FS: Mercedes Benz Diesel Motorhome in So. Cal - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ROLLGUY · #1 04-21-2014, 05:52 PM

I am selling this for a friend, and here's the story. About 6 years ago, I bought a 1977 25' class A Mercedes Benz (608D?) motorhome powered by a 3.8L N/A 4 cyl Diesel engine and 4 spd manual transmission.

I decided to sell it and advertised it on CL. A guy named John answered the ad and drove up from Riverside (50 miles away) and said he wanted the vehicle. He offered me a nice '83 300D in trade. I took the trade, and he drove the MH back to Riverside. He since put well over $12,000 in the repair and updating of the coach. The repairs/restoration include: New roof, extensive rust repair and panel replacement with aluminum, new custom windows ($800 worth), new rear panels and corners, new paint, new A/C cover, new rear lights and bumpers, new mirrors, new front brakes, new batteries, new exhaust system, new carpet, repairs to water damaged interior paneling in bdrm, many other cosmetic and mechanical items. The vehicle has not been driven off his property where all the repairs were made since 2009, until today. He sold his property and does not have a place for the vehicle. I drove it back to Hesperia, and have it for sale for him. Except for the slow drive up Cajon Pass (average 35 KM/H), the coach performed great. On level ground, it's top speed is about 85 KM/H.
Here are some photos:

He is asking $9,500 for it. He is aware that he is loosing money, but he has no choice. He just got it registered (was on non-op), and the tags are good till 2015. It needs to be used and enjoyed by someone, rather than to sit and rot. It does need some attention to a few things. I noticed that I had no turn signals on the drive home. I looked at the rear lights, and found that they were never hooked up! This will need to be fixed before it is driven again.
Please feel free to ask any questions here or PM. Thanks, Rich

cooljjay · #2 04-21-2014, 07:23 PM

That is super cool, and a awesome price for something so rare!

jimandsuzy · #3 04-21-2014, 09:44 PM

Top speed of 53 MPH on level ground? That's incredibly slow for driving on any hiway. Is there a motor size upgrade available? Not to knock it but that seems like a problem for a lot of buyers.

ROLLGUY · #4 04-21-2014, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimandsuzy

Top speed of 53 MPH on level ground? That's incredibly slow for driving on any hiway. Is there a motor size upgrade available? Not to knock it but that seems like a problem for a lot of buyers.

That is what the speedo read, although it seemed like I was going faster on the flat than 53 MPH.

DieselPaul · #5 04-23-2014, 05:16 PM

I have no need for one but man that is just too freaking cool. Good luck with the sale

ROLLGUY · #6 04-23-2014, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselPaul

I have no need for one but man that is just too freaking cool. Good luck with the sale

Thanks, I need it.....Rich

DieselPaul · #7 04-24-2014, 12:43 PM

To be fair, its sort of hugely impractical, but where would you ever find another. There's an MB nut out there who will have to have it. You should put it on eBay, someone out there will probably pay the absolute moon for it.

ROLLGUY · #8 04-25-2014, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselPaul

To be fair, its sort of hugely impractical, but where would you ever find another. There's an MB nut out there who will have to have it. You should put it on eBay, someone out there will probably pay the absolute moon for it.

I am not an ebay kind of guy, but I have heard of some crazy prices on weird stuff like this.

JB3 · #9 04-25-2014, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

I am not an ebay kind of guy, but I have heard of some crazy prices on weird stuff like this.

X2 on ebay. I could see a huge bidding war on something like this. Im gonna add that that thing has the best motorhome paint job ive ever seen.

I cannot afford this and dont need it, but i want it. Can you imagine such a vehicle with a sprinter CRD engine upgrade to it for better power? It would be the ultimate motorhome

The first pic and subsequent pics are really the same vehicle? Theres are so many little features changed, and its missing that rear window the first pic has

ROLLGUY · #10 04-25-2014, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB3

The first pic and subsequent pics are really the same vehicle? Theres are so many little features changed, and its missing that rear window the first pic has

Yes the same vehicle. My friend John bought it, and was going to take his wife camping after he fixed it up. After he put $12,000+ dollars in it, she said she did not like it and did not want to even ride in it. There was extensive rust in the skin in the rear, so the rear bedroom window was deleted. He put all new custom made windows in it, and saved a little $ by not putting the other window in. The one thing about the paint that I don't like is the color. The interior was blue when I got it, and he should have made the outside stripe in blue instead of green. Oh well, maybe the person that buys it may not care.

