The consensus seems to be that we are not going to get our money back on our investments.

I agree that it is worth it anyway, to drive these wonderful machines...
but I'm curious if anyone has bucked this trend
and what we can learn from your experience?

Thanks.

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'87 300SDL

dieselbenz

I have a total of $1850 into mine not including the insurance and I have estimated that It will take $1100 to get it into the shape I want it. (9 on a scale of one to ten). I would like to think that If I did want to (or was forced to) I could make a little profit.

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Owen

87 300TD 603 I-6
94 Jeep XJ I-6 4.0 (see the pattern)
89 750il
seventy-two hundred feet above sea level (kinda cold up here)

Not even close. And don't even try.

But I almost came even on a 190SL.

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PagodaLOVER
1967 230SL, manual
1959 180D, manual

Well, of course your car will remain in it's current condition,
since it is being stored cryogenically.

Extra points for using 'quixotic' !

__________________
'87 300SDL

dieselbenz

I have sold an 85 380SL in fabulous condition for $14k. I bought it for $8500 from the orginal owners from Florida. Just make sure the Body is in great shape and the engine in good condtion. Things such as A/C and minor electrical probs can be fixed easy. It is much easier to sell a car with everything that works with no problems than ones with some things that need attn.

I had a 420sel that I bought for 6500 in 1998 with 90k miles. Car looks like new. I really didnt take care of it that much so needed lots of work done. Suspension, A/C, timing chain, etc... Sold it for $3800 becuase of the things that needed to get done to it. I had of fixed it, then I would of gotten an easy $8k for it because of the condition of the body.

I've got Pagoda fever lately
but I don't think I can even get into a decent one,
unless I sell my SDL and I don't wanna do that.

I think it's gonna have to be an '80's SL.

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'87 300SDL

dieselbenz

???

Another question, If you put it in a garage and babied it for 20 years, would it appreciate enought to be profitable? I guess it is hard to say as the fate of cars depends on there being enough fuel for them. I do not expect today's spark engines to have as bright of a future as diesels for this reason , However the future of the personal motor car looks bleak to me. The way things go we could have a fuel crisis anytime and our beloved cars may become clubhouses for the kids. At least we would not have to worry about them breaking anything.

I could probably flip my 300SD for $800-$1k. I cleaned it up a bit and it runs and drives well enough. I may to in the next year or so.

I paid $500 for it plus about $300 worth of stuff to get it running and registered. If I sold it for $1k I would just make a couple of bucks.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Sell them a piece at a time....I've already paid for one (and some) that way. Granted, that particular car only cost $150 but, it was paid for by selling parts from another.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Congrats!
Glad to see that it can happen.

That was my feeling. To break even, you'll need to find someone
willing to pay a premium and that will only come with a car that
has no significant flaws.

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'87 300SDL

dieselbenz

I have this darned softhearted problem.

I can acquire a Benz for cheap, but I can't just overcome the feeling of having owned the car, realizing what a nice car it is, and then selling it to someone that is likely to trash it.

Probably why so many of us claim we "want" to acquire every older Merc on the road today and restore them to perfection. They were, after all, abandoned by their (original owners)parents. Not too long ago, they were 50K dollar cars.

I used to have almost 300K dollars of initial investment out in Mercs. Not what they were worth in today's market, but what they were worth in their prime. That value is built into those cars that I happen to drive everyday. And I couldn't be a happier man.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

Don't shop on fleaBay for one (for less that $20,000). They will all have hidden rust and need IP rebuild (about $1500) + unknown/unpredictable $$$$$ more.

Best is to shop for a 230SL or early 250SL with manual tranny (much more sporting drive and classic molded chrome trim) and a decent driver will cost at least $20,000. Any thing less will cost you in the end. The 190SL will be cheaper to maintain and buy parts for.

These cars are quite complicated and overbuilt. Compare the dashboard of one to that of a 356, price out bumpers or grill chrome, or even a mundane thing such as sunvisors . . . the 356 is cheaper to restore, and I started with one that is a good driver and completely dry, no rust with good chrome. I recommend the 190SL, although it is comparatively somewhat of a slug. I have no experience with any plastic laden MBZ except for the beloved and incomparable w123 wagon.

Venture over to sl113.org

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PagodaLOVER
1967 230SL, manual
1959 180D, manual

Thanks for the tips.
I didn't even realize that Pagodas had fuel injection?

Yeah, I've been checking out those Pagoda websites,
such as oursl.com etc.

I saw one sell today for $13K that lasted 5 days.
280SL

Top is kinda shabby and it needs an exhaust but the rust doesn't look too bad?

I think I'll have to get an 80's SL though, so I can get something in better condition.

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'87 300SDL

dieselbenz

It all depends what you are looking for, a rusty car can make a great driver, possibly. But know up front that these things are darn expensive to take to the next level, even with no rust. Great thing is most everything can be sourced, that's what's good about the brand. Other brands are rather miserable, tried replacing an Aston DB2 radiator once. It had to be "fabricated." But not so with MBZ.

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PagodaLOVER
1967 230SL, manual
1959 180D, manual

Actually, per the topic, I'm thinking of an investment.

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'87 300SDL

dieselbenz