5k: Düsseldorf Transporter: 1987 Mercedes-Benz T2 711D
The Mercedes-Benz T2 platform is a family of light commercial vehicles built after the O309 Omnibus and before the Sprinter. The T2 was manufactured as a box van, flatbed, or minibus and was powered by a variety of Mercedes infamously durable OM-series inline-4/inline-5 diesel engines. The idea of sharing a powerplant between a luxury car and a commercial truck was as totally bonkers then as it is now (imagine a new Cadillac CTS sharing an engine with a GMC truck!). Find this 1987 Mercedes Benz T2 711D offered for $5,900 CAD ($5,347 USD at time of printing) in Airdrie, AB, Canada via kijiji.ca.
The 711D version is a box van, but the digits in the name are significant– the first means a rounded total mass in tonnes and the second/third are horsepower divided by 10. This one has a 4-cylinder diesel engine (probably turbocharged to reach 110 hp) and has 300km on the odometer…so it is just getting broken in.
Plenty of room for your junk in the back and this one has ramps & racks that hopefully go with it. It is a dually out back and should make for an excellent work/fun hauler.
See a cooler light commercial van for sale? tips@dailyturismo.com
Credit to crazedclay on oppositelock.
This thing is just what the doctor ordered. I need it! Paint it with a quasi-governmental scheme and park wherever you want.
HEY! This is my old van. Well, well, it's pretty cool to see it here on the site. I sold it to a guy for 5000 and I think he promptly wore out the clutch. Not sure where it went after that.
I loved that old beast and the engine definitely was unstoppable. Only thing is, if you didn't pre warm it with the block heater, she literally smoked like a house on fire. But fun to drive and a real head turner.
I've got it now! Definitely needs some work. It's going to be my project for the spring.