1983 Mercedes-Benz (W123) 300TD Station Wagon

- New Mexico Wagon
- 3.0L Turbo Diesel Inline 5
- Automatic Transmission
- 103k Miles
- White Over Black Interior
- Original Window Sticker and Sales Documents

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1983 Mercedes-Benz 300TD Station Wagon on a site other than GarageKeptMotors.com, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of this vehicle due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 160 high-definition photographs, including a short startup-and-walk-around video, and a link to its accident-and-damage-free Carfax, please go to our main website: GarageKeptMotors.)

“If you say 'overbuilt, over-engineered, bulletproof,' this is the era and the series that comes to mind. This is literally the car you cannot kill.” – Hagerty

Silodrome.com writers agreed putting it this way: “The Mercedes-Benz W123 300TD is remembered today as one of the toughest and most reliable vehicles of its age....” Mercedes 300TD cars are known to make their way to countries with unforgiving terrain where rock-strewn cow-paths qualify as roads. And in those challenging environments, these hearty German automobiles routinely pass 750,000 miles and just keep going. It's no wonder they're beloved by car enthusiasts, outdoor adventurers, and even soccer moms here in America.

Offered here in classic white-over-black Mercedes textured vinyl, is a very well cared-for 300TD station wagon just beginning its second (of no doubt many more) 100,000-miles of adventures. At 103,000 miles now, or a mere 2,700 miles per-year on average so far, this qualifies as a very youthful Mercedes. The car still retains its 1982 pre-delivery dealer inspection sticker with the signature of the technician. As another good indication the original owner loved the car, the factory window sticker is included in the sale. The car's paintwork is excellent with nary a sign of patina and absolutely no indication of body damage; panel fit appears to match exacting Stuttgart factory specifications of the day. All emblems and badging are complete, including the stand-up Mercedes three-pointed star hood ornament. All cabin glass and lighting lenses are clear and un-cracked; yellow lenses are in place on the driving lights. Undamaged, original Mercedes alloy wheels are mounted with Michelin tires.

Inside, the design and materials are classic Mercedes. Real wood dash and console trim nicely warms the more Teutonic black look on carpeting and trim. Seat upholstery is remarkably free of damage or even significant signs of normal wear. The instrument pod displays comprehensive gauges including a tachometer and a clock, all analog, nothing digital. Other controls—including for HVAC—are located on the center stack along with the factory-original Becker Europa cassette radio. More switchgear and the automatic-transmission shifter are located on the console, surrounded by undamaged wood trim. A carpet mat protects the dash (which has no cracks), and "MBZ" mats protect the carpets. Door-trim condition is excellent, as are the expansive cargo-area's carpeting and trim. The car's headliner—including on the sunroof—is taut.

Under the hood, power is supplied by a 5-cylinder turbocharged, 3-liter diesel engine. The engine bay is complete with all components, wiring, and hoses properly installed or routed. Not unlike the remainder of the car, the surfaces are clean and original throughout. Silodrome described the engine this way: “... this 3 litre, 5-cylinder turbo-diesel... would win the W123 a lot of fans. The engine produced 123 horsewpower at 4,350 rpm and 184 ft lbs at 2,400 rpm.... This engine was the Mercedes-Benz OM617 engine, it was regarded as one of the most reliable motors of its time... and it would still leave many modern engines in the dust in the longevity stakes.”

Viewed from below, the car's chassis shows no evidence of damage or misuse. Here again, surfaces are in excellent condition with only a little dust from spending most of its life in New Mexico.

The more than 120 high-definition photographs available on the Garage Kept Motors site, together with the walk-around-and-startup video (and damage-free Carfax report) faithfully present this '83 Mercedes 300TD wagon from every angle, including from underneath. That said, we always encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom by interested parties, or their representatives. We ask only that appointments for such visits be made with us via phone or email in advance. In the same way, we are happy to answer any questions about the truck. Our showroom is not open to the public

“You cannot kill them,” Phil Skinner, Kelley Blue Book's collector-car market editor, said recently of this era Mercedes 300TDs. “They just keep on running. It's Mercedes technology—and on a station wagon! It's the perfect combination.” Amen to that.