WOW! I got an Arizona rust free 300 TDT! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DieselClack · #1 07-20-2008, 11:04 AM

This poor car had just been left to sit after the owner had lost interest in it. I found it in upper Arizona and the owner said it wasn't going to start. I looked it over and confirmed the price and bought it.

Here's the good part, he had the vacuum lines in such a mess that while cranking, the vacuum was trying to shut down the engine and cut the fuel! You should have seen the look on his face when I rerouted the lines properly and started it up!

Funny, He also said the tranny wasn't Shifting right and somewhat sluggishly. It was getting full vacuum all the time with no orifice and the bowden cable waas disconnected at the transmission.

I'm soon going to have to call my place Mercedes Benz ranch!

1983 300TDT with 106,118 miles for $1500.00 with no rust!

Here's the pics I promised!

Chad300tdt · #2 07-20-2008, 11:09 AM

Congratulations ... where are the pics?

DieselClack · #3 07-20-2008, 11:15 AM

I'll post some later today!

Chad300tdt · #4 07-20-2008, 11:18 AM

Is this the first wagon you've owned?

Make sure you join the wagons only group.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/group.php?groupid=5

TheDon · #5 07-20-2008, 11:22 AM

crap, I need a wagon so I can get in on that club.

It is kinda funny when you make a car run perfectly after the seller says it doesn't run ( you did have the title in hand and did pay for it first of course?)

lutzTD · #6 07-20-2008, 12:44 PM

i usually put one like this on a trailer anyway. no sense making the guy feel bad. it only takes a few minutes to winch it up and then the guy will never feel bad about the deal

DieselClack · #7 07-20-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lutzTD

i usually put one like this on a trailer anyway. no sense making the guy feel bad. it only takes a few minutes to winch it up and then the guy will never feel bad about the deal

I brought a trailer with me and put it on it because, like I told him, it's been sitting so long that I would rather trailer it home then just suddenly drive it for 200 miles across 2 mountain passes at a 5000 and 5500 foot elevations!

He was glad it started, but showed only signs of me backing out of the deal if it didn't. (I heard his father telling him it was his lucky day to find a serious buyer and to get rid of it!) Oh, he told me that since I had the wagon now, I could have the running parts car if I wanted it! 1980 300TD. Almost no rust except for around the battery tray and the bottoms of the doors from drain holes being plugged.

It was nice being able to drive it onto the trailer though, and yes, this is my first Transporter/Wagon! I've always wanted one of these and this one's getting a new paint job and all the goodies!

daw_two · #8 07-20-2008, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

crap, I need a wagon so I can get in on that club.

YOU are starting to sound like me.....

Congrats on rescuing a wagon, DieselClack.

Chad300tdt · #9 07-20-2008, 01:29 PM

Another wagon parts car? Cool. You got two wagons for $1500 or do you have to buy the parts car too?

Why can't I find deals like this.

bob_98sr5 · #10 07-20-2008, 02:15 PM

wow, great find. lucky you! when i first started to look for a mbz, i wanted a wagon.

pawoSD · #11 07-20-2008, 10:14 PM

I inspect cars like that, but I would never start/fix it on site....if I see an obvious problem, I'd buy it, and fix it later out of sight.

The less they know the better.

Good buy for $1500!! Wow.

DieselClack · #12 07-20-2008, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

Another wagon parts car? Cool. You got two wagons for $1500 or do you have to buy the parts car too?

Why can't I find deals like this.

No, I got the pair for $1500.00! I couldn't believe it either, but he was glad when it did start because if it didn't he thought I would find an excuse to back out of the deal completely!

So what the hell, just play along and put on that poker face!

The parts car is going to need some help, but I think I'll keep the 1983 300TDT and then repair the 1980 300TD and sell it as a running car because it does have a rust free frame.

What rust there is should be easily repairable and treated with some POR-15. I would find it hard to strip the parts car for parts!

I've seen rust buckets on the road as daily drivers that are not in this good of shape and it has a new Climate Control Servo too.

yellowbenz · #13 07-21-2008, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselClack

No, I got the pair for $1500.00! I couldn't believe it either, but he was glad when it did start because if it didn't he thought I would find an excuse to back out of the deal completely!

So what the hell, just play along and put on that poker face!

The parts car is going to need some help, but I think I'll keep the 1983 300TDT and then repair the 1980 300TD and sell it as a running car because it does have a rust free frame.

What rust there is should be easily repairable and treated with some POR-15. I would find it hard to strip the parts car for parts!

I've seen rust buckets on the road as daily drivers that are not in this good of shape and it has a new Climate Control Servo too.

New servo too?!? I'm half expecting you to report finding a couple of thousand bucks in the first aid kit in your next post! Seriously, congratulations from a one of the many wagon club wannabees.

DieselClack · #14 07-21-2008, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellowbenz

New servo too?!? I'm half expecting you to report finding a couple of thousand bucks in the first aid kit in your next post! Seriously, congratulations from a one of the many wagon club wannabees.

No, but I did find about $40 in loose change under the seats along with a Mercedes Benz shop manual. And about 8 gold slot machine tokens for the Harrah's Gila river casino.

DieselClack · #15 07-21-2008, 03:27 PM

Bump! The pictures I promised are here!