1982 Mercedes-Benz 300-Series

300TD Diesel Wagon

5 - Cyl.

Automatic

WDBAB93A7CN010537

Clear

Gasoline

1982 Mercedes 300TD Wagon 86K original miles Long term CA ownership No Reserve auction Here up for bids on eBay is this super low mile diesel Mercedes, a 1982 300TD.  This car was bought new under the European Delivery Program in February of '82, and then shipped to Menlo Park, California where it resided with its original owner (a German machinist) for many years.  The car was eventually sold to a close family friend, (nearby in CA) and then passed down to his son in 2008, moving with him to Seattle in 2009.  Always garaged, the car has never spent a night outside, it is remarkably well preserved and has been beautifully maintained.   As we all know, there are plenty of 300TD's on the market, but the truly execptional ones are few and far between.  I deal mainly in vintage cars, but have an affinity for these diesel W123's, having owned many of them over the years.  When an 300TD like this comes onto my radar,  I drop everything because I know how hard it is to find an exceptional example.  This is one of those exceptional examples.    Click to enlarge any of the photos below, a link to a slideshow of all the enlarged images is available at the bottom of the page.   Finished in "Champagne Metallic" this Mercedes wears original paint that still appears factory fresh, a testament to the care that this car has been given.  The paint shows good gloss and depth, with minimal surface flaws only on close inspection.  The body is arrow straight, there are a few small door dings on the driver's side but overall the car presents very well.  No rust issues anywhere on this car, zero.  Panel gaps are all excellent, the doors hood and tailgate all close precisely.  As you can see the car has tinted glass, I'm not much of a tinted glass guy but have to say that this was a quality application, it was done very well.  The car rides on a set of nitrogen filled Michelin X radials, 4000 miles from new. All of the chrome of the car is in excellent condition with no pitting, tarnishing or fading at all.  Both bumpers are straight and true with no damage.  The grill surround and star are in great shape, the grill's cross bars show a few minor tweaks.  The Hella H4 lights are in great shape and add a distinctive look to this car. Nice fit and finish throughout, these were well put together cars, when they're this well preserved you can gain a real appreciation for the quality product that came off the assembly lines in Bremen. All of the glass is original, including the windshield, all of it in terrific condition.  All of the anodized trim surrounding the windows is like new, with no scratches or flaws, another indicator of the car's low miles and pampered ownership history. This is a leather optioned car, done in "Sienna", code 237, a great combination with the exterior color.  The seats are in fantastic condition, having been covered with sheepskins covers (included) from new.   There is very little to fault here, the interior is pretty much a time warp back to 1982. In addition to the leather option, these seats were also ordered with the heated and orthopedic features, both unusual options to find on a 300TD.  I recently drove 4 hours on the freeway in this car and can tell you that the combination of these options make for a very comfortable drive.  The dash shows no cracks or splits, it has been covered with a custom fit carpet overlay (included) from new. All power windows work, both heated seats work, climate control functions correctly.  The radio works but the power antenna doesn't, I just manually raised it and left it in that position.  The ashtray and lighter are unused, this car was never smoked in, it still smells like leather. The carpet was covered with a set of MB coco mats from new, which explains its showroom fresh appearance.  The steering wheel still shows its original textured pattern, most of these have been worn smooth after 30 years.  All gauges work (even the clock) and show good readings.  And, YES, the cruise control works! Couple of small blems on the back seat.  Door jamb doglegs are completely rust free.  Under seat areas are just like the factory workers left it 30 years ago. Very nice door panels, sills and jambs.  The vacuum door locks work correctly.   The sunroof works smoothly, the headliner is unmarked and excellent from front to back. Rear cargo area contains the tool kit, spare, hazard triangle, first aid kit, and jacking equipment. Included are the Coco mats which covered the carpets all these years.  Also included is a wide assortment of original instruction manuals and brochures.  Click to enlarge any of these photos, the last 2 here show the manufacturer's bill of sale to the first owner and the original invoice for $32,247 - a lot of coin back in 1982. This 300TD runs and drives just as would expect from the miles, it rides down the road with a vault like feel, and performs just as it's intended to.  There's no substitute for driving a low mile car, this is one I'm sure you'll be pleased with.  I happen to love the sound of a well tuned diesel motor, I recorded this one so you can give it a listen, you can access the audio file here.  This was recorded with the hood up, right next to the engine, the car is not this loud when you're sitting inside it, it's actually pretty quiet for a diesel. The A/C system has been converted to R-134a and has a new receiver-dryer.  In addition, the brake and cooling systems have been flushed, and new engine and transmission mounts installed.  This car is ready for the road. 3000 miles ago the car had service that included a valve adjustment, fuel filter replacement, and replacement of the air cells for the rear suspension.  Receipts also show work done on such items as the dash light rheostat - this is the type of car that was cared for down to the minor details. The undercarriage is clean and dry, this car doesn't leak a drop, not one.  No signs of rust or accident damage either, just a well cared for survivor with 86K miles.  Click here for a slideshow of all of the enlarged images. About the Reserve Price: This car is being sold with No Reserve, the high bidder wins, it's as simple as that.  This auction ends Tuesday, 3-27-12 at at 12 Noon Pacific Time , 2 PM Central , 3 PM Eastern, 7 PM GMT. About Payment: I will contact the winning bidder via email within 3 hours of auction completion.  I would like a $500 deposit via paypal within 2 days.  Balance is due (bank check or bank wire transfer only) within 7 calendar days of auction end. The car will be securely garaged until pickup. About this auction: This auction process is a legally binding contract into which you enter when you click "confirm" on your bid.   Please have finances in order before you decide to bid and please ask all questions before you decide to bid.   Basically, please only bid if you are ready to purchase this car.  Car is sold as-is with no warranties express or implied.  License plate is for illustrative purposes only.  Any disputes regarding the sale of this vehicle shall be resolved through binding arbitration exclusively in Multnomah County, Oregon under applicable state laws.  By bidding you agree to these terms. About me: Please check my feedback, I take customer satisfaction very seriously and am a licensed, bonded and insured dealer in the State of Oregon.  I own this car outright and the pictures were taken last week.   You and/or your representative are welcome and encouraged to inspect the car in person before the close of auction. I can be reached at 503-891-7702 between the hours of 9-5.  Previously sold inventory is available to view at www.cascadiaclassic.com.  I also welcome you to visit my blog, where I write about the back stories of some of the cars that I've sold. Post Auction details: The transport cost is the responsiblity of the winning bidder, although I can certainly help with logistics.  I have a wholesale account with a transport booking service and can help you find a reasonable shipping rate.   Overseas bidders may contact any of these international shippers for a quote: Schumacher Cargo Horizon Auto Services California Shipping Thanks for looking! On Mar-20-12 at 21:42:35 PDT, seller added the following information:For those that need a TD wagon with a third seat, this one can be easily converted with a kit from JJ Products. I've bought from them before and was impressed with the color match and product quality. Their 3rd seat kits come with seat belts and bolt right in.