"The 350SD's were a very late addition to the W126 line and aren't
common. Depending on what source you use, they only made ~1000-2000
of them. They won't set the world on fire with their acceleration,
but they made a good highway cruiser and boogie around town quite
well with the torque they chuck out. My '91 350SD has the original
engine and transmission at >180K miles now. Head is original to
the car and still has the OE gaskets. Starts immediately, uses zero
oil, produces no smoke, and runs smoothly. If it made it this long,
the engine can still be ok. They seemed to die early on or go just
about forever." A 2016 online testimonial from an owner on a
forum.
For consignment, a 1991 Mercedes-Benz 350SD sedan with a title
verified 156,906 actual miles. Today, with the aid of advanced
technology, we can confirm that only 2,066 units were made and this
one is a rare, one owner car described by our consignor as a "fair
weathered car" and the family's wedding car.
Exterior
Last of the classic chrome bumper sedan from Mercedes, this fine
example is covered in Midnight Blue paint in two stage German
excellence. The body is long and lean with a sizable rear overhang
and polished window reveals create a stately and handsome profile.
Front and rear exhibit characteristic Mercedes features including
the three pointed star, central grille, quad headlight, grooved
tail light lenses with corner markers, and a flat decklid. 15-inch
wheels are wrapped in 205/65R15 tires on a 115" wheelbase. In an
extra bit of detail, chrome bezels line the door handles which are
robust units you typically find on the brand. Imperfections include
several inclusions in the paint, scratch marks, chipped paint, rock
spray mixed with some street paint, and a crack in the front air
dam.
Interior
The door panels will simply wow you. They did us, with their
handsome layout of gray leather and artful use of diagonal pleats,
insert framing, and wood accents and all four doors present
cleanly. The leather seats have held up well and provide ultra
comfortable cushioned thrones for the front bucket occupants and
rear bench dwellers, all with headrests. We do note some wear on
the passenger seat insert. Up front, in true Mercedes fashion,
practical and efficient with a great steering wheel fronting a
simple cluster and the mundane factor is removed with the addition
of glossy wood trim from end to end.It also backs the center stack
with a push button A/C panel and AM/FM/Cassette radio, along with a
period appropriate cell phone, because this is how we rolled in
1991! Zebra wood dresses the center console where the shifter and
some switchgear reside and we note some hairline cracks in the
polyurethane. Plush gray carpet is at our feet and in the trunk and
up above, a soft gray headliner also covers the sunroof.
Drivetrain
We find driver quality esthetic conditions under the hood where the
3.5 liter SOHC turbocharged inline six cylinder resides, putting
out 134 horsepower and fuel injected. It's mated to a 4-speed
automatic transmission which routes power to the rear wheels and
2.82 gears in the axle.
Undercarriage
Driver quality here as well with typical surface rust and metal
oxidation along with some residual oil in front and built up on the
rear differential. The single exhaust travels down the center
tunnel, through a stock style muffler, and exits as twin tips.
Power disc brakes are at all four wheels and the fully independent
suspension includes Macpherson struts up front and coil springs in
back.
Drive-Ability
Once out of the garage, the feeling of heft and solidity strike you
almost immediately. This is not your grandfather's Oldsmobile, not
by a mile. It runs well and tracks true, and all the while you're
comfortably positioned in a quiet cocoon on wheels. We note the
sunroof and radio don't work but all other functions on board work
as they should. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these
functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot
guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your
purchase.
This is indeed a rare car and Mercedes Benz aficionados are likely
dialing our number already, so don't hesitate or meditate on this
vintage luxury car. In 1991, this was the big dog and if you had
one, it was special. Well, you can still feel special! These do not
come up for sale often, so step on the gas.
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price. All prices are before
state, city and county tax, tag, title and license fees. Out of
state buyers are responsible for all state, county, city taxes and
fees, as well as title/registration fees in the state that the
vehicle will be registered. Classic Auto Mall is not responsible
for errors and omissions. Please verify listings with dealer.
Vehicles may require VIN verification and/or safety and emissions
inspections to transfer ownership and register the vehicle in the
declared state of residence. Please check with your local DMV
office to ensure compliance with your states titling and
registration process.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
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