might by 1959? 300d

Ok I came across an ad for sale old Mercedes $500. Lady just responded to some of my questions. Her claims it is a 1959 300d diesel that her ex husband bought in 1999 because it would not be affected by the y2k problems he drove it home but it has not been driven since. She is sure it is a diesel but some one stole the carburetor. All gauges knobs ECT are in German. Last year I bought my son a NA 1985 300D euro transmission blew completely we could not find one in six months of looking and calling every junkyard in the book. Finally with PSFREDS we put a 1982 300d turbo transmission in. It works ok but is a little slower off the line because of the different torque converter. Then I bought a lovely 1976 240D for $200 but it has a EURO 1972 220d engine in it great compression drives on 3 cylinders. Turns out to have missing parts in the IP after lots of looking and attempting to get the IP to work finally give up pay to have it tested its shot and is 2 different IP made into one. Can’t find an IP any I think I just found one thru a member here waiting for my son to post some pictures for him to compare but I think it is the right one. So now if this 1959 or I don’t think they made them till 1960 300d is really a diesel that some one has stolen the injection pump off of is in as good a shape as the lady claims am I nuts bringing another project like this home. Do I have a prayer of getting parts for it? Please talk me out of this
DHS

[tesavage]

A 1959 300d (lower case d, W186) would be a gas-burner, unless someone converted it. Commonly known as Adenauers, this was the car that preceded the 600 Grosser. (This should answer the "Am I nuts" question.)

I saw one in a museum last weekend; these are unbelieveably gorgeous and elegant cars, but are more expensive to own and maintain than a W123 by several orders of magnitude.

If you can buy the car for $500, you could probably make a killing parting it out. But to restore one is strictly for the high rollers.

More info at http://3-0-0.com/.

Tom

[cth350]

Or it's a '79 300d and she's got the year wrong. Or it's a '59 180d and she got the model wrong. Can't hurt to look. And of course if it's a diesel with a carb, things are really wierd.

-CTH
PS. If it is an adenaur, sell it whole. You can get a tidy profit in 24 hours that way and we save a car in the process.

When I first saw the ad I asked if it was a 180 or 190 she replied it was a 1959 300 diesel her ex-husband specifically bought it because it would not be effected by y2k problems but then says the carburetor was stolen I was wondering about parting it out unless it was the buy of the century. I would love to drive it for a few months. Parting it out concerns me because I no nothing about the interest in parts from this car. I have some great parts like real solid metal power window switches in amazing shape that only fit 300SEL, 109.015,109.016
And 300SEL 6.3 109.018 This set has to be worth $200 going by similar all metal chrome switches fitting other cars, I could not get the $10 opening bid on the whole set and they are close to mint. I can’t get stuck with lots of parts that are rare but don’t sell. Ignorant of this car and others this old is there a market for rust free body parts. and most importantly if the engine is cost effectively repairable. With good compression engine running strong would it bring at least 800 dollars on eBay? Or are parts like chrome trim, door. Handles, horns .switches, body parts so widely and cheaply available as to make the original ones worth less than new knock off parts Or do I have parts worth some money but could take years and lots of advertising to sell. On eBay you can’t get $10 for a 1960 front grill that is all metal. But you can get $35 for a cheap w123 plastic grill all day long. I guess the question is could I recoup my $600 investment $500 for the car $100 towing with in a month finding user sites to place classifieds on. And EBay any thing in mint condition that is usually a worn poor looking part say perfect steering wheel, good chrome light surrounds stuff like that. She claims it has no rust and while well worn it is not like raccoons took up nest in it. She also says they paid 7k for it in 1999 Wishing I could keep it and restore it but realizing it is out of my budget but if I put $300 into it and got to drive it around the neighbor hood just once it would be worth it to me if I broke even parting it. Out I guess I better find out how many were built and what user groups there are specific car. I should pass on it but since I just arranged for a tow tomorrow if need be looks like my gut is winning over my goof sense.
Thanks for any advice
Dave S

Thank you for the link.
DHS

here is the latest message from the person selling the car. Does it sound correct? There's a steel tag on the back by the left tail light that designates it as
a 300D. On the right rear theres another emblem that says diesel. Both of
these emblems/tags are on the trunk lid. Everything on the inside is
written in German, from the gas guage to the "vindshield vipers" (joking
with word play, but everything on the car IS in German).

I think it might be best if you dropped by to see it. If you'll tell me
what time you'll be by, I'll stay home. If you drop by when I'm not in,
you can go around to the Beach Street side and take a look at it, but don't
take too long. I've got it listed at best offer over $300 and already have
several offers at $300.

[diametricalbenz]

I thought MB didn't make a 3 liter until the w115 "240d 3.0" in 1974.

Seems like the car was rebadged.

Can you post some pictures of the engine?

