Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

That is a car begging for an engine swap from a more modern Merc. lovely.

Nnnnnnnnnnnnnnhgh.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5re4wHP1e1qhj400o1_1280.png

Looks like I'm going to sell my W123 200D. It's simply too slow for my 70-mile-a-day commute; it's fine once you get up to speed, but you have to thrash it not to get constantly tailgated, and I've had quite a few close calls with dangerous overtakers in just a couple of months. My commute is on one of those really nasty A-roads where everyone drives at 60+mph and peppered by roundabouts (I go through 22 a day), loads of hills that it really struggles up (45mph when everyone else is doing 65), and there's loads of farm traffic. Overtaking tractors when you car does 0-60 in 25 seconds is really quite stressful.

Stunningly good car apart from the lack of power. I'd get another one in an instant, but only if it had the 3-litre diesel (0-60 in about 12 seconds).

In other news, I've bought an MG ZS 120, solely because it was cheap and had a new MOT. 0-60 in 9 seconds and it feels like a rocket ship compared to the Merc. Rather uncomfortable though. And I've been getting looks from the boy racers... ugh.

That's a shame. That's a classy machine.

That is a car begging for an engine swap from a more modern Merc. lovely.

Great idea.

Or:

That is a car begging for an engine swap from a more modern Merc. lovely.

Yeah, there have been a couple with modern Merc V8s fitted. I would prefer an original 3-litre diesel though, as a daily driver; economical and powerful enough to drive every day, mechanically simple enough to DIY everything, and incredibly reliable and durable.

Even though this W123 is a bit of a dog, I will definitely get another one. The driving position is just absolutely perfect; I've never driven a more comfortable car (including various modern luxury cars). Also, my girlfriend loves it, which is rare.

@neil

Ha

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ETlZglxSMEs/T6aehC_9sAI/AAAAAAAAAkY/g4qxheMAfHs/s1600/houston+cars+and+coffee+may+5+2012+vintage+park+ford+cobra+7.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YmXg6vZi9S0/T6acbjm8HiI/AAAAAAAAAhI/fK3f1gKK7kg/s1600/houston+cars+and+coffee+may+5+2012+vintage+park+porsche+rwb+rauh+welt+1.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ASfn9FjHvTw/T6aej_zJ2uI/AAAAAAAAAkg/ymKPX56ghoU/s1600/houston+cars+and+coffee+may+5+2012+vintage+park+top+secret+toyota+supra+twin+turbo+v12+1.jpg

@neil

Ha

I reckon you could do it with bolt on parts, and some ingenuity.

That is a car begging for an engine swap from a more modern Merc. lovely.

The 2.4 is a good compromise. Had the TD (estate) as it was cheap, ropey. Came from a local farmer, dented and abused but it was lovely after the interior cleaned and washed. My dad used it more than me to carry car bits, engines, help people move, move rotovators, sacks of potatoes.

^Somewhere in Hackney

How to ruin some beautiful lines

I think I'm growing out of this kind of shiny shiny:

But this build is still very awesome.

Awesome ^^^

quattro :)

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8aoj0IaZL1qm6egko1_1280.jpg