1988 S124 Mercedes 230TE
After selling my much-loved, much-driven and trusty 1983 S123 230TE some years back (just before our move to Avoca, which, had we known at the time, I'd have never sold it), I hankered after another classic Mercedes wagon. There really is nothing that comes close for comfort, style, practicality, and even economy, than a 230TE.
Amusingly, we had been watching the BBC series, The Tunnel, a political thriller that just happened to have an S124 as the old, everyday car driven by the main character. I had also long considered the S124 to be one of designer Bruno Sacco's masterpieces. Those of you unfamiliar with Bruno Sacco might find these two web pages interesting. Bruno Sacco - Designer to Shape the Golden Age of Mercedes-Benz, and Take a Look Back at Mercedes-Benz's W124 Estate as it Turns 35.
So the search was on, once we moved to Avoca early in 2019, for either an S123 or S124 230TE. (The 'S' in the model name simply denotes the wagon (estate) version of the W123 and W124 series, widely regarded as Mercedes' finest era.
In January 2021 I finally found the perfect replacement. This 1988 S124 in Midnight Blue with immaculate grey interior, and optioned with sunroof, 7-seater configuration, roof bars, air-conditioning, Becker AM/FM stereo cassette (!), and quite a complete history and a reasonable 287,000km on the odometer has joined the Kelly St Classics family, where it will perform the main 'daily driver' function.
After some time in the workshop having some preparatory work done to it (it was laid up for some years in a Melbourne warehouse), the wagon is now back on the road, and driving superbly! Enjoy the following photos of this stylish Mercedes wagon.
↑ I was very lucky
to find an original Oris (made in Stuttgart) rooftop box, complete with
original bars and clamps that fit the roof rails perfectly, as well as
allowing the tailgate to open fully, and leaves the sunroof completely
unimpeded.
↑ The Oris shape
continues the S124 profile beautifully.
↑ Original Oris
through and through.
↑ After much deliberation I finally decided to put the wagon onto economical, sensible Club Permit registration. The MBWAGN plates, which previously adorned a trusty S123 wagon, will remain in storage for now...