1979 Mercedes 300SD - GREAT TURBOCHARGED, EURO-STYLE VINTAGE BOULAVARD CRUISER

1979

Mercedes Benz
300SD TurboDiesel

Full Euro-style Body Upgrades

VIN: 11612012011491

Here’s another desirable, great-running & driving Mercedes diesel we’ve acquired for our Ebay customers. This nice 300SD sold new here in Seattle to an Army officer and has been kept local to snow-free Western Washington State for almost four decades now. “Colonel Mustard” was reluctantly passed on to us a short time ago in hopes finding his next caretaker. From the moment I first laid eyes on the old boy, it was obvious the car has been treated with respect and care over the years. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. My name is Mark Thompson and my direct phone number is (206) 914-1173. You’re welcome and encouraged to make an appointment to inspect and drive the car. If you follow the vintage Mercedes market, you know it’s becoming much more difficult to find these S-Class Benz in decent condition. Coming across one that’s been fitted with the attractive, shorter European bumpers and factory style headlamps (as the designers intended) is extremely rare. To be clear, this is NOT a “gray market” import (which can be very difficult to title in some states). It will arrive with a clean, free-and-clear Washington state title transferable anywhere.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION

Ever driven one of these Mercedes with the powerful 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine? Where else will you find this kind of luxury, vintage style, safety, mechanical reliability AND terrific (25+MPG) fuel economy wrapped up in one great ride? Smooth is the word for sure. Smooth handling in the curves or on the highway. I’ve always considered these W116 chassis cars constructed in the 1970’s as some of the last hand-built, truly high-quality Mercedes and have heard others say the same! Take a look at my photos and I’m sure you’ll agree with me what a nice car this truly is. All were taken yesterday, August 4, 2018. What you see is the result of a wash and vacuum only. Climb over, under and throughout; I know you’ll come up smiling! Rust? Please, this car hates rust and you won’t find a thing to worry about here. Having spent all its life in the Seattle area, there’s never been exposure to road corrosion starters. Yes, western Washington State is famous for rain, but our winter streets are never salted. At most we’ll have one or two days of light snow. Everyone panics and just stays home hunkered down with a blanket and book. Climb over, under and all around this 300SD - I know you’ll come up smiling!

Having personally owned dozens of Mercedes over the years, I’ve developed a great appreciation for the classic MB style, mechanical reliability and overall driving experience. THIS CAR RUNS OUT VERY NICELY. I’VE SPENT THE BETTER PART OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS COMMUTING IN IT AND AM CONVINCED YOU’LL BE PROWD TO OWN AND DRIVE IT AS WELL!

CONDITION:

In total, I this is a clean, well-cared-for, smoke-free Mercedes. I take pride in the vehicles offered here on Ebay Motors and feel you should know as much about the car as possible. Accordingly, here is a list of the good and also a few small things needing attention: take literally two or three seconds to heat the glow plugs when starting cold and the peppy 3.0L inline five diesel engine starts immediately with only few moments of starter cranking!The automatic transmission shifts through all the gears with absolutely no slippage.The car idles, runs and drives like a Mercedes is supposed to – strong, immediate oil pressure, strong battery and charging system, no overheating and no brake pull. The immediate past owner installed the custom aluminum radiator and grille foglamp within the last 24 months along with other upgrades. I would suggest replacing the vacuum pump located on the front of the engine. This device provides suction that increases the effectiveness of the power brakes, the vacuum door locks and the ignition shutoff. As it is now, all three systems are less optimal than many drivers would like as it gets annoying waiting 15 or 20 seconds for the engine to shut down after turning off the key!

The factory silver metallic paint has been resprayed to the original color sometime in the past. I’d say it’s easily a 9 out of 10. Though I’m no expert, there’s no evidence of bodywork or accident repair. There aren't any dings or rock chips in the paint. The front fenders, rear quarters, doors and floor pans are all very solid; in fact, the entire undercarriage is in fine shape for a thirty-nine-year-old vehicle! All the glass is good. I’ve never encountered Mercedes alloy wheels that were anything but straight and true. These fit that bill and are wrapped with Toyo touring radials with at least 50% or so tread remaining all around.

Take another good look at my interior pics. The Vinyl-Tex bucket seats have held up well with no wear-through spots or seam cracks on either the base or the driver’s backrest bolsters as you’ll typically find on these boulevard cruisers. The same can't be said for the old underlayment of the rear bench backrest. It could really stand to be re-stuffed. No issues with the speedometer or mileage counter. Both work well with the odometer registering less than 129,000 original miles as pictured. The heater blows warm air when activated. The A/C system is not functional.

There’s no evidence of any water leakage on the headliner. The power sunroof opens using the dash switch as do three of the four electric windows. You will find NO evidence of cigarette smoke here. The carpets are decent and original but the two rear panels (behind the front buckets) have been replaced with aftermarket versions. Like most vintage Benz stereos, the original Becker Grand Prix is long gone, having been replaced by a later year model that has also stopped working.
We’re always very happy to work with any shipper you choose, but you’re also welcome to do what many of our past buyers from as far away as Alaska, Arizona, the Midwest, Canada, Florida, New York and even the Mexican Baja have done – fly in here to Seattle (we’ll pick you up at Sea-Tac International just a few miles away) and then start a road trip home the same day. As a respected Ebay seller with many satisfied online buyers, I want you to bid with confidence knowing that this Mercedes is being properly represented to you! Please don’t be upset if I miss another minor flaw or some small issue comes up on the car. NO used vehicle is ever perfect.

Please check the photos over closely and call me with any questions BEFORE you place a bid! You’re encouraged to stop by, inspect the Mercedes and take it for a test drive as it is being sold as-is, where-is with a free & clear Washington State title. There are NO title brands for any nasty negatives like salvage history, theft or flood damage to cause you concern! Because of the amount of money involved with a vehicle purchase, I reserve the right to cancel your bid if you have any negative feedback. I also ask that potential bidders with a feedback rating of five or fewer transactions on Ebay contact me before placing their bid either through Ebay’s message system or, as outlined above, call me at 206/914-1173. My name is MARK THOMPSON.

A Few Additional Terms and Conditions:

Payment in full is due within seven business days unless prior arrangements have been made with me. I can accept bank cards for part (or all) of the purchase, but I’ll first need to email an invoice and ask that you cover the 3.5% fee the processer charges us. Please remember you are bidding to buy and I fully expect the winning bidder to fulfill their Ebay contract! You’re not bidding to hold or then come inspect and test-drive the vehicle later -- You’re more than welcome to do this before the auction ends.

TheMercedes can be stored free of charge at my location for up to two weeks after the auction ends assuming full payment has been received. After that period storage is $20 per day.