Hi!
The good news is: I seriously need to have my head looked at.
The better news is: I bought a new car. Ok, that was a lie. I didn't realy pay money for it. Lets say a good deal was done and I'm now the owner of a wreck. And you all probably know this urge; the sorryer for itself a car looks, the higher the urge to have it - maybe that's a RR/car guys mother's instinct or something. I don't know. I know that this made me want to nurse the poor thing. I knew this car for quite some time now, and wanted to have it ever since. Knowing at the same time that it would be hopelessly stupid to acquire this car.
And so I did just that after lots of thinking and palaver about ifs and whens and maybes and stuffs.
But before I show you the pics you'r certainly lusting after - something about the car's history. As stated in the title, it's a ex-Taxi. A genuine factory delivered taxi at that, not a later converted car. The hint is the code "450" on the badge on the slam panel. Even more interessting is, that this car was equiped with Exhaust Gas Reciculation from the factory. EGR could be ordered by the customer (in germany, other countrys had it as std.). But not before the end of 1990. A bit or research later - and I knew that this car was indeed a prototype!
Some Taxis destined for Berlin were equiped with EGR to test the system under real-life conditions. Dreadfull or not - being a prototype made it even more interessting to me - I like stuff like this. And indeed a lot is different on this engine; the most obvious being a single flute exhaust manifold. All other straight sixes have a dual flute manifold. The previous owner told me that getting an exhaust fo this car was a nightmare
And indeed this car spent most of it's life in Berlin, serving people. Oh how I wish this car could talk!! It then spent a bit of time in Dresden and finaly found it's way into the wild south where it got new brakes and then was stored away for 4-5 years. And now it's in my hands.
I don't know what's gotten into me... The car has done over 1.581.000km which is roughly 983.000 miles.
Short vita:
- 300D = 3.0l straight six n/a diesel, 109HP
- 1988, same as my Coupé
- All Taxi stuff present
- Slushbox - smooth as silk!
- rust - lots of!
Note connector for Taxi sign above the doors
"it's supposed to be like that!"
BROWN interior of the common rubber-cow
Scrubby, oily, nasty engine bay...
And of course there are minor issues. Lots. And lots of minor issues
First of all: rust. Everywhere. Worst being the rear axle attachment points...
And a rather dubious repair/bodge under the battery tray. Apart from that the structur is suprisingly sound, only lot's of superficial rust bubbles under trim bits and of course the front wings are both more or less beyond saving (I'll try however!)
No TÜV of course - but the biggest head scratcher is the engine. It smokes blue under acceleration... Best case scenario: valve guide seals. Worst case: engine kaputt and worn out... On a positive note; the gearbox is one of the best I know! It shifts MUCH better than my Coupé's ever did! This is the big unexpected bit with this car
Oh, and the seats. Those reinforced taxi seats... Awwww!!! HEAVEN!!!
And last but not least; all the Taxi stuff is still present. Bar the Taxameter glove box lid, but I bought one.
Center conmsole with 2 DIN trays, radio & stereo (radio & radio!? Err...) and a funky ashtray.
That's it for now - excuse me while I go bang my head against the wall - repeatedly
Yours truly.
The good news is: I seriously need to have my head looked at.
The better news is: I bought a new car. Ok, that was a lie. I didn't realy pay money for it. Lets say a good deal was done and I'm now the owner of a wreck. And you all probably know this urge; the sorryer for itself a car looks, the higher the urge to have it - maybe that's a RR/car guys mother's instinct or something. I don't know. I know that this made me want to nurse the poor thing. I knew this car for quite some time now, and wanted to have it ever since. Knowing at the same time that it would be hopelessly stupid to acquire this car.
And so I did just that after lots of thinking and palaver about ifs and whens and maybes and stuffs.
But before I show you the pics you'r certainly lusting after - something about the car's history. As stated in the title, it's a ex-Taxi. A genuine factory delivered taxi at that, not a later converted car. The hint is the code "450" on the badge on the slam panel. Even more interessting is, that this car was equiped with Exhaust Gas Reciculation from the factory. EGR could be ordered by the customer (in germany, other countrys had it as std.). But not before the end of 1990. A bit or research later - and I knew that this car was indeed a prototype!
Some Taxis destined for Berlin were equiped with EGR to test the system under real-life conditions. Dreadfull or not - being a prototype made it even more interessting to me - I like stuff like this. And indeed a lot is different on this engine; the most obvious being a single flute exhaust manifold. All other straight sixes have a dual flute manifold. The previous owner told me that getting an exhaust fo this car was a nightmare
And indeed this car spent most of it's life in Berlin, serving people. Oh how I wish this car could talk!! It then spent a bit of time in Dresden and finaly found it's way into the wild south where it got new brakes and then was stored away for 4-5 years. And now it's in my hands.
I don't know what's gotten into me... The car has done over 1.581.000km which is roughly 983.000 miles.
Short vita:
- 300D = 3.0l straight six n/a diesel, 109HP
- 1988, same as my Coupé
- All Taxi stuff present
- Slushbox - smooth as silk!
- rust - lots of!
Note connector for Taxi sign above the doors
"it's supposed to be like that!"
BROWN interior of the common rubber-cow
Scrubby, oily, nasty engine bay...
And of course there are minor issues. Lots. And lots of minor issues
First of all: rust. Everywhere. Worst being the rear axle attachment points...
And a rather dubious repair/bodge under the battery tray. Apart from that the structur is suprisingly sound, only lot's of superficial rust bubbles under trim bits and of course the front wings are both more or less beyond saving (I'll try however!)
No TÜV of course - but the biggest head scratcher is the engine. It smokes blue under acceleration... Best case scenario: valve guide seals. Worst case: engine kaputt and worn out... On a positive note; the gearbox is one of the best I know! It shifts MUCH better than my Coupé's ever did! This is the big unexpected bit with this car
Oh, and the seats. Those reinforced taxi seats... Awwww!!! HEAVEN!!! And last but not least; all the Taxi stuff is still present. Bar the Taxameter glove box lid, but I bought one.
Center conmsole with 2 DIN trays, radio & stereo (radio & radio!? Err...) and a funky ashtray.
That's it for now - excuse me while I go bang my head against the wall - repeatedly
Yours truly.
