10/29: 1976 Mercedes 300D Diesel, Biodiesel ready. Sweet. OBO - $1700

ID: 49436
Date: 2006-10-30 09:36:10

Other Ads. Alameda city.

Text: 10/29: Why do people leave their ads on Craig's List long after their items have sold, clogging up the view for everyone else? I promise that as long as this ad is still on Craig's List, the vehicle is still available.

I'd like to sell the car this weekend (10/28-10/29). My phone number is (510) 978-6573. IT'S ALWAYS BETTER TO CONTACT ME BY PHONE RATHER THAN EMAIL. My hectic recent schedule has prevented me from showing my car, so I apologize to you if you called and I didn't get back to you. Okay, enough editorializing. On to the show:

This amazing car is in pretty immaculate condition. When you see the pictures below, you'll see what I mean. But let's be clear. Although it’s super-clean, It's not a cherried-out show car, okay? Here's the story:

Not long ago, I bought this car on Craig's List. Love at first sight, really. When this model came out she was the total super-lux cruiser. The color is this amazing 70's shade I call "Avocado Cream", with a well-preserved pale beige leatherette interior. Automatic transmission. Solid body and nice paint, in beautiful shape (always a California car). It had extremely low miles on it for a Mercedes diesel--only about 112,000 original miles--these things routinely last 500,000 miles or more. A cool car that I could drive myself and give to my mom when she came to stay. Excellent.

It's been professionally adapted to burn biodiesel, although of course, you can run regular petroleum diesel in it too. The sun roof works. The electric windows work. The locking fuel flap works. The auto-lock trunk works. The power door locks all work. The radio, the lights, the seat belts, the wipers, the heater, dashboard lights, instruments--they all work. The original chrome hubcaps have the original matching paint on them (sweet). The tires have a LOT of tread on them. The battery is super high-quality and was brand new when I got the car. It even has a BIG spare tank you can use if you want to really fuel up and go for a long trip.

I drove the car around town and on one road trip; it ran GREAT (also got up to 80 mph no problem--I just wanted to test it out). I was stoked.

I can vouch for how solid and safe this car is because within about six weeks of getting it, some guy SLAMMED into me while I was sitting at a stop sign! Most cars would have folded up like a soda can--it was a big van that hit me. Lucky for me, all that happened was that the rear door on the driver's side got bashed in. THE FRAME IS NOT BENT. Not-so-lucky was that even though the only real damage was to that door, the insurance company declared it a total. Bummer.

For a while, I really wanted to fix it up and keep it. But I just don't have the time, and I already have other transpo, so I'm selling it.

It's registered, insured, and rolling smooth. It has a clear title, but the DMV may want to put a salvage title on it. That just means you'll have to get a brake and light inspection and file some paperwork. But I have to be honest here.

Here's a couple things I know:

A) This thing is worth several thousand just in body parts and glass, not to mention the mechanical stuff like motor and transmission. I know because I know cars pretty well, and I shopped around a lot both before I bought it and when I was thinking about fixing it.

B) From the very first day I got this thing, people were trying to buy it from me. Even after it got smacked up, people still walked up while I was parking and made offers on it. They'd still be asking me about it, I'm sure, except that I've only driven it enough to keep it running nicely since it got hit.

C) The state will pay $1,000 for this car through the Vehicle Retirement Program. And then they'll crush it for scrap.

The bottom line is that whether you want to fully restore a true classic Mercedes (my original intention) or just bang that door out and call it good so you have a rockin' biodiesel ride, this car is really worth checking out.

Here’s a link to more photos:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=rq2bk5a.4t7wu5r2&Uy=-joxo22&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0

So give a call (best method) at (510) 978-6573, or send email (not near computer very much) and I'll be happy to give you details about the body, mechanical condition, and so forth. I have some receipts, and some service records from the original dealer, and I even have some estimates on cost of repair. I also have a repair manual for it.

I'll be showing the car this weekend (10/28-10/29), and would like to sell it ASAP.

Serious buyers only, please. If you just want to kick some tires, please don't call.

CASH only. No Nigerian bankers, money orders, etc.

My phone number is (510) 978-6573.

Thank you very much.

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