mercedes 319D wanted - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

daveCT · #1 07-08-2002, 07:49 PM

hi
i would like to know if anyone has a mercedes 319D mini bus
if you have one let me know
i'm in connecticut
thanks
dave

kelf · #2 07-08-2002, 09:27 PM

Mine's not a diesel, and it isn't for sale, but you can take a look at what you could hope you won't find...

http://www.geocities.com/mb319camper

Good luck - if you find one I'll definitely want to come visit! Actually, if you learn of any others in the US at all, I'd appreciate finding out about them, too. I may eventually undertake the reproduction of some of the window seals, and it would be good to know who else might want to go in on the deal. It would be great to talk to other owners, anyway.

Kelly

daveCT · #3 07-08-2002, 09:51 PM

kelly
very nice! where did you find it? Haven't seen many others? a few years ago i went to look at a190sl in western CT and in the peoples woods there was this mini bus i thought it was a VW 21 window,but it was a mercedes in a real hurt ,almost pure rust with trees growing in it ,but i still like it.
yours looks like it just needs some welding and paint and it would be great. Are you restoring with OE parts or fabing what you need?
have any pics of the interior?
thanks
dave

190e 16v
IROC 911
Gryocopter

kelf · #4 07-09-2002, 10:00 AM

If you follow the Pictures link, you can reach some shots of the cabinets, etc. on the interior.

I'm going to be restoring it as original as possible, with the possible exception of the engine, which is in really bad shape (see related thread "M121.940 vs. M121.941"). So far I've been able to pick up a few new parts from Germany, and I was even able to get that driveshaft boot from the MB dealer!

If you remember where that rusty bus was, I wouldn't mind contacting those folks or visiting, to see if there were any parts that could be salvaged.

So far the only other ones I have located (apart from Germany, where there are quite a few) are 2 in Ohio, 1 in Colorado, and 2 in Vancouver, BC.

Billybob · #5 07-09-2002, 10:35 AM

There was one auctioned on E-Bay within the last three months! the write-up said it was a former Transit Authority bus, a running diesel I think, and had bench seats set up bus-like.

kelf · #6 07-09-2002, 11:16 AM

Was it this one? The guy who had this picture didn't have any other details about the sale. Looks like a southern or southwestern environment - you wouldn't possibly remember what city the Transit Authority was in?

daveCT · #7 07-09-2002, 11:44 AM

GREAT!!
where is this one? How much do they go for?
i would have to think where the one in the woods in CT is maybe my buddy that i went with will remember ? i has been a few years now. and also it was really hurt
thanks
dave

kelf · #8 07-10-2002, 10:28 PM

Sorry to say I didn't see it sell on eBay - I only found this picture on the web, captured by someone who did see it sell but doesn't remember anything about it.

Well, even if it's rusty, if I could get that little piece of stainless trim above the driver headlight, it might be worth a trip - my local junkyards don't seem to have any of these busses.

vrsmith · #9 07-10-2002, 11:18 PM

A while ago, I was on a Mercedes rally in Victoria, BC, Canada. The end of the rally was at the home of a man who restores 300sl cars. In the yard, parked under some trees was a Mercedes bus like the one that you covet. I don't know if it is a diesel. At the same property, he had a Ponton cabriolet in the trees, an Adenaur sedan, a couple of 190sl cars and about 6 300sl in various states of restoration. This place is like Disneyland to a Mercedesshop member.
Now Victoria, BC is almost as far as you can be away from Connecticut and still be on the same continent so it may be out of reach for you. If you want to make a road trip, I'll meet you at the ferry terminal in Victoria. :p

Gilly · #10 07-11-2002, 12:03 AM

http://www.daimlerchrysler.de/classic/newsroom/o319/index_e.html
Here's another great O/L 319 site, courtesy of mother Benz.
Gilly

kelf · #11 07-11-2002, 10:17 PM

That is truly an exquisite 319 pictured on that page. In the German car magazine Oldtimer Markt, from January '98 (I got one on eBay), there's a good article on the 319, with some more pictures of this same bus. And a thorough set of documentary pictures on all the places that this thing rusts... Hey, maybe it's not just that American conditions are somehow extra-harsh.

daveCT · #12 07-11-2002, 10:33 PM

vrsmith
thanks for the good info. Is that one a parts one or a fixer upper? I know kelly is iin need of some parts for the 319.
i would be scared to ask a 300sl restorer for any car parts , just bacause of the $ of the pieces he needs. ahaha
I also had the 5 speed 300e . I think its a completly diffent feel than the cruiser auto, traded it for the 16v though,

.
well thanks for your help
dave

190e 16v
IROC 911
gyrocopter

kelf · #13 07-12-2002, 05:06 PM

How about a low-mileage 319 from 1964, available on eBay now? Of course there are some drawbacks...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1749407260

daveCT · #14 07-12-2002, 09:55 PM

Germany, I bet theres a ton over there.
Have any one of you folks every heard of someone shipping from over there (eurpoe)? What could it cost? is it 500 bucks or 5000?
hey kelf found the interior shots , look really good.
have you done anything with the motor?
why not just update the driveline with a 80's 240 or 300 motor /trans there everywhere for cheap? Keep up the good work

dave

190 16v
IROC 911
gyrocopter

JoelS · #15 08-17-2002, 09:13 PM

daveCT,

Scroll down the listing to

this link and click on some of the thumbnail pictures. There's a 319 lurking under some trees in the background.

Oh, and the car being sold ain't half bad either!

Cheers,

Joel