78 240D - Offered to me for FREE!

[71inka02]

So finally the MB diesel gods are looking after me -- You may want to pop some corn and get a fresh beer before you read further....

So real quick, about me...I owned W123's in the mid 80's and early 90's and left the 'haven' for many years, but never lost my love for the cars...That oversized steering wheel, the weight, the feel, the look, the ride, the handling, the performance...and yes the sound when you really get on it!! And for those of you in the 'gutter', I'm still talking about the MB diesels of old --- Not an old girl friend!...even though, there was this one girl --- sorry, mind wondered!

So, a few months back I saw the error of my ways, repented and am once again an owner and in love with these cars!

A friend of mine this past weekend said..."I know a man that has a car that looks like yours (referring to my 83 300D-which by the way is for sale), it's been sitting behind his house for years..." I replied, with a casual, like I'm not really interested attitude and said..."oh yea (took a drink of my Vodka), where and who......?"

Did the 'drop in' on the man this afternoon in the pouring rain -- It's a 78 240D - automatic w/air, crank windows and basically nothing else but the bare necessities...paint is faded, tires are flat but it does have the original stainless hubcaps. The owner couldn't find the keys, but does have the title...the car is locked, so I couldn't get an up close inside look --- but through the windows in the pouring rain...it looks pretty dadgum good.

The man drove it regularly up until --- he said (read the following with an older man, great southern draw - and yes I'm happy to work with those of you above the Mason-Dixon line if needed)...

He said - "I recken, it's ben a sittin, ooohhhhh, mayyyybeeee...4/5 years, that's when my nephew wanted it to drive around Washintun while in school up ar---I told him he could have it, but the brakes needed replacin...and he'd have to give me $500 for it, and pay to have the brakes fixed, I whutin gonna let him take it with bad brakes --- but these youngins in my family, they want everthang for nothin and he got mad cause I wouldn't give it to him and pay to have the brakes fixed...he's turnin out ok though, and datin a real nice girl."

So I turned on my birth given southern accent, thinking it would help with the negotiation process...and said..."I mite be inurstead...what ch'ya wantin to geit fur it?"

Ok - Now here's the best part, But I guess I should ask you...does anyone need a bathroom break before I continue...?

Breaks over, welcome back --- He looked out in his driveway (I drove my Land Rover-didn't want to pull up in the 123 or 126 - now it's my understanding that mention of vehicles other than MB's is against forum rules - but my Rover plays a key part in the story, and I hope our moderators will allow me a little bend of the rules), and said..."Ya thank at truck ull pull it"?...And being the typical snob'ish overly confident Rover owner that I am, I said..."hell yea, it'll pull it - it'll pull 2 or 3 of em, and if you've got some stumps you want pulled up, hell, I'll do that too, after I load up the car!!" I even spit on the ground for true effect....He rolled his eyes, and started laughing, as I'm sure some of you are doing right now. It's ok --- I've owned 2 Land Rovers, go ahead and laugh, you can't offend me!

He then said..."you seem like a nice feller, if you can haul it off, you can have it...my wife has wanted at car gone for a couple of years now, how soon can you come back and git it?" Can you tell I'm having a blast with this opportunity??

Seriously -- he's going to dig out the keys, and I'm going back on Saturday to look, touch and feel my new addition to the fleet. BUT I have no idea what to first check and do to a car that was running perfectly, per the owner (other than brakes), but has been sitting for 4/5 years.

Please help...I need suggestions and ideas, and thanks for allowing me to have some fun with this.

And one last thing --- I really hope my Rover doesn't break down between now and Monday when I hope to pick it up......And I'm also a lookin fur someone to tell my wife....I'm under marriage law to reduce the fleet!!