The car is finished in Midnight Blue (904) with contrasting gray lower body cladding. The paint is noted to be original and has recently undergone a comprehensive decontamination, correction, and ceramic coating. Some rock chips are noted at the nose of the car along with a scratch on the right front fender at the wheel arch. The glass is original with OEM logos displayed and protected by a ceramic tint on every piece including the windshield. Exterior features include North American Market headlamps, original brightwork, a power sunroof, and a power antenna.
The car shows 15”x7” Chrome Centra wheels with matching center caps. The wheels wear new Michelin Defender tires measuring 205/65 at all four corners showing 2022 date codes. The wheels show well with no pitting or discoloration. New H&R springs were installed in 2023 along with shocks in 2019.
The cabin is trimmed in Palomino Leather (254) with color-coordinated trim, carpets, and lower dashboard. The steering wheel, shift knob, and upper dashboard are trimmed in black and remain original. Zebrano wood adorns the dashboard, center console, and door card trim with one hairline crack noted above the glove box latch. Matching Coco Mats are featured for the front and rear seats. Factory features include a power-operated sunroof, central locking, power seats and windows, an aftermarket Continental head unit with Bluetooth music and calling, and the original Becker head unit. All power features are reportedly working and operational including the A/C and climate control.
A four-spoke steering wheel frames a 125-mph speedometer, a 6k-RPM tachometer with an inset analog clock, an external temperature readout, and a combination gauge showing fuel level, coolant temperature, and oil pressure. The six-digit analog odometer shows 171k original miles.
The 3.0-liter OM617 turbo diesel inline-five was factory-rated for 120 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque when new. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission. A service booklet showing selling dealer service from new is included in the sale noting Mercedes-Benz recommended service at specified intervals through 125k miles. Additionally, records are included dating back to 1983 and within the last 5 years the car has received a top end rebuild including timing chain, valves and guides, transmission rebuild, fuel system refresh, new suspension including H&R springs, new A/C compressor, new alternator, new fuel tank, suspension refresh, various new filters, and regular fluid flushes. Detailed photos of the engine bay are included and show considerable cadmium plating throughout.
The attached Carfax report lists no accidents or damage along with linear mileage updates. This 1983 300SD is offered by the current owner and seller with factory literature and datacard, comprehensive service records, the original purchase agreement, various factory hangtags, a clean Carfax report, and a clean Georgia title.
The seller has included the following videos:
The W126 300SD is the veritable panzer tank of Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Seemingly indestructible, always reliable and capable of a million miles without hesitation - these classic sedans live unrivaled in an era of planned obsolescence and disposability. This example has so much working in its favor including the single-family history, original dealer service, original paint, and meticulous maintenance history. The mileage may be higher than some but you'll be hard-pressed to find a better unning and better respected example.
Open Transit:
Enclosed Transit:
The winning bidder will receive an email with the quote and option to proceed with shipping.
Get the best of The MB Market directly in your inbox every day. Subscribe for a curated list of our top market listings and articles!
22 Comments
For those that missed out on this one, I have a 1981 300SD in Light Ivory over Palomino with the same miles, one owner, and full service records coming up for sale soon that my brother (AMG and classic Mercedes-Benz specialist technician) are psychotically mechanically restoring to like new condition. It will be very similar to this one. Keep an eye on my account in the coming months!@NBMTX Congrats! You got an insane W126, I'll reach out to you as soon as I get the email.$11,000 bid placed by @NBMTX
$10,506 bid placed by @Bgyula1977
@thirdstrike Appreciate it! Looks like someone is going to steal it. I want it to go to a good home. The Centras are worth probably $1500 alone not including the fresh Michelins.This is a beautiful and well kept car selling at a great price !!$10,256 bid placed by @HC_4
$10,006 bid placed by @Bgyula1977
Good luck to the final bidders as the auction comes to a close, I want to say I'm lifting the reserve since I have my eyes set on another classic Mercedes-Benz to add to the collection. I love this car to death and it's never put a foot wrong during my ownership. I'm super happy to chat to the winner here soon!$9,756 bid placed by @HC_4
$9,505 bid placed by @Gysnl
$9,255 bid placed by @HC_4
$9,000 bid placed by @Bgyula1977
@blakleyleonard Happy to have you and thanks!!$8,750 bid placed by @ItsaSmithThing
If I hadn't just bought another W123 I would be all over this. Thanks for letting me see the car in person when I was visiting Atlanta a couple weeks ago! Bid with confidence!$8,500 bid placed by @NBMTX
$8,250 bid placed by @ItsaSmithThing
$8,000 bid placed by @glwillia
