1979 Mercedes-Benz 230 w123

This 1979 Mercedes-Benz W123 230 is a pre-facelift four-cylinder-engined model that boasts good overall condition. Said to be maintained well throughout its life and in the same family since new until 2019 when the vendor bought it, this Mercedes-Benz saloon has a little over 33,000 miles on the odometer, some Mercedes-Benz service history, and an advisory-free MoT. It has had 11 former keepers (excluding the vendor, of course) and two plate changes.

It’s finished in Topaz Brown, has matching interior upholstery, and by the looks of it, it’s bound to be the neighbours’ envy. Decoding the data card, the car was specced with sunroof, electrically operated windows, etc. While it’s a pre-fuel-injection car, with an automatic gearbox, you won’t have to manually make its 109-hp engine work hard. The bodywork doesn’t require immediate attention, and the interior is pretty clean, too. So much so that one might just mistake this to be a car from Mercedes-Benz’s heritage fleet. Having said that, ASR 637T isn’t entirely devoid of age-related marks, more on that below.

Not many cars can pull a colour like brown as effortlessly as this Mercedes-Benz 230. To maintain a visual balance, the 123 was, like a few other models from that era, offered with a lot of chrome on the outside. Not in a weird YouTuber chrome paint/wrap sort of way, but rather as trim. This 1979 example gets chrome wheel caps, dual-lamp headlight, ribbed tail lamps, and large mud flaps.

The bodywork looks fairly straight, with no visible dents or dings. The panel gaps are consistent like they would’ve been when the car left the German factory. The paintwork is clean, especially considering the car’s age. The rubber seals mightn’t require immediate replacement, but the age-related damage is visible. Rust is largely absent from the outside, but there seems to be some present on the weather seal next to the windscreen and below the rear window. There’s some paint damage right above the nearside headlamp, too.

Despite the W123 neither being the top-of-the-line model (that was the W116 S-Class and later the W126) nor the rarest (with more than 2.2 million examples of the saloon sold), it’s a classic that a lot of buyers, irrespective of their age and gender, want to own. It might be hard to point out whether it’s the timeless design, the image that Mercedes-Benz successfully created for its products, or something else that the W123 has and its successors don’t. Whatever it is, it does work exceptionally well in turning this car into the likeable classic that it is now.

Or maybe what makes the W123 so desirable is the way its interior offers everything from a nice, well-thought-of layout, a wide range of luxuries (for its time), a lot of space and comfort (both at the front and the back), and an overall airiness. And that’s before you appreciate the colour-coded upholstery, the rarity of velour, the usefulness of the MB Tex, or the more conventional cloth or leather choices available in different colours and patterns. Similarly, one could choose optional extras to make their W123 perfect for their needs (and wants).

The matching brown interior on this example doesn’t just look great but is also equipped with a few extras. These include electrically operated windows (all four), sliding sunroof, air conditioning, and automatic gearbox. The seats, door cards, carpet, and roof lining are in good shape. The rear bench also has an armrest, which was an option from Mercedes-Benz when the car was new.

Not only does the cabin look fresh, it also has a lot of space inside, making the W123 an even more usable classic. Concerning damage, the car looks clean, apart from the door seals showing clear signs of age. The nearside rear door appears to have some minute damage on the edge. The boot is spacious and the car comes with a spare wheel, too. The sunroof is functional and sits flush with the body. The vendor emphasises that the interior looks almost new and it’s got lambswool rugs both at front and back.

The W123 was heavily tested before being launched, and the car shared a lot with its predecessor. Depending on the model one chose, they were guaranteed low running costs, superior pace, or in the case of mid-level models like the 230 and 230E, a mix of both. But regardless of fuel choice, most models show a stellar reliability and longevity record, if maintained well and serviced periodically.

This Mercedes-Benz 230 came with a 2.3-litre inline-four engine which made 107 bhp at 4800 rpm and 137 lb. ft. For a car that weighed just less than 1.4 tonnes (it feels heavier than its kerb weight might suggest; blame it on the good build), Mercedes-Benz claimed a top speed of over 100 mph and fuel efficiency of 24 mpg. The real-world figures would have varied, but it just shows that even in 2021, the Mercedes-Benz 230 looks like a practical means to enjoy classic motoring.

But while solid, the W123 can be affected by rust. This example though seems to have done fairly well. The underside has some surface corrosion, but it doesn’t seem to affect any of the components. That’s further confirmed by the MoT test, which the car cleared without any advisories. The vendor, who’s owned it for a year, says, ‘it drives like a car of that mileage should: with no knocks or rattles’. He continues, ‘the suspension is perfect, and it’s a joy to drive’.

This Mercedes-Benz 230 (W123) was first registered in 1979. Since then it’s had twelve keepers (including the vendor), two plate changes, and ridiculously low mileage for its age. The vendor mentions that the car has been in the same family until it was sold to him in 2019. It was sparingly used, and also points out that in the last 11 years, it’s just done 2700 miles.

It comes with a Mercedes-Benz service booklet, the first inspection stamp on which is from 1979 while the latest is from 2020. The vendor got a full service done, got the car’s brakes checked and oil changed, too. It has always been garaged, and extremely pampered in the past, too — as can be verified by the car’s overall condition.

It’s challenging to see why anyone wouldn’t want a car as marvellous as the W123. Because there’s a lot that it offers, not just in the way it looks and drives, but also in the way its cabin is appointed and how comfortable it is, even when compared to modern versions of the E-Class. It’s not the fastest thing in the world but the W123’s appeal goes beyond just going fast or the headline figures. Having said that, it’s dynamically well-sorted, and drivers do enjoy the confidence and stability on the move. Engine-wise, the 230 was an intermediate model; it was faster than the entry-spec petrol and diesels but slower than the six-cylinder and fuel-injected models that came after it.

At an estimated £11,000 - £15,000, this Mercedes-Benz W123 is a well-maintained example that offers the new owner great value but without them having to settle for a less-than-desirable spec. The W123 was praised when it was new, for how comfortable it was, how well it drove, etc. And now four and a half decades later, it’s still one of the best classic Mercedes-Benz cars to own. Exactly what Mercedes’ marketing material said: it’s not just a perfect car, it’s a complete car, too.

Viewing is always encouraged, within Govt. guidelines of course, and as stated this car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.