I have tried to get pictures without success my feeling is she wants this car gone and she knows I would be driving with a tow dolly just about 100 miles. I get the feeling she would give it away to get rid of it. Her ad is in a parts section and just states 1959 Mercedes for parts or restore she is not doing a very good job of selling it. I have been doing some searching I found one rust bucket that was recently on eBay with 11k in offers. She claims it last ran in 1999 when someone stole the carburetor? On a diesel? One site said there were less than a thousand 1959 300 d made if it is the IP that is missing I wonder how impossible that would be to replace. She claims no rust or dents all glass intact but original paint is bubbling on the hood and it looks horrible. The interior is supposed to be well worn but not a vermin den. She has title to the car but back registration and penalties could be 3 or 4 hundred dollars. The chrome bumpers are supposed to be in great shape with no rust or pitting. I am trying to arrange a truck to drive up there tomorrow I already have a tow dolly but would probably pay the hundred bucks for a trailer to tow it with all wheels off the ground although she says all the tires are inflated. Towing a 46 year old car that has not moved in six years with 2 wheels on the ground seems a bit risky for such a long distance. She also has no key and the car is locked but I have a slim Jim and I doubt it has locked steering. Getting a replacement key from the dealer would be a real test of there mettle. But if I get the car for a hundred bucks and spend $150 getting it home all there is left is to fall in love with it and mortgage the house to the hilt to restore it where is the problem in that. Seriously if I got the car I would look into if I could just get it to run for less than 7 or 8 hundred dollars and if it really has no rust try to make a much needed quick dollar. Am I out of touch with reality with that line of thinking?
DHS

[wbain5280]

Originally Posted by mattdave

here is the latest message from the person selling the car. Does it sound correct? There's a steel tag on the back by the left tail light that designates it as
a 300D. On the right rear theres another emblem that says diesel. Both of
these emblems/tags are on the trunk lid. Everything on the inside is
written in German, from the gas guage to the "vindshield vipers" (joking
with word play, but everything on the car IS in German).

I think it might be best if you dropped by to see it. If you'll tell me
what time you'll be by, I'll stay home. If you drop by when I'm not in,
you can go around to the Beach Street side and take a look at it, but don't
take too long. I've got it listed at best offer over $300 and already have
several offers at $300.

From the description, it sounds like a W123.

http://207.210.95.34/~boostd/

Something is fishey she was all hot to have me drive an hour and a half to see the car To be sure I sent her an email with a picture of a 1959 300 and a 1979 w123 300d asking which car she has. No responce since then we shall se what the morning brings.
DHS

Well I sent the lady a picture of a 1959 300 and a 1979 300d she says it looks just like the picture of the 1959 except she thinks hers is a little shorter than the one in the picture. Did they make a coupe? Trying to get a time out of her that I can go look at it Look at it right I just know I will end up buying it the neighbors will be so pleased. At least some kid is supposed to buy my beater 450 to day so one car gone new one takes its place neighbors wife are not going to be pleased if I bring another one home. At least I think I have found an injection pump for my long delayed 240d with a euro 220d project at least lots of work has been accomplished on it while it has been awaiting an IP and it is all done except some upholstery work.
Fingers crossed in San Jose CA
Dave S

[Mark DiSilvestro]

No 'Diesel' trunk badge on '59 300d, and that year, all had the 3.0 six with Bosch mechanical FI.
Bet it's a '79 300D. (But with a 'missing carbureter' it could be a W123 230 with a 300D trunk lid!)

A total of 3077 300d (FI) sedans were produced from 1957 to 1962. Previous 300, b & c sedans were carbureted.

A total of 760 300s (carb), and sc (FI) coupes, convertibles and roadsters were produced, from 1951 to 1958.

If it's a 300s/sc coupe, grab it! They're way more desireable than the 300d sedans. If restoration is required, any 300d sedan or s/sc coupe will require very deep pockets!

Happy Motoring, Mark

[cth350]

Heck, it if it's not a 123 car, grab it. She should be able to read you the VIN number from the paperwork she needs to sell it to you with. If it starts with W or 123, you know it's junk. If it's a crazy combination of digits or starts with 189, you have a winner. -CTH

Boy am I beat it is a red 1979 300d EURO how you confuse that with a 1959 300d when your shown a picture I will never know. The day was not a complete loss I got some great 108 parts 3 sets of w116 injectors 2 heater servos with no cracks I hope at least one works and a mess of bits and pieces plus I found 15 sets of injectors for $4 each with a return policy those I will get first thing in the morning along with a bunch more w108 parts I did not have time to get every thing I found today. It should be a crime to put a 108 this clean in the bone yard I also found some great 420s seats I will look into putting them into a w116 because there in great shape very comfortable and only $20 each they would be a real cool w116 300sd upgrade tonight after a shower and nap I will have to look into the feasibility of putting them in a w116 300sd. Oh the stolen carburetor is a missing air cleaner. I am going to die for a while. Oh I did buy a 240D for a hundred bucks today also. SNOREshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
DHS