Value and advice 76 450SL

I have been restoring my 1976 450SL the past few months. I have done an extensive amount of work to it to bring it back to near showroom condition. It has 119k miles

Here is the work done so far.....
Engine.
Complete rebuild, all new hoses, vacuum lines, control valves, cap rotor wires, belts, clamps. This work was done by a AAA Mercedes shop here in town.

Chassis.
Rebuild brake system, New 4 wheel rotors, bearings, Sub frame mounts, Complete stainless exhaust system, ball joints, tie rods, damper.

Interior.

New OEM carpeting, OEM seats, New seat cushions, power window bushings, R&R any and all rattles, Replaced entire power locking system including vacuum diaphragms. Replaced AC diaphragms and valves.

Exterior.
The body of this car is mint!! I still had it repainted by the best shop within 200 miles. The work is flawless. It never had any rust except for a couple of paint blisters around the headlights and at the door trim.

I have finished the interior and it is showroom. I have a few more bits of chrome trim on the exterior to replace. (Scratches and such).
I believe the mechanics are perfect. Everything works fine. Small tyranny leak (couple of drops every day) don't know if worth it to fix.
Top is new but has a scratch from folding away. I do not have the hard top. never needed it don't drive it in the rain or bad whether.

I hope that I have covered the most important items that this car needs to keep its value and dependibility.
Any advice would be nice.

[G-Benz]

Beautiful car!

Sounds like you've done extensive work on the car! I am keeping my eye out for such a car, but my wife will kill me if I actually go through with it!

I really don't know about its value, but similar (and less cherry) examples go for the mid to high 20's. A purist might not be happy with the absence of the hardtop. (If I were to buy it, I wouldn't care...I already have one hardtop dangling in the garage)!

Are those raised white letter tires I see on the picture? Might be a turn-off, especially for a euro-car. (I have them on my Bug though). If the rubber is fresh, have the tires remounted inside out.

Grab a newsstand copy of the Dupont Registry magazine. It is full of exotic vehicles for sale, many of which are restored classics. You might be able to gauge your car's worth better that way.

Man! I've always wanted a red one too!!!

Ha Ha i forgot about the tires. Everybody comments on them. I do intend to turn them around but I am first trying to find a really nice set of rims. I do not like the painted rim that came with the car. The tires ar brand new. I do not know what the previous owner was thinking when he had them mounted.

The next things I intend to do is replace the shocks.
I also want to replace the chrome cover on the rear bumper but I just found out that OEM price is $243 ouch.... The few scratches on it really stand out against the beautiful paint job.

[G-Benz]

Now I can't tell from your post as to whether you want to sell it, or keep it!

If you are planning on selling it, spend no more money! You already have a huge investment in the restoration, and as you already know will NEVER recoup much of it back.

The new owner would appreciate the effort in the restoration, and make further enhancements when he/she takes possession of the car.

There are several factory-type rims (alloy and chrome) available for your car, but again, let a prospective buyer worry about that.

As for the chrome bumper lip, it probably got that way from years of resting purses and briefcases on it while opening the trunk lid. It would be a waste to replace it only to have the next owner do exactly the same thing! I had to teach my wife not to do that (especially with the painted surfaces on cars nowadays).

If you are planning on keeping it, then be as meticulous as you want to be...

I am somewhat undecided as to weather or not to keep it.
It is the best car I have ever driven. Right now I have about $11k in it with the wheels and a few chrome and body seals yet to go. I was hopping that it would fetch around $17k when it was done.

I have seen others selling for around that price but even when they say "mint" I know that the wear parts (mounts,timing chaine,engine hoses,fuel system) will still have to be replaced at about 100k miles.

I have restored this car to suite my desires as if I am going to keep it.

I am lucky that my brother owns a very large mercedies shop with 9 bosh certified mechanics. Parts have not been hard to find and the labor not to bad as well.