Although already a traditional to many a Mercedes fan, W123 wagon already has newer, youthful followers searching for out its charms, reliability.
You’ve seen them in all places. An Eighties Mercedes-Benz W123 wagon chilling on the road. Or, maybe, a pair on the native Complete Meals. Just a few could even emit the scent of French fries whereas passing by. Regardless of the case, these machines harken again to an age the place issues had been cozier. A second when the long run was so vibrant, you needed to put on shades.
Just lately, Hagerty despatched Magnus Walker out to Los Angeles to satisfy with a trio of younger wagon followers, certainly one of whom adopted their second W123 some time in the past. Appears these traditional Benzes are drawing in a more recent, youthful crowd. Let’s discover out why.
“This can be a W123 chassis Mercedes,” mentioned proprietor Tim Kortebein, who restores traditional Benzes like his 300D wagon. “That’s the inner chassis designation that the corporate makes use of. It’s the successor to the W114 chassis that got here earlier than it. All wagons earlier than this had been coach-built. There have been different firms who would flip Mercedes merchandise into wagons.”
Kortebein provides that Mercedes made the transfer to construct the wagons in-house to offer their prospects a extra economical, do-it-all machine for his or her rising households. The W123 wagon delivered with loads of room for any journey, whereas additionally being eternally dependable with the correct upkeep. Immediately, the wagon has followers amongst those that’ve owned one perpetually, and, as Kortebein says, “younger hipsters.”
“It actually does all proper,” mentioned Kortebein in regards to the W123 300D’s turbo-diesel energy. “It helps that it has a turbo. I feel if this was a four-cylinder or a non-turbo automotive, I’m undecided that it could be a lot enjoyable. Being the turbo, it does all proper.”
The W123 may also maintain insane quantities of cargo, particularly with the shotgun seat folded flat and the rear seat eliminated. Kortebein’s even positioned his 10-foot kayak contained in the wagon just a few instances. Not that he’ll want it within the L.A. River, the place Walker plans to do some cool rooster tails, and a few fishing.
“A Mercedes wagon just isn’t an underdog, in fact,” mentioned Walker. “The W123 is understood world wide, and so they are typically priced that manner […] Tim has discovered a wagon constructed for households within the ’80s that completely matches his life-style just a few a long time later.”
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