JB3 · #11 04-25-2014, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

Yes the same vehicle. My friend John bought it, and was going to take his wife camping after he fixed it up. After he put $12,000+ dollars in it, she said she did not like it and did not want to even ride in it. There was extensive rust in the skin in the rear, so the rear bedroom window was deleted. He put all new custom made windows in it, and saved a little $ by not putting the other window in. The one thing about the paint that I don't like is the color. The interior was blue when I got it, and he should have made the outside stripe in blue instead of green. Oh well, maybe the person that buys it may not care.

Amazing transformation. I noticed the outside had the green, and the inside is blue, but it didnt really register that they dont match. I bet it wont be a problem unless its a big thing to see in person.

The big thing for me is access to the front seats looks pretty awkward with the engine hatch right there. I could see that as a problem for any number of older people, but at the same time, a benz enthusiast will be buying this, so thats a small price to pay for something so unique.

MBZ123 · #12 04-25-2014, 03:44 PM

With all the buying I've been doing this past month, I ain'ts gots no monees no mo, but this ride sho wanna make me dig into dat ol e-fund rights bout now. I think mama would have somethin say bout that tho.

I have no "need" for this either, but I'm sure I could find one. How bout Breaking Bad v2.0??? O wait, gonna need a crew for that, huh. Am I the only person already bored with Walking Dead?
>muh melodrama
>uhhh ptsd
>why no one lives innaisland?
>mfw all this canned food still???

Is it plumbed for any kind of antenna? HF, VHF, etc.? CB? O ya can't ferget sat-tv. jk. Looks like the rehab had more "glamis" in mind than it did "back to nature." How roadwarrior would it look wearing a digital desert paint job? Joe Dirt says: Awwwhahhhhhh

+1 for additional sales channels. Coverage Rich. That thing needs to be exposed to the widest possible market. Here's to you finding the right "home" for that beaut and quickly.

Good luck amigo

MBZ123

INSIDIOUS · #13 04-26-2014, 12:31 AM

All it needs is:

686point3 · #14 04-30-2014, 05:47 PM

First of all, I am an 'old' Mercedes guy (not , I hope , an old guy who likes Mercedes, but a guy, who likes old Mercedes.)

Having said that, I have a few, because I like 'em: the more unusual the better, 60ies wagons, 300SE finnies, Busses (309, 319, 321H), even a Moving truck (332?), and lots of sedans, short of a 300SL, I have a large selection, but I don't have one of these.
I usually am pretty positive, but this has me miffed (?)

...and this is a forum, and everybody wants to throw in a couple of cents, and that's all fine and dandy, but consider the below facts, before You say it's worth a fortune and cool price unless you are actually, really willing to bite and not just bark (?)

Is there somebody out there, who would like this ?
Of course !
Is there somebody out there, who would like this and have the money !
ditto !
Is there somebody out there , who would like this, have the money, and wouldn't mind it being so slow and redundantly ask for more attention (mechanically etc.), less likely !

Now is there somebody out there,
who has the money and likes this enough to spend this asking price,
wouldn't mind it taking more repairs and maintenance,
searching for parts high and low,
wouldn't mind it going so ever slow (on a drive-train that will need looking after),
wouldn't mind travelling a distance to pick it up,
or either has time or (lots more) money to ship it OR be nearby,
has the space for it ?

...even more un likely, BUT

I hope there is somebody out there who has/does all of the above.
Good luck with the sale

Alex

graycenphil · #15 04-30-2014, 07:32 PM

I'm just kicking the tires too, but it is interesting. Did you drive it far enough to know how many miles per gallon it gets? Are the engine, brakes, suspension from any more common cars or trucks - are parts available? I didn't see a fridge? AC works? And is that generator propane?