these cars evolved so much. That's my '76 240D (now sold), a buddy's 300D, a '79?, and the '84 300SD that replaced the 240. Talk about a world of difference in the driving experience, esp. the interior sound levels. I can have a conversation w/ my son at highway speed finally! I do miss the handling feel of the 240, the way it tracked at speed with a light wheel feel feedback, where the SD seems very sensitive to the road camber and takes more muscle to keep in sweeping highway turns. But the power and quietness sure are nice. Loving the sound of the engine at speed, its the first turbo I've driven, and it's kinda nice to do 80 without feeling like you need some protective gear in case the pistons come flying at you.....:p

Oh yeah, photo...stylewise I like how they leveled the trunk on the SD

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It's kind of funny that you say that because I always think it's amazing that they kept those cars all looking exactly the same for six years. 77-83. It is interesting to see the differences though. Although I would have lined them up in chronological order for that pic. Would have been more in line with your evolution statement...

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'78 240D

I think an even bigger jump occured between the W123 and W124. My cars are only a few years apart in age but it feels more like a decade. That said, I love the older Benzes as much if not more than the newer ones.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Yeah, the "saggy butt" on the my w123 sometimes annoys me.

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Aaron
'84 300D 267,000 - Running WVO - Rice Bran Oil - Mmmmmm, fishy...
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The parking just sort of happened, but did think of Photoshopping them into order....

What's also interisting is that someon posted on another forum some late 90's or newer model and if you were a w123 or w126 driver, you could sit in it blindfolded and probibly reach out within five inches of every control in the cabin. There so close. Do it once, do it right I guess.

For as long as they spend designing the W123 and W126, it's no surprise they ran them for so many years. There history is pretty interisting if you ever get to reading it.

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One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K

wolf_walker I would like to learn more about the W126's history. Is there a book or a website you know of?

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

There are a bunch of books out about mercedes in general. I have one I'll have to check the name of and author, but it covers a heck of a lot of models and gives interisting bits and pieces of info about each, there first showing, etc, etc.

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One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K

W126 information page
It's real informative, and you'll see how successful the W126's production run was, 1979-1994, overlapping the W116 and W140 production years.
-Joe

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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.

That site cracked me up the way that it looks like M.B. dash switches...

My first diesel was a 220D-72, kept it for 4 years, then came the 240D-77, driving this one for 23 years, the most obvious difference between the two cars was the sound/noise level inside, in the 240D the higher frequency noise is much better atenuated.

Thanks,
Vahe