1977-79 Mercedes-Benz 300 CD
Typical asking prices*: $5,500-$7,500
Collector status: Buy and drive or resell

Perhaps more than any other car on the list, the Mercedes-Benz 300 CD is a poignant statement of the new decade. Mercedes coupés have always had tremendous appeal and prices of the W111/112 models from the 60s and early 70s reflect that (not to mention the cabriolet variants). It can be said that any Mercedes coupé is a safe investment (in so far as it has bottomed out). What makes the 300 CD particularly interesting is that it came at the right time as a response to the fuel shortages of the mid-70s. In 2010, we are again faced with uncertainty around fuel supply. Diesel motors are a practical alternative as our daily drivers; it stands to reason that there’s an equally practical aspect to diesels in the collector car arena. An added benefit to the 300 CD is that it was only available to the US market (curious given the presence of diesel relative to rest-of-world). Given the strength of European currencies, this makes an attractive export resale opportunity as well. Mercedes-Benz diesels are legendary for their longevity; some having traveled a million miles or more. That being said, there are many examples on the market that have well over 200,000 miles. These cars can typically be bought for under $5,000 but are generally not investment quality. Later turbocharged models (’80-’85) fetch considerably higher prices and as such have less growth potential vis à vis a clean, low-mile (under 100K) non-turbo, which are in their prime.