Saturday afternoon I was cruising at 75+ mph on I69 in Indiana in my Rusty, trusty 1981 300D (with new axle shafts). Just after going through an under pass I looked to the right to check for traffic entering from the ramp. What do I see? A car much like my W123. Same color, but with a serious roof rack and bike rack on the back. I smiled and thought 'cool'. Well the driver of that W123 saw me and slowly caught up with me after 5 miles. When he was about 3 car lengths behind me I slowed up because I saw that behind him was a state patrolman and when I looked at my speedo the needle was just passed 80. (I have checked my speedo several times with GPS and it seems to be dead on). As this W123 passed me the driver thrust his arm through the moon roof opening and gave me a 'thumbs-up'. Once he passed me he returned to the right lane and we went on together for a while. Boy did we get some looks with 2 old 300D's of the same color traveling together down the road. At one exit he signaled me over. I followed. We stopped and chatted. He asked to see my engine as he has 6 W123 300D's, but all turbos. He had never seen a non-turbo 617 and could not believe the speeds that I was maintaining. I told him that 75mph seems to be a sweet spot on mine. We chatted a little on our love of the W123. We exchanged numbers as he needs parts and I said that I have more than I know what to do with.

It was a pleasant interruption to my journey.

Last year, I ran across a guy driving a china blue 300TD. We pulled over and chatted up our old wagons.

A few weeks ago, a guy coming the other direction gave me the thumbs up, he was driving a 300SD.

Yesterday on the highway, a newer Civic sedan (stock) full of teenagers passed me. The kid in the pass rear seat rolled down the window and was waving wildly as they passed. Not sure if he was making fun of my car or thought it was cool. Oh well, it's not easy being yellow.

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'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

That is cool. My experience was somewhat different in Phoenix when I had my 240D. Even "dieseling up" at the pump with another 123 doing the same thing the owner didn't even want to acknowledge my presence. That was par for the course it seemed.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqDV9W7J0a8

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

When I take the 2.3-16 out for a spin, I do notice that I get a fair share of BMW and C-Class drivers either drafting me or hanging out near the rear quarters. I guess the trunk spoiler on a 190E piques their interest.

I drive a 1966 230SL 5 speed, signal red with a black soft top. It kind of stands out in the crowd a bit. The other day I had a friend drive it while I was driving a 1957 190SL, silver with blue soft top. Now, together these two cars make statement!
So there we, are driving along, and we meet the odd MB coming the other way. I'm used to late model MB drivers not even noticing me in any of my old cars but two old cars following closely together? Most of them seem to care less about what they're driving and even less what anyone else is driving. Never get a nod or thumbs up.
Oddly, it's drivers of domesic cars that look the most. I just drive along and hardly bother looking to see if anyone checks the car out anymore.

The one car that did get a lot of looks and waves was the RHD 300SE I'm working on. Not sure if it's seeing someone driving on the other side of the car or the general look of the car.
For a hoot I have the odd passenger hold on to a steering wheel and then have them hang it out the window. That gets all sorts of looks! We never do it to approaching traffic of course........