1980 Mercedes-Benz 300-Series

Manual

12319010012410

Beautiful 1980 Mercedes-Benz 300TD Euro / Non-Turbo 4 Speed CIGNO BIANCO(white swan) This simple and virtuous car is notable for what it does not have:No power windowsNo power seats No fancy wood trimNo sunroofNo air conditioningNo mediocre electronic climate controlNo power antenna (get off your butt and pull it up) General:She is stout and spartan and with reasonable maintenance will outlive most small mammals. She is not a show car or restored and is not perfect. My objective was to upgrade the car continuously, to be used as a very nice, safe and comfortable daily driver. I specifically searched for a Non-Turbo, Euro 4-Speed for their reputation for longevity and low-cost care and feeding. owing to the less-stressed nature of the non-turbo motor. The 4-Speed transmission makes her a fun, real world car that will surprise you with her power and ability to cruise on the freeway all day long at 80 without effort. Tires have about 40% left, with Michelins on the front and Khumos on the rear. The speedo, temp gauge, oil pressure gauge and clock are all in working order. She was never equipped with a tachometer. There are both a Drivers and Passenger side mirrors, both with manual adjustment that are fine examples of rugged simplicity in their own right. There is a massive 'BioDiesel' sticker on the rear hatch that I intended to have removed. Note that she has not been converted or altered in any way, but this of course an option for her new owner. There are minor dings around the body as expected of a car of this vintage, however most of her paint appears to be original and still good. She would benefit from a proper polish / detail and possibly a color sanding. I like the patina of originality and were I to keep her I would not repaint her anytime soon. The engine bay is neat and clean. There are no drip or clouds of smoke under the hood at idle and the hood pad appears new-ish. The motor feels tight and strong, not sloppy and smoky like many are by now. The clutch engages quickly and with assurance, the brakes are very good and inspire confidence.Her versatility is yet another great feature: Seating for 5 is a given, but few know that the seat cushions pop out and allow for a completely flat floor that is long enough to be used as a bed for 2 grown-up humans, or smallish Great Danes. The roof rack can accommodate everything from a bunch of surfboards to a full-on safari rack or roof tent for the Kalihari. There are many W123 Chassis Mercedes-Benzes all over the world...especially the 3rd world, as a testament to their bulletproof constitution. Many 300TDs have been modified for light off-roading / safari adventures. Have a look: http://300td.org/Upgrades / Services recently carried out: Both front seats and armrest professionally recovered / re-padded / using correct German Vinyl. Since their re-build, the seats have always had the sheepskin seat covers as shown. The backs had to be modified with a stretch panel to fit the backrests, as they are 'semi-custom' and feel great in all climates. The rear seats are original and in fair condition. They were not a priority as I used the car with the seats in the 'flat floor' position.All new correct-type carpeting front and back. The cargo area is the only part of the car that still has the original carpeting, which is in decent condition. An additional cargo mat is laid over the original carpeting for extra protection. The rest of the interior is in good to very good original condition. Cocoa Mats front and rear!A new, high quality dash cap was installed with the windshield out, as this is the best way to properly affix it to the original dash. The fit is excellent and when you knock on it, feels dead solid. New windshield and seal. The anodized aluminum trim was properly re-installed and is un-bent and un-buggered, unlike so many.Heater / fan switch replaced with very good and very hard to find used unit. Some new front end bushings as needed.Recent oil change.The not so good:When shifting between 1st and 2nd, a pause or double clutching is required, otherwise she will grind. This is something I have learned to live with and have both been very careful and can start on a flat road in 2nd gear with no trouble whatsoever. Downshifting through all the gears is flawless.The front passenger side window regulator sticks and requires help for the last inch or so. It simply needs to be replaced. Drivers side regulator has been recently replaced.The headlamp wiper arms are not present. This is how I bought the car. One of my goals was to find these and have them installed. These details are part of what makes her special. The vacuum door locks are not functioning properly. When the car is started, the locks will lock / unlock in unison, but when the motor is shut down and the driver's door is lock, the other doors do not follow suit. I have to manually lock all the doors manually. In addition, the tailgate is unlockable. The keys I have do not allow for it to be locked manually and it cannot be locked from inside the car.There is some rust along the bottoms of the doors as detailed in the pictures. I have been told this can be cleaned up with a dremel and primed and painted in place, without removing the doors. The outer paint areas and her general presentability are unaffected. The underside of the car, jacking points, etc., are all solid. She remains dignified and attractive, warts and all.Summary:By converting her present mileage from Miles to Kilometers, Cigno Bianco qualifies for 250,000 Kilometer grill badge from the Mercedes Classic Center. With reasonable care and feeding, she could easily qualify for a 500,000 Kilometer grille badge, as these cars can last indefinitely. Their robust build quality, combined with simple systems ensure their longevity for generations to come. I'm a fool to sell her. She has charisma to burn and is currently registered through October of 2012 and comes with a clear California title in my name. All factory owners manuals come with the car. Please feel free to ask questions prior to the end of the auction. There are lots of details and if I have inadvertently omitted something, kindly bring it to my attention for the benefit of all.A $500 deposit via PayPal within 48 hours of close of auction. The balance is due within 5 days of the end of auction. Pick-up of the Mercedes is required within 7 days of the close of auction. Buyer is solely responsible for shipping. Car comes with valid and clear California title, for fully legal export. Bids from Zero Feedback Bidders (ZFBs) with be promptly cancelled.