, windshield frame damage
too many assorted w123 & w126 cars, parts cars, and extras

I have a VG condition grille for this car if needed. Cheap!

My pictures are too big, so I posted them on Photobucket -- here's the link. http://s211.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/sunnyintx_album/1973%20450SL/

There is some small body damage that I couldn't see when it was up against all the other smushed MBZs, but it's still far more good than bad as far as the body is concerned.

The boneyard guys dug out the grille (they'd forgotten they had it -- and it's in good shape!) and put it on, but I failed to get it in the pics. If you have doubts, buy whiskeydan's!

Let me know if you're interested. Seeing her again in almost the light of day, I'm definitely not going to be insulted with a lower offer!! She just needs a home.

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Anthracite 1980 300D -- 64k original miles with a new engine, on the road again!
Silver 300D -- second owner, Sunny's old baby, Ilse, 210 miles,
Having to thin the herd….
Silver 1983 300SD -- second owner, 325k miles
Gold 1981 300D -- well-traveled, solid little car
Beige 1984 300D -- 292k miles, grease machine, parting out
Seafoam green 1981 300SD -- 250k, windshield frame damage
too many assorted w123 & w126 cars, parts cars, and extras

did you sell that beast?

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Nope -- working on it. I expect to be pulling the bumpers and a few other bits and a friend and business associate with an SL that same vintage, so I figure I'll pull the smaller items that might be useful to him in the future, and make him a gift of them. (If I keep them around my place, I'll end up trying to put them on a diesel sedan at some point!)

Why? Is there something you needed? I'll be "visiting" the car tomorrow, so if I should look for something, let me know.

It's been a pricey lesson, but a valuable one! The greatest part of which is that I need to stick to what I know, and no matter how pretty I think those little gasser roadsters are, I don't know nothin' 'bout them!

__________________
Anthracite 1980 300D -- 64k original miles with a new engine, on the road again!
Silver 300D -- second owner, Sunny's old baby, Ilse, 210 miles,
Having to thin the herd….
Silver 1983 300SD -- second owner, 325k miles
Gold 1981 300D -- well-traveled, solid little car
Beige 1984 300D -- 292k miles, grease machine, parting out
Seafoam green 1981 300SD -- 250k, windshield frame damage
too many assorted w123 & w126 cars, parts cars, and extras

I have been halfway looking for an sl basket case to turn into an autocrosser. So yours looks interesting. It is an SLC right? and a Euro?

Tom W

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I sent you a PM re. this -- please check it and get back in touch.

__________________
Anthracite 1980 300D -- 64k original miles with a new engine, on the road again!
Silver 300D -- second owner, Sunny's old baby, Ilse, 210 miles,
Having to thin the herd….
Silver 1983 300SD -- second owner, 325k miles
Gold 1981 300D -- well-traveled, solid little car
Beige 1984 300D -- 292k miles, grease machine, parting out
Seafoam green 1981 300SD -- 250k, windshield frame damage
too many assorted w123 & w126 cars, parts cars, and extras

did

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.