{"id":2589,"date":"2019-08-26T07:21:26","date_gmt":"2019-08-26T07:21:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/?p=2589"},"modified":"2024-09-12T10:23:53","modified_gmt":"2024-09-12T09:23:53","slug":"mercedes-benz-w123-project-profile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/mercedes-benz-w123-project-profile\/","title":{"rendered":"Mercedes-Benz W123 – Project Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"

Travel to the far reaches of the globe, the bits where smooth tarmac is stuff of fantasy, where the conditions are hard-going, where there is no time or place for the pampered, yeah, go there and do you know what you\u2019ll find? The W123 Mercedes-Benz<\/a>. There are cars that boast impressive build quality, and then there is the W123. A car so tough that the four horsemen of the apocalypse would stop and kindly wave it out of a junction. It’s a tough, tough cookie. A machine that will no doubt outlive us all.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Mercedes-Benz,<\/a><\/p>\n

But there is more to the W123 than just being tough. Yes, you\u2019ll find them with 500,000 miles on the clock, chugging along as taxis in Namibia, but that\u2019s not all an old W123 is good for. The W123 is a timeless, unpretentious, elegant machine that is still seen today not only in daily use, but also a respected classic. It is everything. It is arguably the perfect car. Buy a TE estate version and you won\u2019t ever need another car. The W123<\/a> is, for many, the king of the old Mercedes-Benz range.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is it?\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

The W123<\/a> is the predecessor to the E Class, sitting in the middle of the Mercedes range from 1976 to 1986. Built by hand, the W123 represented mass-produced Mercedes at its best. Get in one today and it still feels solid, as if it were hewn from one giant block of steel, rather than a gathering of parts. Many claimed it was over-engineered, and indeed, Mercedes-Benz wanted it to be seen that way. In the early days of the W123\u2019s production, customers were left waiting for up to 12 months while Mercedes tinkered with the build process to ensure it was the best it possibly could be. As a result, a black market emerged for lightly-used W123s, with cars fetching premiums way over the dealer price – people wanted the W123.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Mercedes-Benz,<\/a><\/p>\n

Available as a traditional \u2018three-box\u2019 saloon, estate and coupe, the W123 could be all things to all drivers. Despite all sharing the same basic design, each body type was sufficiently different from the others. This was clever, as it meant the executive in a saloon didn\u2019t feel cheated by the coupe, or like he was driving a dull family car when compared to the estate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The W123<\/a> was superseded by the W124<\/a>, which again was another wonderful machine. In total, Mercedes-Benz sold 2.7 million W123 models over its ten year life, which is impressive. What\u2019s more impressive, however, is the following the W123 has gained. It is still, even in the wake of countless technological advances, perceived as a car that you really can buy and drive every day. It might not have Bluetooth or air con, but it\u2019s got reliability in spades and style for miles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is it a Project?\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s an interesting story behind this one, as the vendor explains that the car was imported back into the UK, but the owner seemed to forget about it for approximately four years. You know, as you do?! Still, it\u2019s been rescued now, and re-registered back into the UK. The V5 is present and the current vendor has also sourced a new key direct from Mercedes-Benz, as the original had been lost. Oh, and he says this is a one-owner car, which is quite something.<\/span><\/p>\n

He goes on to state that it was last MOTd in 2006, and it currently wears a mileage of around 98k. It\u2019s all present and correct, though its time overseas has taken its toll on the paint, while its time at the hands of careless dock workerkers has added a few \u2018characterful\u2019 dents and dings. It does run though, and it stops, and the gearbox is reported to be operating smoothly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s all there. There are some niggles, the stereo is missing and the rear windows (electric) can only be operated by the rear passengers, not the driver, so you\u2019ll need a new switch pack. Other than that though, it seems to just be an old Mercedes W123<\/a> in need of some affection. And all for just \u00a31,595<\/a>. Mega bargain.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Mercedes-Benz,<\/a><\/p>\n

Five things you should look for:<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

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