@thirdstrike I looked at that when the car was up in the air yesterday and it seems to be coming out of the air intake box. All of my OM617/As have done that in the past since they all have a little bit of blowby which sucks crankcase oil through the breather tube and drips out of the drains in the air filter box which is right over the turbo. Car doesn't blow blue smoke as if it's sucking oil through the turbo and it wasn't mentioned when I last had it serviced by a classic Mercedes-Benz master-tech who was working in that area.Noted on picture #235 oil covering the rear section of the alternator, normally the turbo is placed above this area and was wondering if you could verify that the turbo is not leaking. Thanks for posting really good and clear pictures of the underframe and components.$7,750 bid placed by @ItsaSmithThing
$7,500 bid placed by @NBMTX
As we come to the final hours of the auction, I'll be on stand by for any last minute questions. The car, while presents nicely in photos, really does stand its own in person and is shockingly competent to drive. I'm really proud of my dialed in 300SD and the next owner will love it.Underside photos have been added to the gallery.I have seen this car up close as it is stored at www.motoescapeatl.com and it is impressive! It is well cared cared for and its upkeep has been a no expenses spared affair. I have seen the paint, cold start and jet away from the storage club and the next owner is getting a super original and well cared for machine!@thirdstrike Frame and underside are in fantastic shape. No rust, no buckled rails, and no chewed off factory underlining from shady tree mechanics lifting the car improperly. I am getting it on a two post lift this evening and will be uploading undersides today. I have just been waiting on access for a proper lift that provides decent photography.Seller , What's the condition of the underframe and components . Nice MBHello nice Benz! Can you assist with shipping to Europe? Thanks$5,250 bid placed by @Zee56
$5,000 bid placed by @Josh
Not sure when The MB Market is going to post the video, so here's the link to it in the meantime: https://youtu.be/qRIfOsx3Qcw$4,000 bid placed by @ariotofmyown
$3,750 bid placed by @Waltmal
$3,500 bid placed by @Bernie
$3,250 bid placed by @Waltmal
$2,750 bid placed by @BD450SL
@shervinator Grey market 500SE/L is on my bucket list. I have a ‘81 500SL with that engine and they’re completely undervalued at the moment. Your car sounds absurd. It’s a small club of “if you know, you know” with Euro M117s. Wonderful sounding car you have and I couldn’t agree more with you.@Stuttgart_Steel The derelict examples you described are exactly the type that I see ending up at Pick-N-Pull week after week. It's so sad to see, because these really are great cars that will outlive their owners if taken care of properly. But most of them aren't, and today there are really only two categories of survivors left: low-mileage garage queens and completely neglected trash heaps. There's hardly anything left in between that's actually a nice well-maintained daily driver, which is where I feel this car and my 300SD fall under. I have always said that the worst thing that can happen to any car is a good reputation for reliability. Why? Because then people stop taking care of them. I also have a grey market 1985 500SEL in these exact colors too. Midnight Blue on Palomino makes most other color combos lackluster. ;)@shervinator Super rare color combo indeed. I see a decent number of W126s rolling around the Atlanta metro area but they’re all painted in metallics with clear coat failure, brake dust stain wheels, tired suspension with the rear sagging and the front end pointing to the sky, burning oil when pulling away from lights, etc. They’re though, but holy hell do people not keep up with maintenance on them. It’s definitely a testament to their durability when you see beat examples keeping up with traffic. Clean ones like mine are indeed getting super hard to find. 722.3s are also getting to the age where the friction disk materials on the clutch packs are just flaking off killing a bunch of transmissions. I am friends and family with three people in town with these trans who are losing gears in theirs all at the same time. Not a lot of weak points on a OM617A powered S-Class but the transmission are starting to show signs of failure at this age. I’m super happy mine has a full rebuild. Car will be rock solid for anyone who buys it.This should be very interesting to watch, since I own the identical twin to this car in these exact colors (except mine is an '84). This color combo has become much rarer and more desirable in recent years, and to see it on a 300SD in such nice condition is even better. Best of luck!$2,500 bid placed by @Josh
What a beauty...my mother in law had a 1981 in this exact combo, picked up in Germany on euro delivery. Car was a joy to drive! GLWTAI’m really proud to present my 1983 300SD on The MB Market! I’ve owned five W126s in the past and this has been the current daily driver I’ve been using here in Atlanta for a while now. The W126 is in my top three favorite chassis Mercedes-Benz has built over the years and this example is one of the best I’ve owned yet. From the incredible service records, the paint quality, to how usable and dead reliable it’s been in modern Atlanta meat-grinder traffic, there isn’t much to complain about. The Centra wheels look fantastic against the Midnight Blue paired with the OEM+ lowering I did the the car to give it the proper stance and agility I believe they should’ve come with from the factory. Please look through the gallery and I’ll be in touch via comments or private messages. A walkaround, cold start, and lengthy driving video will be uploaded by The MB Market crew here shortly. I’m available to chat through a phone call and you’re all welcome to come see and drive the car as well. Happy bidding!$1,500 bid placed by @Bankrep40