Interesting find

[alabbasi]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1984-280E-AMG-Rare-black-imported-5-spd_W0QQitemZ180046051091QQihZ008QQcategoryZ6329QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[MattBelliveau]

Grey market? Would there exist a 4-door AMG?

[Jim B.]

It would be interesting to see the AMG documentation (if it's not "lost") on this one......

AMG DID make parts (especially body kits and wheels) for the W123, but not too many W123 cars were fitted with AMG parts.

This one was probably a US spec. car likely converted at the old Westmont Illinois AMG facility in the mid 80's before it shut down. From the pictures all you can verify is the boot lid badge is an original AMG. If it lived it's entire life in Illinois then it should be checked out in all the usual places for rust.

You don't see too many black 123 sedans.

[alabbasi]

Looking at the bumpers and the headlights, I would guess to say it's more likely a grey market car. MB has been selling mid size cars with 5 speed trannies in Europe since the early 70's (w114's and w108's). I have never seen a US spec car with a 5 speed until the W201 models.

The manual A/C controls on a 280 are also a dead giveaway.

[Jim B.]

Originally Posted by MattBelliveau

Grey market? Would there exist a 4-door AMG?

I actually looked too quickly before I replied. It's actually a euro for sure, the bumpers are euro, and no 280E manuals were EVER imported by MB into the USA, and the 280E was not even offered in the USA in 1984 anyway.

I have seen AMG literature from Germany from the '80s, and they offered upgrades then for the W123 coupes, sedans and wagons. This example got the typical W123 AMG sedan body kit. It looks like an authentic AMG conversion to me, but it may have been performed in Germany at Affalterbach.

Quite a few gray market AMG cars were brought to the USA back in the heyday of the gray market, but the biggest savings were found by importing the highest priced cars (126 coupes and sedans, SLs)

But if you are looking for the friskiest, fastest and most nimble example of a w123 sedan, this car would definately be it: 280 motor, AMG mods, manual.

But it is a new ebay seller with no history, car isn't well described, you would need to look it over carefully and inspect it well.

[diametricalbenz]

Has anyone actually driven one of those 5 speeds? Isn't it essentially the same as a 4 speed with a 0.8 overdrive?

How fast is it? 7-8 seconds to 60mph?

[Larry Delor]

Did I see anti-lock brakes ? Would've been nice to have in the rest of the 123's

[alabbasi]

If I remember right, motor tested a w114 280E back in the early 70's and the 0-60 time from that car was 8.5 seconds. Those early 280E's with the D-Jetronic injection had 185hp.

I don't know about the AMG conversion.

[POS]

I spoke with the owner for a good amount of time today. Nice guy who I believe to be an honest man. He's not a huge MB enthusiast, he just liked the car and he knows what it is. The car is a Stage 1 AMG (body kit, wheels only). It was in the 1984 or 1985 Chicago Auto Show, and a friend's father wanted it at the show. They wanted too much at the time, but he saw it for sale awhile after the show and ended up buying it. He says he knows it's a real AMG done in Europe prior to importation, but doesn't have the docs to prove it.

His friend's father and his friend owned it up until two years ago (or so) and then he bought it to cruise around with on weekends. Mileage is real, no accidents, always garaged, no restoration or paint or interior work. Steering wheel was a standard issue w123 wheel, but his friend put on a $1500 racing wheel. The Pentas were just completely restored for $1200. Most records, but no DOT docs and no AMG docs. Runs like a top, doesn't burn oil, drives great.

Sounds like a cool car; I'm trying to buy it because it is a black on black w123 with a 5-spd - rare enough in the US. Even if the AMG thing turns out to be bogus, it's still a very nice car for what he's asking.

[t walgamuth]

the standard euro five speed 280 is pretty quick. i have an 84 myself. i am currently working on getting it back on the road.

interestingly we are putting in a black interior from the 300d euro i parted out.

tom w

[300SDog]

Whats the 4th instrument in the fuel guage cluster? I caint read the writing. And have never heard of a 123 with ABS brakes, but its got em. This looks like the real McCoy - AMG is German company that focuses on special order MB's. Outlets in the USA are just fringe of the operation. Looks like a bargain.

[tarnbarn]

Hi... I think this might be my 1st post here..
The 4th gauge (bottom left) is 'Economy'. The closer your right foot to the floor, the further the needle moves into the red. Gen 1 (and 2?) VW Golf GTIs had em too... I always found them distracting (and depressing) so I used to tape them over.
Giles

[t walgamuth]

it is actually just a vacuum guage. most gassers of the era had them. the 83 euro diesel 300 i had and parted out had abs. i looked at taking it out of the car but the plumbing was so extensive i didnt think there was much chance of ever getting it all to work in another car.

tom w

[kpb]

Originally Posted by POS

I spoke with the owner for a good amount of time today.

I see this comment often and wonder, how does one "speak with" an unidentified ebay seller? Sorry for what may be a primitive inquiry but I am not an "ebayer." Do you email and ask for a call?

I would love to have this car. I really like the lines of the car and the euro lights, plus, a five speed . What series engine is the DOHC?

[POS]

I emailed the seller and asked him to call me. A good seller will do so, and then the ensuing conversation can tell you a lot about the car and the man. After talking to him about its history, its current condition, and how he treated it, I reached the conclusion that the car was worth buying from this seller. He answered all questions very well, was full of information, and gave me all the time in the world to decide because he said I was "first in line" at the time. We talked several times throughout the day as I thought of new questions, and he answered all of them patiently. Real nice guy. He agreed to pull it from ebay if I overnighted him a deposit check. I did.

I have a REAL HARD TIME buying a car like this site unseen, but the cost of a flight to IL is $99 one way, so I can always turn around and fly back if the car is bogus. No major harm done.

I plan to do my best to document the AMG side of it - if the car was truly in the 1984/85 Chicago Auto Show, I have a good chance of coming up with a paper trail. If I can't document the AMG side of it, then I now own a cool black/black w123 with a 5-spd. Not all bad.

Engine is an M110.