Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
The Mercedes-Benz W123 is one of those few cars that blends luxury and practicality in one stoic package. If a W123 could play a round of poker, you probably would have a hard time getting a read on it. These are cars that go the distance with little complaint. While many have been run for hundreds of thousands of miles, some looking worse for wear than others, this 1979 300TD for sale in New Jersey is a remarkable survivor.
The progression of vehicles in my garage may have been solidly German, but I’ve never been beholden to one marque. I went through my BMW phase, Volkswagen phase, Mercedes-Benz phase and now back to a BMW of sorts, with the MINI Cooper S. But other than the elusive Porsche, the one brand that has escaped me has been Audi. However, this could change sooner than later. The styling of both BMW and Mercedes-Benz doesn’t really appeal to me as of late, but for the last decade, Audis have steadily grabbed my attention each time a new model appears. In the future, I hope the company decides to bring back a standard Avant to these shores, sans Allroad trim, such as this 1999 A4 Avant 1.8T Quattro. The B5 A4 Avant styling for me was an exercise in tasteful restraint. Equipped with the 5-speed manual gearbox and Quattro, it would be fairly easy to forget you are driving a family oriented vehicle.
It wasn’t until the late 1970s with the introduction of the W123 T-model that Mercedes-Benz had a proper modern estate in their lineup. However, there were a few limited production examples that saw the light of day in the preceding decades, such as this 1967 200D Universal converted by the Dutch firm I.M.A. Malines. Available in four different models, 200, 200 D, 230 and 230S, these five-door W110s were manufactured between 1965 and 1967. This example for sale in Oregon isn’t perfect, but it runs and would make a good base for a restoration project.
The 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280CE Convertible we featured yesterday afternoon got me thinking about what other models I wish the company would have contemplated. High up on my list is this tribute that we see here, a 1991 E500 Estate. Technically, we should call it a 500E Estate as the nomenclature change didn’t take hold until the 1994 model year. Regardless of the name, this beefy, modified W124 T-model for sale south of Hamburg has stealth written all over it.
We knew the onslaught of E30 wagons was coming, but that doesn’t change the entertainment with which we watch these attractive but rarely seen (in the USA) longroofs. We’ve seen them imported through several channels, but this is the first Allrad, or four wheel drive, version I’ve seen. The 325ix seems like a great option to me for colder climes, as it would allow plenty of fun and stand out against the Audis and Subarus. The slushbox is a bummer and always seems like a silly choice on an E30, but the combination of rare wagon form, four wheel drive, and overall cleanliness with low miles makes it easier to overlook. It’s a little harder to overlook the price, which is dangerously close to E30 M3 territory, and would seem to open the door to find a good manual version across the Atlantic to bring over yourself. If you’re ready right now though, this is in great shape for an E30 of any iteration, let alone such a unique combo.