| In March 1977 a coupe-variant of series_123 was presented at the Geneva car salon. Types 230_C, 280_C and 280_CE succeeded the ,Strich-Acht"-coupes of series_114. Their production had run out between June an August of the previous year.
As in the preceding types there was a close technical and stylistic relationship to the limousine. In contrast to the ,Strich-Acht"-coupes, which were based on the unshortened body platform of their four-door counterpart, the wheel base of the new two-door cars had been reduced by 85_mm in comparison to the limousines. This measure made the coupe-variant stylistically more independent and enabled a more homogeneous and more attractive design. Especially the tail end was now less dominant and therefore fitting in more harmoniously.
But there were not only improvements in design. An important step forward, as against the preceding models, was the even more stable security passenger cell with stiffened roof-frame structure, high-strength roof pillars and reinforced doors. The energy absorption of the front and rear deformation zone in the front and tail end was significantly increased by a controlled deformation capacity.
The equipment details of the body corresponded to the upper standard of types 280 and 280_E, as far as the fitment was in common. Thus all three coupe-models were provided with rectangular wide-band head lamps, chromed air inlet grills in front of the windscreen and chrome strips under the rear lamps.
As to their mechanical components the coupes were exactly like their four-door counterparts. Like those they had a semi-trailing arm rear axle which had already been introduced in the preceding models. Furthermore, it showed a twin control arm front wheel suspension with zero steering offset. The braking system, too, was taken over without change from the limousines.
The range of models first consisted of types 230_, 280_C and 280_CE. The engines corresponded exactly to the equipment of the respective limousine. In contrast to the preceding model, the 123 coupe was also available with a four-cylinder engine. Its performance of 109_PS was not of overwhelming temperament, but it provided adequate power.
This could only be said with certain reservations of the Diesel variant which was added in September 1977. The 3,0_ltr.-5_cyl. engine, known from the limousine, made after all 80_PS. Type 300_CD, however, was only reserved for export to North America. Due to the general speed limits there, no maximum speed was expected. With the development of this unusual, almost bizarre model the goal was achieved to lower the so-called ,fleet consumption", the average consumption of all Mercedes-Benz models offered in the USA. Thus they could correspond to the new consumption limit introduced by the US-government. In September 1979 the performance of the fife-cyl. engine could after all be raised to 88_PS through changes in the injection pump.
Two years later, in August 1981, type 300_CD was replaced by 300_CD_ turbodiesel. It proudly mobilised 125_PS and remained exclusively reserved for export to North America. This change of model was again necessary due to stricter fleet consumption limits. At the same time the limousine, too, had to be replaced. In order to correspond to the new regulations the USA export of types 280_E and 280_CE was stopped in the model year 1982. The economic turbodiesel which performed only 20_PS less than the emission controlled 2,8_ltr.-petrol-engine car became their successor.
However, changes in the range of engines were also seen in the petrol powered models. In April 1978, at the same time as with the limousines, the performance of the 2.8_ltr.- injection engines could be improved to 185_PS by increasing the compression.
About two years later, in June 1980, the 2,3_ltr.-4_cyl.-carburettor engine was replaced by a totally redeveloped aggregate equal in piston displacement. It was equipped with a mechanically controlled petrol injection and mobilised 136_PS. Thus type 230_C was replaced in favour of 230_CE which consumed less fuel in spite of a higher performance of 25_%. At the same time type 280_C with the carburettor engine was taken out of the program.
A comprehensive model improvement package in September 1982, to the benefit of the whole series 123, hardly left any outside traces with the coupes. The rectangular wide-band head-lamps, the most conspicuous characteristic of the improved variants, after all had been part and parcel of the standard two-door car equipment from the very beginning. From the outside the improved coupes could only be recognised by the black (and no more chrome) ventilation louvre in front of the wind screen and maybe by the paint coat if one of the new eight colour tones was used. Several details were changed at the interior equipment. Furthermore, on demand, both models were now available with ALS and airbag.
In August 1985 the series production of the 123 coupes was stopped. In over eight years of production all in all 99.884 cars had been built. 15.509 of them were Diesel engines. The rarest variant of the model family had been the 280_C with a production figure of 3.704. Fans of the two-door exclusive types had to wait for more than 18 months until coupes of the series 124 were available.
|