Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 26, 2025

DFW Museum Adds Historic 1979 Mercedes 300SD Turbo Diesel to Collection

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Original Source

TLDR

  • The DFW Car & Toy Museum gains a competitive edge by adding the world's first production turbocharged diesel sedan, showcasing pioneering engineering that redefined luxury automotive standards.
  • The 1979 Mercedes-Benz 300SD features a 3.0-liter OM617A turbo diesel engine with 110 horsepower, four-speed automatic transmission, and upgraded Bilstein suspension for optimal performance.
  • This museum addition preserves automotive history while making engineering innovation accessible to the public through free admission, fostering appreciation for sustainable luxury design.
  • A 1979 Mercedes 300SD with over 212,000 miles joins the museum, featuring European-spec quad headlights and the bulletproof diesel engine that revolutionized luxury cars.

Impact - Why it Matters

This acquisition matters because it preserves a crucial piece of automotive innovation history that directly influenced modern vehicle design. The Mercedes 300SD represented a paradigm shift in the 1970s by proving that diesel engines could deliver both luxury and efficiency, challenging prevailing notions that diesel technology belonged only in commercial vehicles. This pioneering approach paved the way for today's efficient luxury vehicles and helped establish turbocharging as a mainstream technology. For automotive enthusiasts and historians, the preservation of such landmark vehicles ensures that future generations can study and appreciate the engineering breakthroughs that shaped our current transportation landscape. The museum's commitment to maintaining and displaying these historically significant vehicles serves as an important educational resource, documenting technological evolution while inspiring innovation in contemporary automotive design.

Summary

The DFW Car & Toy Museum has made a significant addition to its renowned Ron Sturgeon Collection with the acquisition of a 1979 Mercedes-Benz 300SD, a vehicle that represents a pivotal moment in automotive history. This particular Mercedes-Benz 300SD stands as the world's first production turbocharged diesel sedan, a true engineering marvel that combined luxury, efficiency, and innovation in ways that redefined the automotive landscape. The car's current Astral Silver Metallic finish, though repainted in the early 2000s, showcases subtle European-spec enhancements including quad headlights and streamlined bumpers, while features like the sunroof, dual side mirrors, and power antenna speak to its executive-level origins.

Under the hood lies the legendary 3.0-liter OM617A turbo diesel inline-five engine, factory-rated at 110 horsepower and 168 lb-ft of torque, connected to a four-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. What makes this powertrain particularly remarkable is its bulletproof durability, evidenced by the vehicle's impressive 212,000+ miles on the odometer. The car has been thoughtfully upgraded with Bilstein shock absorbers for improved handling, while maintaining its original power-assisted ventilated front and solid rear disc brakes. Inside, the cabin features a Becker Grand Prix stereo, automatic climate control, cruise control, power locks and windows, and classic analog instrumentation that exemplifies German engineering excellence.

Ron Sturgeon, the museum's founder and a dedicated car collector for over 30 years, emphasized the vehicle's historical significance, noting that "the 300SD was a luxury pioneer, proving that diesel could be both elegant and efficient." The museum itself, now located in North Fort Worth at 2550 McMillan Parkway, occupies a massive 150,000-square-foot facility that houses over 200 rare and exotic cars alongside 3,000 vintage toys and collectibles. Visitors can explore this impressive collection Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, with free parking and admission, making it accessible to all automotive enthusiasts. The museum also serves as a valuable resource for car lovers worldwide through its comprehensive website at dfwcarandtoymuseum.com.

Source Statement

This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, DFW Museum Adds Historic 1979 Mercedes 300SD Turbo Diesel to Collection

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