Diesel Mercedes-Benz 1983, which could only be bought in America (27 photos + 3 videos)

The concept of immortality has a huge impact. That's why this The 1983 Mercedes-Benz 300SD looks even more attractive than usual. This Benz promises, if not immortality, then at least very, very much. long life. These diesel-powered sedans are renowned for their durability.





Yes, you read it right. Indeed, there was one German diesel car, which was not offered where such technique was the most popular (that would be Europe), so it can be was to buy in a country that is the center of waste and careless relation to fuel consumption - the United States of America. So how is it could happen? By chance. It all started in the mid 70s when Mercedes was not such a powerful company.



Its annual supply was about 45,000 units, which was about six times less than Cadillac. German engineers noticed that more and more Yankees are complaining about fuel consumption, especially after the 1974 oil crisis, so the decision was made to give the then generation of the S-Class codenamed W116 engine, unimaginable for cars.





We are talking about a 3-liter diesel that debuted in 1977 year. The success was unexpected, especially after the Americans realized that they could get a luxury car weighing 1.6 tons, consuming only eight liters of diesel fuel per hundred kilometers way.



Diesel will continue to be part of the S-Class range and successor, designated W126. It was produced from 1979 to 1991 of the year. But only if you lived in the USA, Canada or Japan, and European buyers had to wait until 1994 for such an engine to appear and they have.



The hero of the article W126 was equipped with the famous OM603 engine with a working volume of 3 liters and six cylinders in line configuration. He developed 119 horsepower until 1985, after it was already 150.



Acceleration from standstill to 100 km / h was 15.2 seconds, or 12.5 seconds after 1985, and in both cases the maximum speed was 175 km/h Certainly disappointing numbers for a car like the W126 but the very fact that 97,546 Americans decided to buy it speaks volumes. how this model was valued overseas.







The American versions didn't differ too much from the European versions, except for slightly different headlights and extended bumpers to comply with safety standards.



The 300SD was definitely not a cheap car and cost $40,160 United States, which in today's monetary terms is 119,400 dollars and for comparison, the 500SEC model with its 5-litre petrol engine was cheaper. Today, the cost of such a copy in excellent condition is 40 000 dollars, but not with us.