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Thanks for all the useful info, and inspired me to search more. Post 11 is incorrect about the PickNPull hitch I started with being "home-made". It is a Curt 11614, an "engineered design" for the W123, and avail for $159 at Home Depot or $139 on ebay (free shipping both). It appears I was wrong that a load had bent the bar down, since the photo looks like it is made that way. BTW, don't assume powder-coating is the bee's knees. This hitch had rust under the power-coat everywhere, but was just surface so I was able to wire-brush it to clean steel.
The Curt 11805 is much better since attaches to the frame instead of the bumper, but $220, much heavier, and appears only for the wagon (gas or diesel).
The factory hitch appears to have been dropped by 1982. It wasn't a flat-bar, rather having an integral ball, which isn't very flexible (last photo).
I agree the bumper shock mounts are not very strong, having a fairly thin aluminum case. The way I broke the front one on my 1985 was that I rigged a tow-bar to the frame, passing under the front bumper. When I drove up the driveway, the tow-bar pushed up on the bumper, which cracked the mount. At least I got the car home after the engine failed at work (crankshaft jammed by chipped pistons). Don't let fat guys jump on your bumpers or you might hear a snap.
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1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans
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