Purchased new via factory delivery in 1979, this Mercedes-Benz W123 wagon was parked in its owner’s garage in Avellino, Italy before disaster struck. An earthquake and landslide sealed the car inside, where it sat for 38 years, untouched, undamaged and unregistered. When it was finally uncovered in 2018, it was a remarkably preserved time capsule. Finished in Nickel Green, a colour discontinued after 1979, the 280 TE is paired with a Moss Green and Blue-Green cloth interior – a highly stylish combination. It boasts air-conditioning, Zebrano wood, a rear-facing occasional seat and Mercedes’ highest-specification petrol engine. With only 3,800 documented miles, it is easily mistaken for a restoration. But the reality is even more remarkable: the car is essentially entirely original. Renowned US Mercedes specialist Scott Grundfor Company has carried out only basic maintenance and replaced safety parts. European-market bumpers and lights complete the package. Estimated to fetch $130,000–$160,000 with Gooding Christie's at Pebble Beach on 14-15 August 2026, this may be one of the most fascinating barn-find W123s in existence.

Photos: Gooding Christie's