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Encouraged by our fleeting encounter with Merc's E63, this week's Shed pays homage to its grand-daddy, the W123. A Mercedes from the 'Old Skool'.

Dragging a wheezing old duffer out to face its grandson may seem cruel, but what the W123 lacks in horsepower (who says 'speed matters?') and glitzy accessories, it more than makes up for in honest-to-goodness charm.

This example lumbers in suitably equipped with the pre-requisites of auto 'box, six-cylinder engine, and the luxuries of electric windows and a sunroof. What the advert fails to mention is build quality that puts more modern cars to shame - thank eight years of development for this.

Outside it resembles the S-Class (or SE) of the era, with simplistic lines and nothing more pretentious than optional metallic paint and a three-pointed star on its bonnet. For your peace of mind, our SOTW comes complete with new front wings, driver's door and rear wheelarches and, while it may look plain by modern standards, 16 years' worth of MOTs bear testament to the car's longevity.

Inside, it's business as it used to be done, with plentiful timber, a pleasingly simple dash and few unnecessary embellishments.

Equipped with a 2746cc dohc six, producing 185bhp and 181Ib ft of torque, the W123 280 is (or at least was) capable of wafting its occupants to 60mph in 9.5secs and on to 118mph, accompanied by seamless changes from the four-speed box. Not bad for a car developed 30 years ago and weighing almost two tons, and certainly acceptable today.

So if you're after a beast which looks equally at home ferrying the family round leafy suburbs as it does gallivanting across the deserts of North Africa (where the diesel derivative is still said to account for half the cars on the road), this example of a 'proper Merc' with its full year's MOT, comprehensive history and relatively low mileage (107,000 if you're trusting) could be a steal. If only I had somewhere to put it...

The advert reads:

1984 Mercedes 280 E W123 For Sale

4 Door saloon good condition, new front wings new drivers door,and rear wheal arches.electric windows,and sun roof. Full MOT and 6 months tax. Owned the car 10 years lots of history MOT BACK TO 1994

Make Mercedes Model 280 E W123 Price £995 ono (approx. €1,198 or $1,562) Year 1984 Category Saloons / Estates Mileage 107000 Miles Colour Green Transmission Automatic LHD / RHD RHD Convertible No Location Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK Private / Trade Private