You can’t really buy American firetrucks and drive them personally. Forest service greenies or the chief’s Blazer, maybe, but our real fire trucks are fricking huge. Euro firetrucks operate in much more confined spaces (and budgets), meaning they end up with sweet conversions like this 1980 Volkswagen LT45. Something like the T3’s big brother, we’ve seen a Syncro LT45 before that looked like it was ready to roam the desert because it knows that winter is coming. This is no Syncro DoKa, but it is a dually 5-speed diesel van that could serve many uses. It currently has the hose reels, but unless you want those the seller says he’s pulling them out. The seller seems confident that $16k is his price – do low miles and rarity counteract the generally rough appearance?
Tag: diesel
Our love of the T3 Vanagon Syncro has taken up significant blog space here, but sightings of T4s – called Eurovans, Transporters, or Caravelles – with Syncro are exceedingly rare. The only one I’d seen before this was an Executive Package Caravelle boasting private jet-like seating and lots of leather. Today’s T4 Transporter occupies the other end of the spectrum, with a stripped rear interior and metal separation wall behind the two front seats. Judging by the seller’s offer to install a refrigeration unit in the back for $7k, I’m going to guess that at some point it was used for cold transport. The lack of amenities are made up for by options never available in the US: panel sides, 4WD, and diesel power. I don’t need any “REEFER” capabilities (as the seller refers to it) installed, but I see a lot of potential for a go-anywhere camper with great privacy!
Click for details: 1990 Volkswagen T4 Syncro Diesel on eBay
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I have vivid memories as a child of one of Mercedes-Benz’s most iconic models over the last 40 years: the W123. The diesel variants particular stand out; their clatter as they ramble down the road was distinctive. The deliberate thunk as you would shut the doors and the seemingly magical way they would soak up the imperfections in the tarmac, even it it was a taxi with high mileage that was navigating the cobblestone streets of some old European city. These cars were and still are marvels. Upon a visit to the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart nine years ago, I was in awe of the like new examples the museum had in their collection, dreaming of being able to purchase a new W123 once again. Well, this 1981 300D for sale in Pennsylvania is about as close as you can get to showroom fresh. While this one predates the turbocharged 300D that came later, it still has a lot of appeal.
Click for details:Â 1981 Mercedes-Benz 300D on eBay
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Like the 1993 Volvo 240 Wagon we featured last week, the Mercedes-Benz W123 estate is a legend due to its durability. The Mercedes-Benz W123 estate was aimed a bit more upmarket than Volvo’s venerable five-door, combining luxury with utility in a package that is still popular amongst the motoring elite to this day. This final year 300TD for sale in California has crossed the 200,000 mark but those familiar with the W123 Mercedes-Benz will realize that kind of distance is trivial for one of the most legendary Mercedes-Benzes of the past 40 years.
Click for details:Â 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300TD on eBay
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Today we have another ex-German Military DoKa Diesel from Georgian importers Zombie Motors. This time the oilburner has a turbo strapped onto it and it’s a slightly brighter shade of green, looking good from afar in the pictures but reportedly a pretty crappy paint job according to the seller. The last Zombie DoKa was pretty rough to look at but had a nice interior, while this one is kind of the inverse. With just 85k miles, it should have a lot of life left in it but will clearly need an enthusiastic project manager.