Sometimes a very special vehicle can enter your life. This one did for me 32 years ago. I purchased this vehicle while on a family trip to Germany in 1984. I was in my mid twenties. She was being handled by a local VW-Audi-Porsche dealer in the city of Ingolstadt on consignment for an elderly lady, who could not drive it since the passing of her husband.For her, it was too big, so she bought a smaller Audi to replace it. If you've never purchased a used vehicle in Germany you'd be surprised to know that many are sold in a showroom, yes, indoors. That's where this one was. It was tucked up against the wall with other marques like Audi, BMW, VW, Opel, Porsche, etc. I knew as soon as I laid eyes on her, that she'd be mine. I took her for a spin down the road. Everything was fine. She only had 28639km on the odometer, that's 17756 miles! She wasn't even broken in yet!
And the price, well that was the creme de la creme', with the exchange rate in 1984 at $1.00=3.40DM, she only cost $3600 after negotiations. I asked the dealer if I could borrow a dealer plate for the day to drive it to Munich and drop it off at the E.H. Harms shipping agent there. Shipping was $1134US with insurance. That was a sweet ride on the Autobahn to Munich, through the Holledau region of the world's most famous hops growing area of rolling hills, she could easily cruise at 100-110 mph legally without any effort, I took my Dad along for the day trip and he was impressed. Memories. We hopped a train back to Ingolstadt after we celebrated in Munich with a couple of beers and hearty Bavarian meal at the Hofbrauhaus. Two months later, I picked her up at the Port of Newark NJ. She's been with me on a cross country trip in 1992 when I drove from San Diego to western Massachusetts in 3 days for a total of 39 hours solo! She's been on other road trips to Indiana, Detroit, and Miami. what a great highway cruiser. My most frustrating time with her was during the 55 national speed limit. I just kept on getting tickets, averaging about one every two years until Congress smartened up and let the states decide once again.
So what about the car. Well she is a European edition S-class Mercedes with a 6 cylinder engine and D-jetronic fuel injection with automatic transmission. She has no formal emission controls, but while she was required to pass Mass. emissions inspection back in the day, her numbers always came in below the limits. She has cloth seats, that are still supportive and in good shape except for a wear area in the drivers side bolster. The carpeting is all original as is the rest of the interior. Mechanically she still likes to run and is in fine condition. By the way, this six cylinder had more horsepower than a Mustang 5.0 of the eighties. Her 4 speed automatic transmission shifts flawlessly due to excellent maintenance. The engine has always had a steady diet of either Mobil1 synthetic or another quality brand since I've owned it in 1984. The inside of the valve covers are gunk free and clean. Her body, for 40, still shines, but she does have a couple of rust areas that could use some attention. She includes 4 extra steel wheels, four extra alloy wheels from a 95' E320(8hole), original first aid kit as pictured, original tools and tool bag, euro safety triangle, original Mercedes microfische for parts, spare Euro headlights, and all receipts and all documentation of sale, service, maintenance, importing etc.. Since 1984 this vehicle has never been driven in snow.
Nowadays I only drive her occasionally, maybe once or twice a month. Her odometer stopped working about ten years ago and it would have been difficult for me to have added 5000 miles to her since that time. I estimate the mileage to be 137,000. The car has been kept as original as possible, even with its speedometer reading in kilometers. So, life changes, 32 years pass in a flash, and it's time to make room for other adventures as I approach retirement. She's been a great car, treated with respect and thorough maintenance. I know the next owner will take pride in ownership as I have. Good Luck Bidding.