1976 Mercedes-Benz 300D Sedan
Three-box design is a broad automotive styling term describing a coup©, sedan, notchback or hatchback where, when viewed in profile, principal volumes are articulated into three separate compartments or boxes: engine, passenger and cargo. Designed by Paul Bracq, a Frenchman and noted automotive designer, this classic design would be the standard at Mercedes-Benz for the 60's and 70's.
For consignment, a time capsule with a known history for this very original car in 300D form right out of 1976. Originally purchased by a young radiologist for his wife, ordered new at Carson Pettit in Devon, PA and referred to by the wife as "Sweetie". Upon the wife's passing in 2014 the car was left to a nephew and come 2017 with the stipulation that the wife's lipstick laden cigarette butt remain in the ashtray and her Kentucky Derby hat stays on the rear parcel shelf, our consignor purchased the car and has faithfully maintained this Benz with the help of this uncle who was a Mercedes technician for many years. Not a hint or rust on the exterior paint and the interior in blue is also in near perfect condition. The factory Becker stereo unit remains installed, and a wonderful driver with lots of miles left in her.
Exterior
Bathed in nearly all original Pastel Blue, all panels are straight, and gaps are well minded. Only a few runs in the paint are to be noted in the lower sections of the body. Chrome trimmings are all good, as are the bumpers, front grille, window surrounds and side trimmings. These models are beautiful in their designs with the vertical headlights and signals directly below surrounded in a chromed bezel, all within a thin side fender up front. Foglights are on atop the black rubber trimmed chrome front bumper as well. The lines continue rearward with the 4 doors, all closing with the factory Mercedes-Benz thud, and moving rearward to the ribbed tail lights on matching thin design rear quarters. Those ribs are there for a reason...they help keep the taillights clean in dirty conditions. Matching body color Pastel Blue wheel covers are all around on polished steel wheels and are wrapped by good rubber. Just a well preserved presentation of high quality German engineering.
Interior
Recovered medium blue German MB-Tex and leather styled buckets are up front, and a nice original blue leather bench is in the rear all in near showroom condition with no dirt or smudges. The buckets sport a central armrest which louvers up and down for convenience and this repeats on the sprawling rear bench. The simple but effective German design dash houses dual round gauges and a central round clock. Just below, facing both the driver and passenger are highly lacquered German walnut inserts, adding an air of class to the very machine age dash. Various pulls and knobs are below, and the original good condition steering wheel is fronting this dash. Clean looped pile plush blue colored carpet floods the floors, and above is a nice perforated vinyl headliner in white. In the center within the low profile console is the gear shift for the 4-speed automatic transmission and rocker switches for the power windows. A shout out to the larger than life trunk with it's full sized spare tire and traffic triangles within their original case.
Drivetrain
A 3.0 liter OM617 inline 5 cylinder diesel has been well maintained as the consignor's uncle is a former Mercedes tech and kept things running tip top. Overall the engine shows slight patina on the metal surfaces but runs like a German intricate Cuckoo clock from the same Black Forest this car was made. A Daimler Benz 4-speed automatic transmission is on back sending power to a 3.46 geared axle that can take you down the road efficiently and smoothly.
Undercarriage
Just clean black rust free surfaces, all put together like a Panzer tank, this car has seen little bad weather and a lot of in-home garage time. Not unlike the top...all is solid and well preserved with independent coil spring suspension for both the front and rear. 4 wheel power disc brakes with all 4 dual piston calipers being rebuilt and the brake system tended to bring this German skate to an efficient and effective stop.
Drive-Ability
A turn of the key and a brief wait for the glow plugs to do their thing and the "clacker" came to life and I was off to the test track. Here it was a buttoned up pleasurable drive with diesel acceleration, smooth shifting, and easy steering. All functions were working as they should with the exception of the clock not keeping time, the AC blowing warm and the left rear window only going up from the left rear door switch, but fear not as a new window switch cluster is included with your purchase. The interior offered up plenty of room and imagined myself on a winding road through the German Black Forest. Ahhhhhh.
A 3 owner well preserved beautifully taken care of Mercedes Benz, in diesel format. A 4-speed for better acceleration, a stack of paperwork and invoices and very clean overall ready for an additional 300 thousand miles! Schnell! (well sort of...it's a diesel!)
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
