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Kowmander
Member
Date registered: Apr 2015
Location: Joliet, Il
Vehicle(s): 1980 280GE, ex-Border Patrol, 4-speed manual
Posts: 5
| Rusty 1975(!) 280GE on CL
The appearance of this vehicle on Chicago craigslist has had me all over the net trying to determine what's real about it.
http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/cto/4986658938.html
So if Steyer-Daimler-Puch first produced in 1979 and the 280-engined-version was delayed, how can this vehicle be titled as a 1975?
Other oddities include the roof observation/gunnery hatch, military-style radio connector in the dash, and screws above and below the windows, as if they once held protective riot screens. Speedo is KPH only.
Then number plate lists type 460.2b and VIN of 46023317002287
The frame was fine but there was rust at nearly every lower body seam, bursting out from a rough, sand-finish olive drab overcoat (much like bedliner stuff). The owner says he's had it for "many years" (he's maybe 40) and drove it here from San Francisco. He wants $6,500 and it started and ran fine (you really have to row that 4-speed!) but he never used 4WD and had never shifted the transfer case or locked the differentials since he bought it and I was afraid to start tugging on things without knowing how to properly engage/disengage.
So, is this a unique and interesting early model, or a mis-titled, tired, grey-market loser?
Several thanks for any help!
Brian |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| RE: Rusty 1975(!) 280GE on CL
It's not a 1975. It was delivered from the factory on 23 Nov 1979. That makes it a 1980 model.
$6500 is a lot of money for a 35 yr old rust bucket.
The Vehicle Data Card is attached.
Attachments
----------------
 VDC_WDB46023317002287.pdf (59KB - 17 downloads)
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Kowmander
Member
Date registered: Apr 2015
Location: Joliet, Il
Vehicle(s): 1980 280GE, ex-Border Patrol, 4-speed manual
Posts: 5
| Re: Rusty 1975(!) 280GE on CL
Dutch, perfect, and again, my thanks. Early model makes it interesting but condition negates this. Is it odd for a "civilian" 460 model to have a roof hatch? I suppose the original owner/importer is untraceable. Is there a cross reference somewhere for the codes on the VDC?
The owner turned down an offer of $5k the day before, and I wasn't willing to go above that until I had done more homework. Odometer showed 87k kilometers, but I wager 187k or 287k (116k or 178k miles) is likely. Pity to consider removing and restoring the cab as the first order after a purchase, but there were spots where wiring was falling out through the rust holes. Shifter was super sloppy but engaged fine.
Can you hear me trying to talk myself out of further interest?
Brian
http://patriotpost.us/ |
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brabus g36
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2006
Location: Canada
Vehicle(s): 89 230GE cabrio, 88 280GE LWB, 87 300GD pickup
Posts: 608
| Re: Rusty 1975(!) 280GE on CL
old german border patrol or police G. (see screws around the windows, those were to install screens) |
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460332
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Europe
Vehicle(s):
| Re: Rusty 1975(!) 280GE on CL
Order number: 69 272 00335: 272 is the MB dealer number in Germany (kind of city code).
MB or Magna Steyr can tell you what city/dealer it is, if the dealer exists they could have some history!
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brabus g36
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2006
Location: Canada
Vehicle(s): 89 230GE cabrio, 88 280GE LWB, 87 300GD pickup
Posts: 608
| Re: Rusty 1975(!) 280GE on CL
A dealer who has info about a car he sold in 1979. Good luck!!!! |
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Luky
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia, EU
Vehicle(s): 300GE LWB auto, E320CDI 4M, VW Polo Classic 1.6
Posts: 1062
| Re: Rusty 1975(!) 280GE on CL
Code 272 means German Department of Homeland security (Bundesministerium des Innern). Interesting G, but a top restoration could easily cost You 30 or 40k with US labour rates. |
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460332
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Europe
Vehicle(s):
| Re: Rusty 1975(!) 280GE on CL
brabus g36 - 4/24/2015 7:26 PM
A dealer who has info about a car he sold in 1979. Good luck!!!!
It works for german pre-/post WWII vehicles, so why not for 1979? The information is often there, necessarily not at the dealer.
Maybe you need some experience with German order, thoroughness or in general being systematic/methodical?
Can you, for instance, order copies of original manuals for US or Canadian WWII vehicles from technical libraries?
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Kowmander
Member
Date registered: Apr 2015
Location: Joliet, Il
Vehicle(s): 1980 280GE, ex-Border Patrol, 4-speed manual
Posts: 5
| Re: Rusty 1975(!) 280GE on CL
Welp, it is no longer in Chicago...it's in my driveway. Oldest son is 21, wanted to spend $5,800 of his own $ on this ride. Really cruised I-55 comfortably on the way home, at 90kph/60MPH at 3000RPM. Steering is way tighter than his old 1994 Jeep YJ. Plenty of motor noise but surprisingly bank-vault tight, so no wind noise. Plenty of torque to help him learn manual transmission - we spent a good 45 minutes around the neighborhood just practicing.
After he gets plates Saturday, I imagine he will start daily driving it. Other than "change every fluid" and look things over, any adjustments or special inspections I ought to guide him on?
Two other notes: the odometer had stopped working, so Lord know how many real klicks it has rolled up - possible to repair that at home? Speedo works fine, so I'm sure the cable is good. And I keep getting a gasoline smell, without obvious signs of a leak anywhere.
Thanks for your thoughts, gentlemen (and ladies if present).
