We rented this bright yellow sedan from an interesting car rental service. autobnb.ru. It left the assembly line in 1977 and was originally called the Mercedes-Benz 200: under the hood was a two-liter M115 carburetor engine with 94 hp. paired with a four-speed gearbox. Then for such a car they asked for 19 thousand Deutschemarks.
Already in Russia, this Mercedes has undergone a large-scale restoration. He not only replaced the interior and put the chassis in order, but also transplanted the power unit from the older version of the Mercedes-Benz 230 E, which was produced in 1980-1986. The four-cylinder M102 engine with a volume of 2.3 liters (136 hp) is equipped with a Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection system, paired with a five-speed Getrag “mechanics”. At the start of production, such a sedan cost 25,200 Deutschmarks in Germany.
Hot! Riding an oldtimer without air conditioning (and it could well have been on the W123!) at plus 32 degrees is a challenge. Not only for all of us, but first of all for the 45-year-old technology. However, I’m cunning – what will happen to her? This is the “same-123rd”, the hero of legends about reliability and millions of runs. And almost three million of these cars were made – after all, this is Mercedes, released in the largest circulation.
There is a three-pointed star on the hood, this is me – meet me, Moscow! And they do meet. They ask permission to photograph, inspect, ask questions. A bright yellow Mercedes with a green interior, Green over tan, on the contrary, is a real handsome man and an eye-stopper.
This 123rd and 24th Volga from the last series even though they are the same age, they are completely different. It’s definitely more comfortable for me to sit here – I like the low seating position and a pleasant chair with a huge range of adjustments. The car definitely holds a straight line better and is better controlled. And this “mechanics” lever? It is a pleasure to work with them – click-click-click.
To be honest, I’m in love with W123 c our retrotest six years ago. Then I was very surprised at the level of comfort and some modest ideality in everything. All the little that was in it was of the highest level. And now I’m glad to have the opportunity to ride again, before the Chinese cars interrupted this strip of “retro fittings”. Then it will be very the same, sad and uninteresting.
And here – nice, light and comfortable. I will praise the excellent aquarium review, but I will scold the mirrors: what is, what is not, there is little difference. So turn your head in the stream of residents of the capital returning from vacations.
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