PBWA Belgravia
Other people's nice cars on the street - Classic Mercedes 300 TD
Offered with both petrol and diesel engines, as well as saloon, coupe and estate versions, the W123 was the first estate you could buy direct from the factory; previous versions having all been bespoke conversions carried out by third-party coachbuilders.
The W123 was innovative, too. Anti-lock braking was offered as an option from as early as August 1980 and risk-averse drivers could order their new Merc with an airbag from 1982. The cars also featured a retractable steering column and servo-assisted disc brakes; the W123 might have been handsome rather than pretty, but it was exactly the sort of faithful, safe and reliable vehicle that well-heeled drivers were confident to put their families in.
PBWA Belgravia
Other people's nice cars on the street - Classic Mercedes 300 TD
Offered with both petrol and diesel engines, as well as saloon, coupe and estate versions, the W123 was the first estate you could buy direct from the factory; previous versions having all been bespoke conversions carried out by third-party coachbuilders.
The W123 was innovative, too. Anti-lock braking was offered as an option from as early as August 1980 and risk-averse drivers could order their new Merc with an airbag from 1982. The cars also featured a retractable steering column and servo-assisted disc brakes; the W123 might have been handsome rather than pretty, but it was exactly the sort of faithful, safe and reliable vehicle that well-heeled drivers were confident to put their families in.