|
|
|
#1
|
||||
|
||||
The W123....where are we with it?
A question has been on my mind lately. Classic Mercedes collectability is without question quite popular. Their are a lot of people out their finding and restoring everything from R113 & R107 SLs to W116 450SEL 6.9s and even more mundane sedans like Fintails. (Take a look at our own classic section!)
Now of course, most cars go through the cycle of being new, being second hand, being second hand hand-me-downs, being beaters, and finally being thrown away. (Conversely there are also the rare single owner low mileage survivors) Generally I think that this cycle tends to be around 15 years. From there another 10 years tend to go by before people start picking up junkyard finds and restoring them. So i've been left wondering where the W123 is within this mix and if it's longevity has managed to help it avoid the typical pitfalls of car life. 25 years after production has ended they are STILL being bought as reliable daily drivers and I see them on the roads on almost a daily basis. (Few cars from the late 70s and 80s can claim this!) Now while lots of people here keep them going (Hat's off to all that do!) I really don't see the scale of full restorations on W123s as I do on other Mercedes. Has the models longevity and production numbers simply kept it from being considered collectible? Companies like Mercedes Motoring seem to be countering this idea as their low mileage finds command a premium price that people are willing to pay and even Tommy Hilfiger has thrown a W123 into their ads. So, the W123, where is it in 2012? *The cycle* Brand New Cross continental runabout and daily driver. (Way to go Miguel!) Beater It's had it! Revival
__________________
1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out 1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out) 1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481) "The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care." |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Pretty much beasts of burden that gotta take care of buisness til the vaccum pump explodes-- or the harmonic balancer comes loose.
|
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Getting to be a hipster car around these parts.
__________________
'07 Yukon 2500 '13 Subaru Outback 3.6R '13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed Currently Benzless Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL ---= The forest breathes, listen. -Native American elder |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Mercedesmotoring.com as long as they don't go all hellaflush and make them lame like hipsters usual make things. I'd like to restore a W123 one day. Preferebly a 240D 4 speed |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
Hipster look, hipster prices.
__________________
'07 Yukon 2500 '13 Subaru Outback 3.6R '13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed Currently Benzless Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL ---= The forest breathes, listen. -Native American elder |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Hellaflush is more riceboi/JDM than hipster -- most hipsters wouldn't be caught dead in a farted-out Civic.
|
#7
|
|||
|
|||
There is no way i can justify restoring a car that would no way come near a resale value of the cost of a decent paintjob, much less a whole resto cost.
|
#8
|
||||
|
||||
I never had the opportunity to own a W123 brand new so if I want to blow the equivalent of college tuition for a 4 year school to make it brand new.. I shall
|
#9
|
|||
|
|||
I think MB's from the Golden Era in general buck the trend of regular car life cycles that you outlined. But the 123 in particular, and especially the diesels, are simply a vehicle apart from regular considerations. So many of them are basically just keeping on keeping on. Not sure they can be directly plotted on the graph of your life cycle example.
- Peter.
__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark Formerly... 2000 GMC Sonoma 1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021 2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels 1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles. 1984 123 200 1979 116 280S 1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille 1971 108 280S |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
Eh, Hipsters
A few months back I was out to the clubs for a friends birthday, one of her friends brought along 2 guys, one I'm assuming she was dating or something. anyway, nether of these gents had anything useful to talk about and the clubs they were going to were no my idea of fun. I had gone as a favor to my friend as the DD. So not drinking and dealing with these guys, I just walked off at one point. walked to a place that sells cakes a few blocks from the clubs. I come back to smashed friends. The evening ends and these guy who I haven't really talked to at all are walking with us as we walk to the car. we get to the car and their whole attitude toward me changes. "Oh man, you drive one of these?" "Mercedes diesel, Nice car!" "How many miles on that thing, looks clean."
I'm use to people telling me its an old lady car, my grandmother was the original owner. I'm also use to people calling it the 80s drug dealer car, but really I'm now driving the hipster dream car. I've never been one to fallow fads, can't wait for this one to pass.
__________________
1983 Toyota Tercel 4WD Wagon - 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD 4-Speed(My Car!) 2005 C230 Kompressor 6-Speed Manual
|
#11
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out 1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out) 1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481) "The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care." |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
A timeless car that, like virtually every other post-war Mercedes sedan, is an act of financial suicide to restore. Drive them, care for them, then let them die gracefully when their time comes.
|
#13
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Despite some sound insulation and comfort issues, I really do not know a better car worth restoring over, and over, and over. The W123 Estate has been a home, a hauler, a pusher, and an invincible vessel for my most important life experiences. The fact that I can drive one in any part of the world is part of its attractiveness, and the thin line between a classic car and an unregarded jalopy that makes it right for any high-class gathering or a drive through the sketchiest of neighborhoods.
__________________
[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine. |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
sometimes I grow tired of working on mine, but a quick trip to the store and I am resold and why a W123 is a GREAT car! easy to steer, great brakes, easy to park, it's a lot of fun. clatta clatta clatta clatta.
- Diesel drivers do it with a longer stroke. |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
I'm painting my TD orange now.
__________________
Remember, Safety Third! '99 E300 Turbodiesel, '82 300TD, 1996 12V Cummins Turbo, '94 Neoplan - Detroit 6V92TA |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|