Brian |
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Warren T
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: May 2006
Location: Montreal
Vehicle(s): 230GE,300GD,300D
Posts: 519
| Re: Rusty 1975(!) 280GE on CL
Best way to get rid of the gasoline smell is installing a Diesel.
Just kidding...
Warren |
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J.R.
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Southern Maryland
Vehicle(s): 00 G500, 09 911 4S, 11 Cayenne S, 86 280GE (sold)
Posts: 828
| Re: Rusty 1975(!) 280GE on CL
Kowmander - 4/30/2015 2:08 PM
And I keep getting a gasoline smell, without obvious signs of a leak anywhere.
Brian
Brian
You may want to start a new thread on the fuel smell but to get you jump started, there is probably a break in a vent line at the top of the tank, followed by a possible perforation on the topside of the tank.
There are a number of threads regarding mucking about around the tank in search of leaks etc. |
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hipine
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: US, CO, Bailey
Vehicle(s): 460 1980 280GE w. 617A
| Re: Rusty 1975(!) 280GE on CL
Kowmander - 4/30/2015 12:08 PM
....I keep getting a gasoline smell, without obvious signs of a leak anywhere....
98% chance this is due to rusted out vent pipes on top of the fuel tank. I didn't get to see pix before the ad went down, but if it's rusty, then the fuel vent pipes are certainly bad. I was going to send you to an article on the repair, but it looks like the site where they used to be held has been re-constructed and I don't see any of the articles there. Oh well, it's obvious enough how to do it, drop the tank that is.
Good luck!
-Dave G. |
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Titus Pullo
Elite Veteran
Date registered: May 2007
Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada
Vehicle(s): '90 Wolf 240GD, '06 G270 CDI.
Posts: 1010
| Re: Rusty 1975(!) 280GE on CL
Kowmander - 4/30/2015 2:08 PM Welp, it is no longer in Chicago...it's in my driveway. Oldest son is 21, wanted to spend $5,800 of his own $ on this ride. Really cruised I-55 comfortably on the way home, at 90kph/60MPH at 3000RPM. Steering is way tighter than his old 1994 Jeep YJ. Plenty of motor noise but surprisingly bank-vault tight, so no wind noise. Plenty of torque to help him learn manual transmission - we spent a good 45 minutes around the neighborhood just practicing. After he gets plates Saturday, I imagine he will start daily driving it. Other than "change every fluid" and look things over, any adjustments or special inspections I ought to guide him on? Two other notes: the odometer had stopped working, so Lord know how many real klicks it has rolled up - possible to repair that at home? Speedo works fine, so I'm sure the cable is good. And I keep getting a gasoline smell, without obvious signs of a leak anywhere. Thanks for your thoughts, gentlemen (and ladies if present). Brian As stated the smell is from rusted out went pipes on the top of the tank (99% lol) - remove the square plate in the trunk and most likely you will see it. As for the odometer it is a worn plastic gear inside the unit, Its not hard to be replaced if you are handy but almost impossible to be found. I managed to fix it somehow on one of my trucks that had the same issue but it is not a permanent solution. Best bet is to send the complete speedometer to be rebuild and calibrated properly. And one more thing - I think that your G is not a ex- border patrol but ex - police unit.
Edited by Titus Pullo 5/2/2015 6:53 PM
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Kowmander
Member
Date registered: Apr 2015
Location: Joliet, Il
Vehicle(s): 1980 280GE, ex-Border Patrol, 4-speed manual
Posts: 5
| Re: Rusty 1975(!) 280GE on CL
I love this plan - prefer diesel for torque and mpg. Sadly, my son's wallet was emptied by the purchase, so maintenance is first priority, upgrading is a bit down the road!
Brian |
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Kowmander
Member
Date registered: Apr 2015
Location: Joliet, Il
Vehicle(s): 1980 280GE, ex-Border Patrol, 4-speed manual
Posts: 5
| Re: Rusty 1975(!) 280GE on CL
Titus - Thanks to you and Hipine. As soon as we get the various stuck screws up from the rear trim on the rubber floor, we'll peel it back and look for the trunk plate and see what's occurring. This sounds like the right problem - my son added 10 gallons and the fuel smell got much worse, which tends to confirm a top vent pipe or hose leak.
Not that I needs to understand the organization of the German homeland security department, but I'm curious about your police vs. border patrol comment. Is it more the riot window screen mounts that make you lean this way?
Peace out,
Brian
Edited by Kowmander 5/6/2015 5:58 PM
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Titus Pullo
Elite Veteran
Date registered: May 2007
Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada
Vehicle(s): '90 Wolf 240GD, '06 G270 CDI.
Posts: 1010
| Re: Rusty 1975(!) 280GE on CL
Kowmander - 5/6/2015 5:57 PM but I'm curious about your police vs. border patrol comment. Is it more the riot window screen mounts that make you lean this way? Peace out, Brian Brian, its not important at all, your son got a great truck and a great learning/building platform. And yes the riot screens are the ones that make me to insist on your trucks origin - I have seen a pictures of the same truck , same color, with the screens installed in its natural habitat - surrounded by happy people :), asking for free love or gay marriage. Tried to find the pictures but no luck. |
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bram_r
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2007
Location: the Netherlands
Vehicle(s): 1984 MB 280GE, 1982 MB 300GD, 1986 Subaru XT 4WD
Posts: 1659
| Re: Rusty 1975(!) 280GE on CL
Great to hear you bought it.
Keep us updated on the progress and we'll be glad to help you as possible.
Looking forward to any pics.
gr. bram
Edited by bram_r 5/11/2015 11:08 AM
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