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1982 Mercedes-Benz 240 D Sedan Is Down on the Alameda Street

1982 mercedesbenz 240d down on the alameda street
1982 Mercedes-Benz 240 D Is Down on the StreetMurilee Martin

In recent months, the Down on the Street series has taken us to far-flung places such as New Orleans, Louisiana and Bridel, Luxembourg. DOTS began as a way of documenting the interesting street-parked machinery of Alameda, California (where I came of driving age), and that's where today's car was spotted.

1982 mercedesbenz 240d down on the alameda street
Murilee Martin

It's an extremely well-traveled W123 diesel (sorry, I couldn't make out the odometer reading through the glass, but I'm betting on at least 300,000 miles), and it began its journey with 67 clattery, naturally aspirated horses and a somewhat-less-miserable 97 lb-ft. It's still getting the job done at age 42!

Photo credit: Murilee Martin
Photo credit: Murilee Martin

No smog checks needed for old diesel horses like this one in California!

Photo credit: Murilee Martin
Photo credit: Murilee Martin

It was parked on a busy street, but it already has enough dents that a few new ones won't show.

Photo credit: Murilee Martin
Photo credit: Murilee Martin

The Mercedes-Benz W123 proto-E-Class was sold new in the United States from the 1976 through 1985 model years.

Photo credit: Murilee Martin
Photo credit: Murilee Martin

These cars were available with turbocharged five-cylinder diesels and big gasoline-burning straight-sixes, but this one has the four-cylinder oil-burner and its double-digit-horsepower.

Photo credit: Murilee Martin
Photo credit: Murilee Martin

You better watch out. You better not cry.

Photo credit: Murilee Martin
Photo credit: Murilee Martin

There is weekly street-sweeping with harsh fines for scofflaws here on the island, so we can assume that the flat left front tire was aired up soon after this photo was taken.

Photo credit: Murilee Martin
Photo credit: Murilee Martin
Photo credit: Murilee Martin
Photo credit: Murilee Martin