1982 Mercedes-Benz C123 – Auction Car of the Week

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again a little louder for those of you in the cheap seats: the Mercedes-Benz W123 is the ultimate classic. With its timeless looks, everyday usability, cockroach-in-a-bomb shelter levels of durability and as comfortable as floating on a sun-kissed Lilo with a Strawberry Daiquiri in hand, the W123 is all things to all people. It may not be the quickest but that’s really not the point. The W123 is the very definition of synergy. But what if you want everything the W123 has to offer but with a little more pizzazz? A touch more elan? Well, you get yourself a C123 then, obvs. With two less doors you may lose a bit of practicality but what you gain is a whole lot more style and indeed street cred in the process. It’s a valid trade-off if you ask us.

Offered from 1977 – a year after the W123 broke cover – the coupé-bodied C123 was available as a 230 and 280 and had a slightly shorter wheelbase than the saloon cars. Friedrich Geiger and Bruno Sacco’s overall design essentially remained the same but the lack of rear doors and pillar-less styling gives the C123 a more streamlined and svelte aesthetic and it remains an incredibly handsome car to this day, a fact particularly evinced by this spectacularly well-presented example.

Generally speaking a C123 is regarded as something to covet. A car to look after and cherish and as such many remain in decent condition but it’s been a while since we’ve seen one as well-preserved as this particular 1982 example. Even the most disquisitive devotees will no doubt give an appreciative nod to just how tidy this C123 is.

The first aspect to note is the incredibly low mileage. Having covered just 47,000 miles from new (which equates to just over 1,000 per year since it rolled out of the factory) this is practically a new model, given how capable these cars are of racking up hundreds of thousands of miles without so much as a fouled spark plug. Their reputation as taxis is well documented and whilst these will no doubt be mostly four-door models, those bombproof mechanicals remain the same in the coupé.

Our car is the top spec top spec, 2.8-litre model with a four-speed automatic gearbox, which is the correct setup for the any 123 in our humble opinion. It’s a car to comfortably waft about in without having to trouble yourself with actually changing gear. It also comes with some desirable factory options, too. The headlight wipers tell you all you need to know when it comes to top of the line ’80s luxury and they’re complimented by electric windows all round, cruise control and an electric sunroof.

Not only is the car incredibly well presented in its Lapis Blau Metallic paint and beige velour interior but it is also as mechanically sound as any example you’re likely to come across. You can check out the entire service history on the listing, as well as the MOT record, but suffice to say the car has wanted for nothing since 1982, all the way up to its latest service earlier this year, having been kept to a strict and comprehensive servicing and maintenance schedule. This is how you look after a classic car ladies and gentlemen and it’s wonderful to see.

Running and driving like an absolute dream this Mercedes-Benz C123 is the perfect distillation of class and style so why not chuck in a bid? Practical and usable it could be the perfect daily whilst also being special enough to wow at any car show you’d want to take it to. Then you could pack up the fam and drive down to the south of France for a late summer holiday. Seriously, what’s not to like?