I know that the 300TD has an auto trans. I have heard that you can find some of the early models of this wagon out there that had the manual transmission. Can anyone comment on this as I am on the hunt. Thank you.

 

They are out there. I recall seeing a late seventiesmanual wagon but it may have been a gray market car. I believe the interior was cloth so it probably was a euro delivery brought here somewhere along the line. Suffice to say manual wagons are scarce.

 

Conversions.... really? What is needed to do this to a slushbox wagon today? Some serious wrench turning or is it not out of the realm of reality???? I'm intrigued....

 

This brings a tear to my eye..... Thanks buddy...

 

There is one for sale now on autotrader.com.

 

CWESJENN... thanks a million. It was great looking. A true rare find indeed. If I sold my car, my wife's car, my motorcycle, my toy Trooper and my lawnmower, I may have had enough to bargain him down with. He wanted $15K. I'm afraid that it is just too much for me. Too bad though.. Thanks for bird-******* for me. I appreciate it very much.
Respectfully,
Scuddog

 

I recently stumbled onto one of these, its a 79 300td, for touring diesel, its a typical 5 cylinder diesel wagon, non turbo, but definitely a euro car, real plain vinyl seats, crank windows, cool metric hitch and original four speed manual trans. Mine is fast, as fast as a turbo, and it seems to handle unusually well also. my oregon title has this vin.12319010010562

 

Wow, lots of great information. Has anyone tried putting a turbo engine in one of these euro wagons? I love having a unique ride, wouldn't it be fun to have a five speed turbo 123 wagon. thanks guys, portland novice, Ken.

 

Here is what a friend did . Put a manual transmission in a 300td.
"A manual trans is out of a 1995 F-150 pick up with a 302 V-8, they also put this trans in the rangers and broncos it is actually a mazda transmission though. I got some dumb luck and as it turned out the Mercedes output - crankshaft hub had a 12 bolt hole circle and the ford had a 6 bolt hole circle, and there diameters were only different by about .080" so it was almost a direct bolt up however I did have to make an adapter hub to space the flywheel away from the engine in order to make space for my 1" aluminum adapter plate, and to align the ford starter motor as well."

So if your old transmission is slow shifting or not working there are some ways to get what you want.

 

I have a manual transmission, cloth seat covers, gray market car (1982 300 TD). The manual was only available in European cars as far as I know. Mine has 4 gears. Good acceleration with manual, doesn't' need turbo.