Hybrid W123 300D Sedan for Project Car (Has Excellent FryBrid System)

1984 Mercedes-Benz 300-Series W123 Description

This is definitely a project car -- sold as is, where is. I drove it daily as my primary car for 10 years, averaging 8 to 10 thousands miles a year. It ran great, including on long trips until March 2016 when I bought another car to get air bags, etc. This vehicle has no airbags and no ABS.
The car has a valid Michigan title with the VIN number WDB1231301A210998. The VIN is European so eBay told me to put it here and use zeroes in the VIN field, which is set up to take US VINs only. In the pictures, you can see the title with the VIN shown.
The Good:
The engine runs well and regularly did the speed limit (75 mph here). The car is a European version our family imported, so it has the Euro style bumpers.
Comes with a set of snow tires on the original steel wheels and a set of all season on the aluminum wheels. A set of original MB hub caps is included.
The car was converted to run on both regular diesel and on waste vegetable oil, using the micro-processor controlled Frybrid system. I had the system semi-professionally installed and it ran very well until my local sources of the used oil closed. Interestingly, the engine was slightly quieter. I've read that the veggie oil provides about 85% of the energy of diesel fuel, and that seemed to be about right. Separate from this auction, I have the filter and filling pump available for purchase. For a good description of the Frybrid system, Google the words "cooltools" and "frybrid" (eBay doesn't allow direct links to the article). I will also include the installation instructions.
Sale includes several boxes of take-off and spare parts such as a steering wheel (with the MB Multiwand turn signal etc. controller still attached). Also comes with a copy of the Haynes workshop manual.
Newish parts include the radiator and overflow tank (< 2 years) and the front fenders.
The Bad (Partial List):
Definitely needs brake body in the rear, and the emergency brake needs to be adjusted.
Mileage is estimated at 240,000 -- the odometer no longer works.
While the body panels are in generally fair shape, rust (see pictures) is an issue at wheel wheels, at inside the door bottoms, inside the engine compartment, and other places. The rear wheel wells were already replaced once and have rusted through again (plastic tub liners and carpeting come with the car). Another aspect of the rusting is that the floorpan is supposedly two layers of sheet metal with a 1/8" or so rubber layer sandwiched in between. While this was good for sound dampening, once water gets in the rusting begins inside, outside, etc. The body shop that did the rear wheel wells also did spot repairs with cutouts and patches to try to temporarily address this.
Car smells musty from the moisture involved in sitting outside. The interior was the relatively rare fabric which is stained, faded and worn through in spots. The headliner looks good. My plan had been to drop in a complete interior. No air-conditioning. Power locks are operated by vacuum, so you need to run the car for a few minutes before the non-drivers doors will raise up. The door key and the ignition key are differently keyed (replaced the ignition key cylinder).
The Bottom Line:
Bottom line on this car is that I enjoyed driving around, which now needs a restoration but I don't have the time to do it.
IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE BIDDING
We encourage you to come take a look during the listing period. Send a message to set up a time. No returns or refunds.

Buyer is responsible for pickup or arranging for transporting the vehicle and parts boxes (should fit in the car) from zip code 48462 at their own expense, or must pick it up. This vehicle is being sold in as in condition with no express warranties and nothing else is stated or implied. There will be no post sale inspections. Any questions, please contact me before bidding. There is a $500 non-refundable deposit due within 24 hours of auction close via PayPal. Balance due within 10 working days via cash or by confirming that your cashiers check has cleared (see next sentence) or via PayPal. Vehicle and Title will not be released until both the deposit and payment in full have been received and the funds are clearly liquid in the account. This must be accomplished within 10 days of the close of the auction. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Once the funds clear, the car must be picked up within 7 days or storage fees of $25.00/day will apply.

Money Orders will not be accepted.

This vehicle is being advertised locally and the auction will close if the vehicle is sold.