... on my way up through Lancaster, Pa. Right at the split from rt 30 to 283, there is a small repair shop, and I noticed a beautiful gray fintail sitting there when I drove past. I am pretty sure I saw a "D" in the model badge on the back, but was going to fast to get a good look. What diesel models were available in the fintail style? The fins look very odd on a Mercedes ... it was sort of out in left field as far as the tradition MB stylings go ...

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

I think the diesels actually had "diesel" spelled out after the number.

click here for the post with the pics

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

The "fintail" body was made from 1959 to 1967. It was available with an OHC 190 (1900cc) or 200 (2000cc) diesel. This was the same basic engine they developed into the 220, the 240 and with a 5th cylinder, the 300.

One tipoff is the headlights - diesels and 4 cylinder gas often had 2 round headlights, the 6 cylinder 220 and 300 gas had vertically stacked quad headlights. The 220 SE and 300SE (fuel injection 6's) had a glass dome over the headlights. You are not apt to see these in North America as glassed over headlights were not legal in those days, only standard sealed beams allowed - no quartz halogen.

The 300SE was some car - the 3 liter 6 out of the big sedans, air suspension, extra chrome - and they would go like hell. On 13 inch bias ply tires no less.

Thanks for the info. Very cool. I'll take a closer look next time I drive by, if it's still there.

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

actually the european models had a large vertical headlight lense that had one large reflector with a halogen bulb and a smaller reflector in the bottom with the turn signal bulb in it. very cool looking. actually had one and got to drive it around europe... it was very sound mechanically but used some oil but rode and handled very modern... got me hooked on benzes at an early age.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

oh yeah, a high point was buying spark plugs in morroco... the only brand they had was french and the porcelain was pink...not kidding... didnt seem to affect sparking ability.

it was a 61 220b. 2.2 liter six with two one barrel solex carbs. four on the column shifting, a little knob to turn to open the vent window...dual climate controls... large flat plastic steering wheel... very cool. no ac though.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I really like the pontons.. like a 1959 190d.. beautiful little cars.. I want one.

yeah me too, also a 170d

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

if you want a project, theres a 1959 220S down the road from me. Its complete, but I haven't heard it run yet.

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

if i were to buy one of those really old ones, it would have to be a very nice car with no major issues... then i would start thinking about what modern benz diesel i could cram into its vintage engine bay.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

My first Mercedes was a 1962 220SE sedan. These were never sold in Canada, mine was privately imported by a German immigrant. Apparently in those days you were not allowed to take money out of Germany (over a certain amount) so before leaving the country, he outfitted his family in new wardrobes and took the rest of his money and bought whatever Mercedes it would buy, which turned out to be the 220SE model.

This was a ruby maroon six cylinder, 2.2 litre sedan with mechanical fuel injection, sunroof,tan leather upholstery, and Becker Mexico radio.

In total I had 5 fintails, one 1958 Pontoon, and a 69 220D back when you could buy them for peanuts, when the average person didn't know what a Mercedes was.

I remember a guy I worked with, went out and bought a brand new Mercury in 1974. He said "who would want one of those things, they look like a f*cking bulldog with its head cut off" (meaning my Mercedes). I thanked him for the best description of Mercedes styling I ever heard.

He had the Mercury back to the dealer for front end failure and excessive tire wear 2 weeks after he bought it. He took it back again and again for various faults. I don't think they ever did get it to run right.