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Mercedes-Benz 300 D lang Limousine W123 — 1981

Mercedes W123 limousine with only one owner since new. Used as a school taxi in northern Sweden until 1998. Now brought out of storage and in outstanding condition considering the mileage and its previous use. One of Sweden’s finest Mercedes Lang models in unrestored original condition.

Mathias Casserlund
Besiktningsman
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Christoffer Ahlborg
Case manager
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"These extended Mercedes models were once a common sight on the roads, used both as taxis and school transport. Some examples also served as executive cars. Their quality was so high that reaching 1,000,000 km was not unusual before being retired. Today, however, they are almost extinct.

Since they were such a familiar part of Swedish traffic, one might assume Mercedes produced them in large numbers—but that was not the case. Fewer than 14,000 were built. Today, fewer than 230 examples of all model years remain registered in Sweden, and it is uncertain how many of these are actually roadworthy.

This particular car is inspection-approved, road-ready, and has had only one owner since new. No immediate work is required, apart from our recommendation to fit new tires."

COUNTDOWN
CURRENT BID
25 SEP 12:40
80 000SEK
LOT NUMBER
LOCATION
18661
ANKARSVIK/SUNDSVALL
ESTIMATED VALUE
RESERVE PRICE
120 - 140 000 SEK
Not reached
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Non deductable VAT
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Auction fee: 5% or min. 2900 SEK (incl VAT)
BID HISTORY
31802
19 SEP 23:57
80 000 SEK
31802
19 SEP 23:56
75 000 SEK
15812
19 SEP 22:16
70 000 SEK
3972
19 SEP 22:14
66 000 SEK
15812
19 SEP 21:54
65 000 SEK
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Mathias Casserlund
Inspector
Send message
Christoffer Ahlborg
Case manager
Send message

"These extended Mercedes models were once a common sight on the roads, used both as taxis and school transport. Some examples also served as executive cars. Their quality was so high that reaching 1,000,000 km was not unusual before being retired. Today, however, they are almost extinct.

Since they were such a familiar part of Swedish traffic, one might assume Mercedes produced them in large numbers—but that was not the case. Fewer than 14,000 were built. Today, fewer than 230 examples of all model years remain registered in Sweden, and it is uncertain how many of these are actually roadworthy.

This particular car is inspection-approved, road-ready, and has had only one owner since new. No immediate work is required, apart from our recommendation to fit new tires."

Description

The car was bought new in 1981 by taxi owner Bengt Viklander, who lived at Sörgården, 30 km outside Härnösand. In addition to running a taxi business, Bengt also operated a petrol station. The long-wheelbase Mercedes cost SEK 129,000 when new, and with a 1974 Mercedes Compact 240D Lang that had covered 330,000 km as a trade-in, Bengt paid SEK 100,000 in cash for the new car.

Bengt had custom seat covers made to protect the interior, and the result is evident today—the interior is the finest we have seen on an unrestored Mercedes Lang with nearly 600,000 km on the clock.

In 1998 Bengt retired from his taxi business and was recognized by both the school administration, the pupils, and the local press. On his last working day, he was thanked with flowers and hugs, and everyone agreed he would be missed. In an interview with the local paper at the time, Bengt shared that during his 47 years behind the taxi wheel, he had driven 13 different taxis, each averaging 330,000 km. (See photos.)

After Bengt stopped driving the school route, the car was used very little, but he chose to keep it stored in his heated garage. In 2011 the Mercedes limousine was briefly brought out when a grandchild needed a ride to the graduation ball. After that, the car was again stored away.

The car is now being sold by Bengt’s heirs, as he passed away in 2024, and no one in the family has an interest in classic cars. Between 1998–2011 it was driven only 12,800 km, and between 2011–2025 just 1,380 km.

The original taxi radio used to communicate with the dispatch center remains in the car but is non-functional. The taximeter was removed in 2011 and has unfortunately been lost, though similar vintage meters can be sourced if one wishes to display the car as a nostalgic taxi at shows.

Documentation included with the car consists of the original purchase contract from 1981, the instruction manual, service book, and a bundle of old inspection records. Also included is a magnetic taxi number plate from Härnösand Taxi Association—number 228, decorated with the Härnösand municipal coat of arms. According to regulations at the time, this was to be placed on the trunk lid when Bengt was carrying regular taxi customers.

Additionally, the car comes with a spare wheel and the original jack.

Of the extended W123 versions, only 13,700 examples were produced in total, including ambulances and hearses.

This is an online auction. Photos and information about the car and its technical condition have been provided by the owner. BWA has not inspected the car on site.

