The Kemp Auto Museum has two 123s in its collection, along with a bunch of Gullwings and prewar supercharged exotica.

This car falls into a sort of gray area. On one hand, it is probably the lowest mileage (kilometerage?) privately-owned 240D on the planet. A true, 100% original car in showroom condition. IOW, a very significant specimen, no matter how humble the 240D may be.

On the other hand, it is just a 240D. Buy it, give it a major service, and for 20 grand, you've got your basic transportation needs met for the next 20-plus years. What a deal!

I vote to preserve this one. There are still plenty of old widows out there with low-mileage, original 123s wasting away in their garages; cars that will be cheaper to buy and serve the basic-transportation need just as well. But you'll be hard-pressed to find another as spotless and truly original as this one appears to be.

Tom
681 Manilla Beige is one of my favorites