The car is the picture doesn't have suicide doors though.
David

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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The suicide doors on the 170SD are of a different variation of what you're probably thinking of. You're probably thinking of suicide doors like the Lincolns of the early to mid 1960's. I'll post two pictures, one of a 170SD, and one of a 1965 Lincoln Continental so you can compare the doors. First, the 1965 Lincoln.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

And now, the 170SD with the door handles circled so you can tell how different it is from the Lincoln.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Also hydraulic brakes and swing-axle rear suspension.... Hell, i dont think American cars had independent rear susp for another 20 yrs at least. Apparently, the humbler 170D had wooden frame like English Morgan sports car which is said to handle exceptionally like "flexible flyer" sled..... whereas the deluxe 170SD had upgrade to steel I-beam frame.

I've seen a couple of them hit the market on ebay "other models" category...... including one decent roadworthy example in Oregon that has repeatedly been listed - then topped out (reserve not met) somewhere around $3- $4G. Can remember the guy claimed the car could even go 65mph with armchair comfort all day long. The poor bastard probably took a beating on what he spent restoring the car. He visited the vintage forum and was not a happy camper.

I think this car was MB's first serious effort to capture the post-war market, returning to former pre-war glory with high-tech automobile that had incredible interior appointments like dual glove compartments, massive upholstery and wooden dash and window frames...... probably a direct competitor of the Packard, favoring 1930's style running boards, flared fenders, independent headlight pods and coffin shaped engine comparment with hinged side louvred access doors. Hell, the screw cap under the hood ornament was fully functional as the actual radiator cap, although the grill side chrome slabs were not part of the radiator.

Am thinkin this 170SD was MB flagship of the sedan class, aside from the Adenauer Limo at that time, apparently marketed much as the 116 300SD...... before MB got gasoline happy and diesels were reduced to OWNING the world taxi cab market instead.

This is true that American cars of the time "looked" more modern, yet they probably drove like bricks compared with creature comforts and trick suspension of the 170SD.

DieselDog,

The 180D I had, had the same OM336 engine. What a slug. I used to race turtles with and and loose. For the tiny underpowered engine and light car, the milage wasn't as good as my 190D. I got 40 MPG on a trip and 35MPG average on the 190D.

Those suicide doors on the front actually made it much easier to get in and out. I wish they would bring them back. They could be electronically locked when the car was moving so they wouldn't open.

The swing axle system wasn't very good. You have to be carefull on corners or the back end will swing out. Its strange that the swing axle was replaced in 1968 on the lower priced but cars but not on the higher priced cars until 1973 when the 116 models came out.

P E H

ahhh, I see what you mean now. I didn't even look at the front doors. I do like those Lincolns with suicide doors. If gas were only $.50 a gallon for premium I would definitely drive one of those. I would personally prefer that over my MB. I have a thing for big cars. If it wasn't that Lincoln it would be and even older Cadillac, yachts on wheels are awesome.
Thanks
David

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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