Technical data

  • Year
    1981/1981 
  • Registration date
    1981-03-04 
  • Mileage
    582 200 km 
  • Registration Number
    KRN142 
  • Chassis Number
    12313210225682 
  • Kw / hp
    65 / 88 
  • Fuel Type
    Diesel 
  • Transmission
    Manual 
  • Interior finish
    Textile 
  • Colour
    Green 

Condition

  • Mechanical condition:

    Engine type 617, five-cylinder diesel producing 88 horsepower, paired with a four-speed manual gearbox. Equipped with a tow hitch. The engine runs very well, having been overhauled at 433,200 km, at which time the clutch plates were also replaced. The gearbox works smoothly with no issues. Inspected and approved by the Swedish Vehicle Inspection on June 13, 2025, with no remarks.

  • Interior condition:

    Very nice interior, with seat upholstery close to as-new condition, having been protected by covers since new. The rear headrests are retrofitted and differ in color from the rest of the upholstery. The fuel gauge works intermittently. The glow plug warning light does not illuminate, but the glow plugs function without issue. The middle seat is fitted with a rare accessory: a set of seat belts developed and approved specifically for the Swedish market, ensuring that both schoolchildren and adults could travel safely strapped in.

  • Exterior condition:

    Unusually good condition for a used car. Partially repainted over the years, with some small dents and minor rust. The video shows that the car has likely been repainted under the trim. A new set of tires is recommended, as the current ones are beginning to age.

  • General condition:

    Good overall condition with an exceptionally well-preserved interior. Externally, it shows that it is a 45-year-old car, but this is likely the best unrestored 300D Lang to have been offered for sale in Sweden for a very long time.

MOT (tech. insp.)

Fordonsstatus: Itrafik 2025-06-12
Ursprungsbesiktning: 1981-02-26 (regbes) (Ombes:20110719)
Datum i trafik första gången: 1981-03-04
Senast godkända besiktning: 2025-06-13
Besiktigad tom: 2027-06-30
Skattebefriad: Ja
Körförbud: Nej
Antal ägare: 2

Owner's comment

Bought new from the factory by our father in 1981, it was used for transporting schoolchildren and was likely taken off the road around 1999. It was re-registered and inspected in 2011 to drive my son and his classmates to their graduation prom. Since then, it has once again been off the road. The car has been parked in the garage at the family home, and after our father passed away last autumn, we have now sold the property and therefore no longer have the possibility to store the car properly for the future.

Facts about the model

Mercedes W123 Production
The Mercedes W123 was produced between January 1976 and January 1986, replacing the W114/115 as Mercedes-Benz’s volume model.
In August 1977, the long-wheelbase limousine was introduced. It was sold with diesel engines as the 240 D and 300 D, as well as with the six-cylinder petrol engine in the 250. Compared to the standard sedan version, these cars had reinforced suspension and larger wheels. Independent coachbuilders also used the extended chassis for ambulances and hearses. In total, 13,700 examples of the long-wheelbase variant were built.

About Taxi in Härnösand
Härnösand has a long taxi tradition. As early as 1912, the first motorized taxi was put into service—a Priamus Odin Doppelphaeton, registered as Y8. It would take quite some time before there were enough cars to form an association, and only in 1926 was the Härnösand Taxi Owners’ Association established. This means that in 2026, Taxi Härnösand will celebrate its 100th anniversary.

Location and viewing Information

Location: ANKARSVIK/SUNDSVALL

For viewing the vehicle, contact the inspector/case manager:

Mathias Casserlund

mathias.casserlund@bilwebauctions.se

Pick up

Collection must take place before: 2025-10-09.

NOTE! Payment (deposit to our account) must be made within 5 days and before collection.

Auction information

Distance sales
  • This car has not been photographed or tested by Bilweb Auctions. The information above is based on the seller's information.
General information about the condition of the vehicles .
  • At this auction, many vehicles have been included in car collections and have been stored (mothballed) for a long time. For this reason, they are described from a collector's perspective and may need technical reviews and maintenance service - oil, battery replacement, new tires, brake review, etc. - before they can be used. .
  • During the auction days information about a vehicle may be updated up to the day before the auction ends. When you bid at the end of the auction period - and also if you have made an earlier bid - we therefore ask you to read the descriptions carefully, in case something has been changed due to new information.
Important to know before placing your bids!
  • Once you have called in an item and the reservation price is reached we want you to deposit the entire purchase amount into our client funds account before retrieval can take place.
  • When you need to retrieve a called in object we want you to examine it carefully. If you consider that the item does not match our description you do not need to complete the purchase. In this case the deposited purchase sum and the entry fee are refunded.
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