Mercedes-Benz 280 E - Successful six-cylinder model with a star
Summary
In the seventies and eighties, the Mercedes W123 model series was an integral part of the everyday street scene. In addition to private individuals, its regular customers included cab drivers, who appreciated the comfort, reliability and durability of what was then the most successful model series. Today, the W123 is a popular classic, but there are no longer many of them in our part of the world, as some have been exported and are used as cabs or limousines abroad.
This article contains the following chapters
- What the new car had to be able to do
- Top engine in the 280 E and a long list of options
- Small differences in the Mercedes W123 models
- Many body variants
- Safety goes hand in hand
- The competition was fierce
- Engine and driving performance
- Driving behavior: Rear-wheel drive versus front-wheel drive
- Built for ten years
Estimated reading time: 7min
Preview (beginning of the article)
The W123 was built from November 1975 and presented to the press in 1976. A total of around 2.7 million were built and it was the successor to the already successful W114/115 ( also known as the Strichacht). With the top engine, the 2.8 liter six-cylinder engine, the 280 E was a clear statement: "I can afford it!". It immediately became a success, customers had to put up with long waiting times and soon annual cars were appearing on the used car market at new car prices. Safety was high on the list of requirements, but comfort also had to play a key role. The approaching oil crisis also meant that the engineers could not neglect the economic efficiency of the engines. Nevertheless, the W123 could be ordered with a 2.8-liter six-cylinder engine - those who wanted even more displacement had to opt for the more expensive S-Class of the W116 series, which had been introduced three years earlier.
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