Blue Beauty: 1982 Mercedes-Benz W123 300CD – SOLD!

Nov 2020 | Classifinds, Malaise Monday

January 31, 2021 Update – we confirmed the seller of this “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we’re now able to call this one “SOLD!” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call Rudy directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

November 17th Update – We confirmed the private seller of this Mercedes Coupe just posted a fresh Craigslist ad with the price reduced by $500 to $9,500.

Without checking, one of the most common cars we’ve featured since starting GuysWithRides is the diesel-powered W123 version of the Mercedes-Benz Executive car line built between 1976 and 1986. While most of the ones we featured are the cult-classic Estate (station wagon) version, we love coming across two-door hardtop 300CDs such as this Dark Blue over Butterscotch leather 1982 example originally listed in October 2020 on Craigslist near Newburgh, New York with 79,500 original miles and an asking price of $10,000. Researching the Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the private seller has their 300CD priced between this guide’s #2 “Very Good” appraisal of $9,000 and its #1 “Excellent” estimate of $15,000. Similarly, using the Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool as a second data point confirms this private seller has their W123 Coupe priced between the #2 “Excellent” appraisal of $18,200 and the #3 “Good” estimate of $7,200.

Here’s the Hagerty Insurance take on the W123 Mercedes-Benz line:

“By the admission of Mercedes-Benz, the W123 platform was not revolutionary, but “rather a thoroughly mature mid-range car combining the latest engineering with tried and tested design features”. This sober summary reflects the lasting legacy of the W123 – a solidly built automobile with timeless poise and class.

Introduced in 1976, the W123 platform included a four-door sedan and sleek coupe. The W123 replaced the aging W114 and W115 platforms (also known as the “Stroke Eights”), which at the time were the most successful Mercedes passenger cars to date. The incoming W123s were styled after the new S-Class, which was a clear break with the classical style of the Stroke Eight. The W123 offered a longer wheelbase, a wider track, and a larger body. The 280C coupe was 85 mm shorter than the sedan and was absent a B-pillar, which lent the car a unique and sporty style. The coupe and sedans were soon joined by the diesel-powered 300TD station wagon in 1978 – the first Mercedes wagon. The cars were immensely popular and less than a year into production many dealers had a 12-month waiting list. Cars for immediate purchase were offered in a sort of black-market – at a healthy premium. The station wagon, or “touring” as it was called by Mercedes, was on a backlog of three years by the 1980s. This is a testament not only to the popularity of the touring but also Mercedes’ creation and then domination of the luxury or “lifestyle” station wagon market.

In the U.S., the W123 was available in all three body styles, but due to stricter emissions regulations, a limited range of engines. The naming convention was straightforward, with the first two numbers representing displacement in liters and the letters representing body style and fuel. No letters indicate a carbonated engine (i.e., the 230 carried a 2.3-liter inline-four available from 1977-78), D for Diesel, E for fuel injection, T for touring, or station wagon, and C for coupe. The 300D (3.0-liter inline 5-cylinder diesel) was available with a turbocharger in 1981 and labeled as such. Top of the range was the 280E and 280CE, both of which featured 2.8-liter, inline 4-cylinder, fuel-injected engines capable of 142 hp.

The W123 platform came equipped with many optional and standard class-leading features. The car was better engineered for crash protection – accomplished with a strengthened passenger cage and reinforced roof. Optional was a safety steering column engineered to crumple rather than enter the cabin in a head-on collision. From 1980 on, the W123 offered optional anti-lock brakes as well as an optional airbag after 1982. The 1982 model year also marked a major facelift for the W123 – all models were equipped with rectangular broadband headlights and power steering was offered standard across the range.

When the W123 went out of production in 1986 it had surpassed the Stroke Eight as the bestselling Mercedes-Benz with more than 2.5 million cars sold. Mercedes built the car to last, and many are still on the road today. As a testament to the car’s longevity, it is popular in Africa as a bush taxi, covering thousands of miles of rough roads with only basic maintenance. The 3.0-liter inline 5 diesel in the 300D, while lacking in power, is considered to be one of the most reliable engines ever built. The timeless design is sure to last as long as the car itself, making this car a classic that is here to stay.”

The Carefection YouTube Channel posted a quality modern review of the W123 Coupe in this video:

Unfortunately, the private seller seems very firm on his $10,000 asking price despite the fact by his own admission the interior needs to be redone and visible rust spots including a jack point need repair. The low mileage doesn’t make up for those unattended flaws, so only time will tell whether the lack of a sale proves our point. Good luck with the purchase!

Here’s the seller’s description:

“Not interested in trades at all! And please don’t call me and ask if I want to buy your car! I’m not a dealer, just a private collector with too many cars laying around!

Life is short! Treat yourself! And enjoy staring at this super rare iconic classic in your garage, while home or coming home from work! See eBay ad and call 5, one, six, 5, zero, zero, 3, four 9 five-after reading ad in full and seeing price firm! My other house is in the Marlboro NY area which I can have transported to after you purchase

Super rare 1982 Mercedes Benz 300cd 2 door coupe turbo diesel!

—-super low 79,500 miles about! These are the w123 million mile engines! It’s barely broken in. Starts right up and sounds amazing! As it should, the mileage is nothing!

—-body/paint is decent as seen in the pictures. Some rust spots. Overall even the undercarriage very clean, except one side of the jacking point, very easily repairable. You can drive it as is or if you want to make showroom needs restoration! The interior is pretty clean also except for some dashboard cracks. You can vinyl spray the seats to make like new palomino, otherwise reupholster if you want to be a show car!

—i have too many of these classics 300s laying around. So I haven’t gotten the chance to restore it. I bought it to restore. But never got the chance and it’s well worth restoring.

—-no accidents ever! You can see the carfax history and also mileage!

—runs and drives nice, probably also need to go over the air conditioner. But new front and rear brakes with calipers and some brake lines!

—price is firm $10000, yes $10k, dirt cheap for these, very rare. Which is very low for a 300cd with such low 79k miles. These sell easily for about 20k to 30k sometimes when mint! I’m a legit seller on eBay as well.

—this is meant for someone who wants to put a few grand into a paint job/restoration work to make their own project for the summer! Gorgeous dark blue with the palomino interior. Please serious buyers or don’t waste my time!

—if you don’t like the price or don’t know these cars, it’s not for you, very simple!

-and these are California smog exempt since it’s a 1982 diesel! Look it up before you ask! No worries there!

Serious buyers call, txts will be blocked and emails will be unseen! So keep the dumb offers, cause i won’t even see it! Will be in the spam!

please see ebay link for many more enlarged full screen photos.

Https://www.ebay.com/itm/193601648230?sspagename=strk:meselx:it&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

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Do you have a Volvo 122S story you’d like to share? Comment below and let us know!

Blue Beauty: 1982 Mercedes-Benz W123 300CD – SOLD!

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