Lets see all your Mercedes

Saw a couple of nice Merc's at the Rolex 24 Hour.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Hey guys,

What is a nice 1968 280SL worth these days?

I live out in the country of Eastern Texas and have seen a nice example for sale locally. The car is mechanically sound (owned by a former Merc mech) and is cosmetically very good. He claims that the car is a "California Model" and that it was produced only with a removable hard-top, no soft-top. The car has 58k original miles (by his claims and records) and has a clear title. It is cream white with black and tan interior. I don't know what the seat leather looks like, as they had those ghastly sheepskin covers, but the door panels and trim all seeed to be in good shape. I did not have a chance to really go over the car as it was raining today when I stopped to have a look. He said that I could come back anytime and put the car on a lift, etc., as well as test-drive to verify its condition. I will be able to post pics after that.

So what's the deal?

Should I consider this as a wise investment, or another toy to throw senseless amounts of cash at like my Ferrari?

I'll also post the asking price after I get some feedback.

Thanks in advance!!

 

Scotty,
Poke around in www.sl113.org for awhile...there's some good info and you can learn a lot.
If the car is as you describe it could well be 30k+ but a price is what a buyer and seller agree upon. Personally I prefer 4speed manuals and not having a soft top is not a deal breaker as long as you have a garage. But a ppi is a good idea even with the po being a MB mech. The 113's have a tendency for rust but this car sounds clean.
Get it checked out and send pics.They are cool rides.
cheers,
RE

 

Thanks, Ralph!!

I will check that out. I have found only two advertised online for sale, one on flebay and one on AutoTrader Classics. Ebay car was in sad shape with a BIN of $17k, the AutoTrader car was in near perfect condition and the ask was $65k!! I think this car is square in-between. Not a concours car by any means, but a very nice, driveable car that could be polished and detailed out very nicely. I think that is what I'd most look at it as, something to enjoy without getting creamed on depreciation.

I am really wondering if the low (for a non-running clunker) is ~$17k, or if a good one can be had for less than $20k. The high of $65k is quite a hopeful proposition, IMHO, given the state of things these days. Just trying to find out what's what.

Thanks again and keep the replies coming!!

 

Mark,
The 113sunroof/lvl/ski rack is vv rare[as you well know]...
But PF's 3.5Cab is TrueGold...less of them than 300sl gw's[1,232 vs 1,371]...imho even at 175k these cars are grossly undervalued,suggest you hold.
cheers,
RE

ps,Scotty,
Really,put a pic of the 280 up,like to see it[but I'd like to see a pic of a ''5''[non-running clunker] somebody wants 17 for too and a pic of the asker so I can run when I see'im...dass gott un himmell high,unless there's more to the story]
RE

 

My old CLK. Pretty car, but what a lemon!

RMX
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

those are pretty cars.

my dad had a CLK convertible, and it was a bucket of bolts too.

 

+1
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

It's funny how much these cars vary in individual quality. I have a MY 2000 CLK320 and it is the most reliable car I've ever owned. It's needed NOTHING outside of regular maintenance...and it runs like new. But I've visited enough MB forums to know otherwise. Was yours the v-6 or v-8...I noticed a lot more problems with the bigger engine. As a side...I get fantastic gas mileage with the 6 too...31mpg on the highways.

Mine is in white and very beautiful if I may say so myself.

 

280SL and 500E
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

One of the coolest Mercedes ever. It's the car that started it all between AMG and M-B, and really put AMG on the map. To hear it run is almost a religious experience.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

The SL 600 has 4 Blizack tires for our Ohio winter snows. I love the German and Itialian mix.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Ringmaster,

Your 280 looks like a recent restoration. What was the condition of the car before the project started? Mine is 99% original and bought new with 69,000 miles. The car is presently in storage. I kept looking at the engine bay and then realized the difference between your 280 and mine. The injector lines, radiator reservoir, brake fluid reservoir and windshield washer bottle look different. I have no memory of each plastic component’s color when the car was new, but the radiator reservoir was originally black and the injector lines were much darker, but your car looks fantastic. Other then detuning the engine to run on modern gasoline, have you made any other changes?

 

The resto is 5 years old, I bought it ('71 280SL) restored. The previous owner wanted it mint so he basically replaced/replated everything. You're right, some of the parts like the reservoir have been changed and look different than their originals (I got all the original parts as well), seems Mercedes supplies updated items these days. Shortly after I purchased the car an investor in Asia made me an offer I couldn't refuse so I took it. If your car is 99% original don't touch it, they're only original once.

 

blew my 360 money i had saved up on my c63 last year. saving up again but after having this powertrain the clk63bs has crept into the picture as well. buy stock in exxon, dunlop and discount tire with these on the road. yeah amg's depreciate faster than a boat and brake rotors are 1k a wheel, 3 sets of tires a year but i figure thats just getting my head right for writing ferrari maintenance checks later. besides i havent had this much fun since i had my 93 rx7.

as much as I like the modern cars i would love to have one of these.
500k
http://www.classicdriver.com/uk/find/carpopup.asp?source=/upload/cars/11541/1772509/biga.jpg&list=abcdefghijklmn&base=/upload/cars/11541/1772509&dealerpage=no
380k
http://www.classicdriver.com/uk/find/carpopup.asp?source=/upload/cars/11067/1791483/bigg.jpg&list=abcdefghijklmnopq&base=/upload/cars/11067/1791483&dealerpage=no
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Like Mike said, not my car, just my pictures:
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Some good pictures in here guys !
Love all Benz

 

Probably around 25k or so (hard to say without seeing it)

I have bought and sold a few of these cars, and been around many.....

 

Here's one more: 1957 300SL
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

George, I just saw your SL500 at your office when i was out there on monday. Obviously enjoying the "nice weather" car before we got battered by snow! Love the Maserati too!

 

the white/black CLK63 looks horrible. Mustang owner who won the lottery?

 

Probably, he "CASHDIN"

I'd take it, but lose the wing, the stripes, and I'd rock it

 

---never lined them up before,for a pic---
many 113 fans here,what a great sports car...
and yes the 126 is a big autobahn baron bully...
and the M-class is a good truck,I like the push start key...
cheers,
RE
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

A stylized picture of my Ragtop.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Look what I ran into today

Robbie
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login