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May 21, 2021 12:00 am by

Picking Up the 240D and First Impressions

view of the Olympics from SeaTac airport

In mid-May, I flew to Monterey to fetch the new-to-me 240D. It was a surprisingly easy flight — just over two hours from Seattle, nonstop. The car’s seller, Bill, had graciously offered to meet me at the airport. Based on everything I’d learned about Bill and his careful caretaking of the 240D over the last 44 years, I wasn’t at all surprised that he arrived exactly on time.

Bill appeared in a clean TJ generation Jeep Wrangler. With its classic styling and robust 4.0 liter inline-six engine, it shares many workhorse-like qualities with the 240D. I would soon learn that he also is the proud owner of an insanely nice FJ80 generation Toyota Land Cruiser, which of course he also bought new in 1993. Man, this guy really knows how to pick his cars.

We got to know one another a bit on the way to his house, which enjoys a commanding view of the Monterey peninsula. Bill had been a veterinarian in the area for decades, and the 240D was his daily commuter throughout his career. He even had custom plates for it — IFIXK9S — which have since passed along to his daughter, also a vet.

When it was time for the big reveal, I gave myself a little pep talk. I didn’t want my expectations to be overly high. It’s easy to paint too pretty of a picture in your mind when you’re scouting a car, only to be disappointed when you finally see it in person.

Mercedes-Benz 240D parked in garage

But when Bill (pictured above) opened the garage door, it was immediately clear the 240D was the real deal. The original Colorado Beige factory paint positively gleamed from within. I can’t imagine that it looked much different from the day Bill and his wife Nancy picked it up at the factory.

A quick glance around the car confirmed that this 240D was indeed a remarkable specimen. The original Tobacco Brown MB-Tex appeared showroom fresh inside, and the seat cushions, which are usually crumbling into dust in these early W123s, were firm and supportive. The rubber seals around the doors and windscreens were still soft and pliable. The gauge needles were still an unfaded orange. The wheels wore almost-new Michelins. And the engine bay, which was spotless of course, sported a fresh Mercedes-Benz battery.

I’m still not sure how Bill managed to drive this car over 250,000 miles and keep it in such incredible shape. Not to say that there weren’t any flaws. There were, of course, and Bill was more than happy to point them out. A rock chip here and there. Some dings. A few small cracks emerging in the dash. A gearshift knob worn from use.

For me, this kind of stuff makes a car even more interesting. They tell a story. Even more important, they give me permission to use the car myself. As much as I admire a true museum piece, I’d be hesitant to own one. I’d be fearful every time I drove it.

But this car has already been driven — not just driven, but driven and loved. When something broke, it was fixed, with an eye towards keeping it running forever. And that’s a responsibility I’m more than happy to take on.

Next Post: A Few Days in Monterey with the 240D

 

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