1982 Mercedes-Benz 300TD Auto W123

Mercedes-Benz used to build what were probably the most exquisitely engineered cars in the world, a claim that’s hard to refute when you see the condition of this 38-year-old W123 (S123) 300TD estate. Fitted with the almost indestructible 3.0-litre (2998cc) inline-five-cylinder turbo diesel engine it transmits its power to the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic gearbox. You’re not going to be setting speed records with its performance but wherever you’re going, you will get there reliably and will do so in comfort, even with 6 other people on board.

Supplied new to Marbella in Spain, this 300TD - ‘T’ for ‘Tourismus und Transport’ (estate) and ‘D’ for ‘Diesel’ - is a special car and still looks amazing, having shrugged off its 157,000 km (97,500 miles) and 38 years with the sort of nonchalance only German cars can. Coming from a warm, dry region, it is also largely rust free and has never been restored.

The last owner bought the Mercedes in the late 2000’s in Spain for his holiday house there. Reportedly originally supplied by the Mercedes dealer in Marbella, it is understood to have been a low owner, cared-for example prior to his ownership. By keeping it garaged and regularly serviced, it has remained a good example (many of these were very ‘well-used’ in the day, resulting in the good survivors being in demand with prices rising) and was only sold on recently due to the owner’s advancing years (he is a regular club member for Lancia amongst others). The car was brought back to the owner’s Irish house in 2012 and re-registered there, continuing the undercover storage.

Shipped to The Market HQ for sale, it is currently Irish registered. To confirm those not familiar with the rules, there would be no VAT or duty to be paid if it were re-registered in the UK or, we understand, across virtually all of the countries of the EU (do check local regulations).

Finished in Marine Blue, the exterior of this 300TD looks very fresh, with no sign of significant damage or paint problems. There’s a small dent and a couple of scratches behind the rear left wheel arch and one or two small dinks and light scratches on the driver’s door and elsewhere around the vehicle but for a car that’s not far off 40 years old, that’s good going. Panel gaps and shut lines are good, as you would expect from a well put together German tank of a car.

The external chrome trim - such as the window trims, door handles, mirrors and roof rails - isn’t looking too bad, although the rubbers and plastics around the bumper could do with some refurbishment in places if you are so inclined. Judging by the angle it is sitting at, the right front headlamp wiper may well need some attention.

The car sits on its original 14-inch Bundt ‘Mexican hat’ alloy wheels which are in a fair to good condition. They are fitted with Federal Super Steel tyres from 2016 on the fronts and Michelin Energy tyres from 2005 on the rears - which are starting to show some age and which, for peace of mind, would benefit from replacement. It's also been fitted with RHD headlights.

The condition of this car is pretty amazing for its age but you don’t need to take our word for it. By all means scrutinise the detailed photos in the gallery but why not also use the ‘Contact Seller’ option to get in touch with us and arrange a personal inspection at our HQ near Abingdon in Oxfordshire. If you’d rather not travel, we could easily set up a video call where we can give you a closer look at anything you’d like to see.

Inside the car, the hard-wearing Creme Beige MB Tex interior upholstery presents very well with no evident damage or undue wear. The dash top appears intact with none of the shrinkage cracks that you might expect from a hot climate and the wood veneer inlays present well. The black plastic/vinyl of the steering wheel and centre console also look in good condition.

The original stereo has been replaced by a more modern JVC DAB/CD unit with AUX input and a removable fascia. The stereo is working, as is the power-retractable antenna but we have noted that some of the other interior electrics are a touch intermittent. The door mirrors are manually operated as is the sunroof which moves smoothly and fits well with no leakage. The air conditioning, well used in a Mediterranean country, is reportedly working well, but untested.

Driver’s floor aside, which seems to be a domestic product, the tailored beige carpets look in a great condition, possibly being replaced not so long ago - or just unused - and the headlining appears in good, clean order. Underneath the carpets, the floor pans look in great shape too. All in all, the interior on this car is very strong.

Under the bonnet, the engine bay is in a clean and largely good condition with just a little patch of surface rust up in the hinge recesses on both sides. The engine block itself and the major ancillaries all present well and appear to have been well looked after with cables, hoses and ducting renewed where required. The battery also looks fairly recent.

Underneath the car, the floor pans seem solid and well undersealed and just what appears to be surface corrosion on structural and suspension components.

Open the rear hatch and the load space looks in good order although there is some staining in the far corner of the carpet. The roller-blind cover and dog guard is present and the two additional rear-facing seats pull up out of the floor. With these seats stowed and the middle seats folded forward the boot space is enormous; perfect for a trip to the recycling centre or to fetch and carry parts for another classic project car.

The trim under the rear-facing seats is split in a couple of places but the seats appear to function as designed. Also in the boot are a full-size spare wheel, jack, toolkit, warning triangle and first aid kit. Finally, a set of modern reverse parking sensors have been fitted to aid in getting such a large vehicle into a space or garage without leaving too much out front.

There is no history file with this car although it does come with its Irish registration document, two sets of keys and some period brochures. Charmingly it includes its original Spanish book pack with some old service stamps. You will, however, need to learn Spanish to get the most out of them!

The vendor confirms that the car has been recently serviced - changing the oil, oil & fuel filters and brake check etc. Whilst in Ireland, the previous owner had a retired Mercedes mechanic complete any servicing required, but he never received any receipts.

The vendor has committed to immediately providing a completed NOVA certificate if the car is to be bought by someone in the UK. To complete UK registration, an MOT will be required followed by completion of the V55/5 form.

As you can see from the video, the engine starts with just a slight encouragement on the throttle (less so when time is given for the glow plugs to warm up) and, whilst a little agricultural at idle, it revs smoothly. It drives, brakes and handles well, with everything feeling much tighter and quieter than you’d expect from a car this age. The air suspension is also working well, giving a smooth ride. It would make an ideal classic transporter for pets, kids, bikes or equipment and all done with a reliable elegance.

Such models are now being touted by classic car experts and asking prices are rising fast, especially across Continental Europe. We expect this lovely 300TD to sell for between £12,500 and £16,000 and it would be hard to imagine it going anywhere but up from there if it continues to be well looked after.

If you can live with left-hand-drive and a Spanish owner’s manual, you’ll get a very straight and desirable classic estate in return, which will likely last another 38 years.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.