Posted Aug 30th 2011 7:29PM
I learned to drive in a 240 D. Cars don't get much slower than that. I mean dangerously slow.
September 01 2011 at 5:09 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI love my '81 300D. I bought it in San Jose, California back in 2002 to be my "cheap beater". Used it for the year I spent at SJSU on a student exchange program and traveled all over California with that car. After that, I stored it at my uncle's place for a number of years - using it whenever I was there on vacation. I ended up loving the car so much that I decided to keep it and drove it solo up to my home in Alaska in 2007. That was one of the best road trips I've been on and my 210k mile Mercedes functioned flawlessly. There's only one other diesel Mercedes in the town I live in, and while I don't know the guy, I find it cool that he waves at me whenever we pass each other on the road. Its too bad new Mercedes don't have the character that the old ones had...I'd own a new one otherwise!
August 31 2011 at 4:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHow did they.. what the.. where did they get the cash to do that? First off, that shop is incredible. And this is in California? Was this a family business? Does he do full servicing as well? I mean transmissions and all? I didn't think this was a feasible business. I have 2 Euro spec grey market imports being restored at the moment. I don't see too many gassers on their site, and almost no grey market (S-class, SECs etc), which are the really really desirable ones (to me anyhow). Most of the really nice grey market S-classes have been worked over by either tuners or the rust monster.
Something about that video just doesn't seem real. The party sequence was creepily clothing-commercial like.
Love the cars these guys do, it's impressive! Gotta say though some of their cars are unbelievably overpriced.
Still as a fan of old Benzes, this is very cool.
A great website. Have had MB for over 30 years - one of 2 I have now is 84 300 TD wagon -
80,000 original miles. I will keep checking in
Thanks for the great article AB. Brings back some fond memories...
Back in '99 when I was in High School and about to get my permit, my parents set out to by me a inexpensive car to learn how to drive a manual transmission right off the bat. I had my heart set on getting myself a Porsche 944(which I eventually did the following year), but what I ended up with beforehand was a '79 Mercedes Benz 240D.
My parents were practically given this car. I think they paid like $3,500 for it. It was Yellow w/matching yellow hubcaps, 4 speed, & leather interior. Oh, and it had 32,000 original miles and garage kept! It was purchased from a widow who had recently had her husband pass away and just wanted to get rid of it. It was mint. Looked like it had less than 5k miles. The leather didn't show any age at all and the car looked like it was just rolled off the assembly line.
Let me tell you, at first, the embarrassment of driving an old Benz quickly vanished. The car was solid. It handled like a tank. It was super comfortable & I definitely enjoyed the time I had with it.
Seems like a good business to be in. Restore cars and go on road trips with your best friend. Where can i sign up.
August 30 2011 at 10:30 PM Report abuse Permalink +5 rate up rate down ReplyI'm a bimmer guy but love old Mercs, especially the coupes.
August 30 2011 at 10:23 PM Report abuse Permalink +3 rate up rate down ReplyYeah but if you had to choose? Just like...
Brady Bunch or the Partridge Family?
Elvis or The Beatles?
Golf or Tennis?
Dogs or Cats?
Red or Blue?
Sweet or Sour?
BMW or Mercedes-Benz?
;)
I love that era of MB but I hate the sound of the diesel engines. If one day I buy and restore one, it is going to be one with a gasoline engine.
August 30 2011 at 8:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThey don't make cars like this anymore. If you have an old beater, hug it and give it a tuneup.
August 30 2011 at 8:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
