Every now & then some of us MB enthusiasts run across stories like these... and here's my encounter from love at first-sight... to present time.

In 2008, I acquired this 1985 300CD Turbodiesel coupe with only 133k miles from its original lady owner... she was 88 years young! This is her second W123 coupe since her first 80s 300CD was totaled after a car accident which saved her life, according to her. She purchased this Blue-Green Metallic (color code 877 "Petrol") coupe new in NY on 10-May-85 and she kept it garaged while only accumulating less than 6k miles per year. Most of the miles were garnered while highway traveling from NY to FL, and vice-versa... she was your typical "snowbird" (spring and summer in NY, while fall and winters in southwest Florida).

She became ill a few years ago due to old age... sold her house... lived with her daughter in FL... and her car sat on the driveway ever since but still driven on weekends & continuously maintained in good shape. The old lady and her family kept service records through the many years including a little index card diary to document service history and mileage... She said that "if it needed scheduled service or if something didn't work, then it was serviced by a local MB shop".

It has an extremely solid body & chassis with no rust, a very nice original MB-Tex Creme interior (code 155) with perfect dashboard, and the seats & interior have hardly any wear. It has a well-maintained ACC with cold A/C, good working power accessories, and the car is mechanically sound. It runs perfect and the OM617.952 is strong and smooth since it was never abused or neglected... the trans and suspension are just as in good shape as well. It's not a showroom-new car but a very nice & attractive "time-capsule" driver for its vintage. With continuous maintenance and pampering, there is no question this coupe can't last another 25 years... easily.

It was difficult for her & her daughter to let this go since they have many sentimental memories through the past two decades, but they were glad I purchased it after they saw my passion for these W123 classics.

Restoring this beauty to near its original glory days is already rewarding... precisely, a labor of love! Now at the present time I will continue to enjoy this stunning and timeless '85 turbodiesel coupe... a last of the W123 breed! :D