Bill, if you think the cars are expensive, you should try pricing the
parts. Unlike your Triumph, the Mercedes is a premium car and parts for
the older models are unbelievable. I have a friend who had a mid 1970's
convertible that needed engine parts. Once he got the parts prices he
gave up on it and sold it. It was more than he's paid for the car, and
that was just to get it running.
George Richardson
1957 Triumph TR3 - TS15559L http://www.key-men.com/triumph
1975 Triumph TR6 - Undergoing restoration
1972 Triumph Stag - Daily Driver
Key Men: Keys for Classics - http://www.key-men.com
Bill Brewer wrote:
> I've been looking to buy a good condition 1981-1987 Mercedes Benz 300TD
>turbo-diesel wagon as the Triumph parts & kids hauler and long rang trip car.
>I've always liked them and BION, it is the only car that I ever test drove new
>with intention to buy before I was married. I like the solid construction and
>tractor like qualities of a car that was advertised as "Built for life". I
>have seen where some folks have converted them to run on bio-diesel, straight
>vegetable oil (SVO) and waste vegetable oil (WVO, greasel, free used French
>fry oil). 300TD wagons have been going up steadily in price over the last few
>years. Like a TR, it would be fun to blong to online lists, do your own
>maintenance and look for used parts on the internet. However, what was a $2000
>car 5 years ago is now a $6,000 car and mint low mileage examples are pricey.
>
> I've been looking on Ebay (usually dogs that are over-represented and way
>overpriced), Craig's List (people dumping dogs that will bankrupt you, and
>they don't list phone numbers or respond to emails), local and LA papers (not
>much out there...), AutoExtra.com, Cars.com, Hemmings.com, Traderonline.com,
>TheBigLot.com, AutoTrader.com and the local camera ads. Tough to find a good
>one. Anyone else have any ideas on where to look? If anyone runs across a good
>one for sale, can they please let me know? I live in California about 2.5
>hours North of LA. I would be willing to travel for the correct car. Can
>someone in LA give me a weblink to any local camera ads down there?
>
> I recently let a 300TD wagon pass on Ebay that I should have bought. It
>was 127K documented miles, every maintenance record from the dealer, original
>paint with not a scratch on it, like new. It sold for $12,100. It was about
>double what I thought that it would sell for, so I didn't bid, but I have
>since learned that nothing is as expensive as a cheap Mercedes and that it was
>a bargain for what it was.
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