Another possible purchase - seek advice.

[pwogaman]

I'm considering a 1980 450SLC with 89,717 miles. It is no apparent major issues (minor rust bubble or two notwithstanding). The paint otherwise looks nice and clean and there is typical seat wear for its mileage. The car has been sitting covered for up to two and a half years.

The price is $600.00.

My intention is to slap antique tags on it and use it as a beater or, if it is in good enough condition, clean it up and sell it.

Should I do it????

[neds380sl]

Wow! Top-of-the-line at the time for Mercedes. If you don't buy it, someone else will. Or the junkman will. A bargain, for sure. If you have a place to keep it, why not? Try to get it started first, though. Good luck, Ned

[aublutiger]

To buy it as your run around (and run into things) car....I could see it. To buy it, clean it up and sell it...I seriously doubt it would be worth your while....I have found the 107 series to be more of a labor of love than an investment....

[Dee8go]

$600 seems like a deal to me. I think you should go for it, Paul. Do you have room for it at your house? I guess the garage is full of your 280 now?

[pwogaman]

Originally Posted by Dee8go

[. . .] Do you have room for it at your house? I guess the garage is full of your 280 now?

The nice thing about the 107s is they are not that tall and I should be able to stack them on top of each other in the garage.

[Dee8go]

That reminds me of those parking lots in Georgetown that have the hydraulic lifts for cars so they can double the number of cars the lot will hold.

Hey, Harbor Freight has hydraulic lifts, you know . . .

[powerpig]

Offer him $500, buy it and call it a day.

[pwogaman]

Originally Posted by powerpig

Offer him $500, buy it and call it a day.

I'm leaning heavily that way. Particularly because I can get Antique status if the emissions are crapped out on it.

[Johnhef]

450SLC... the lead sled.

Its been for sale for quite some time now.

[pwogaman]

Originally Posted by Johnhef

450SLC... the lead sled.

Its been for sale for quite some time now.

And the price reflects it.

[Dee8go]

So, can we expect to see this one at the next GTG, Paul?

[82gray380]

The price is great, but remember that $600 beaters can become money pits. I've gone the $500 car route many times and have had some great running beaters, but I've also had some short lived money pits that I finally had to get rid of. If you do buy it (I would) just plan on having some extra cash put aside for the unexpected. I've always enjoyed finding that diamond in the rough. Go for it!!!

[pwogaman]

I took a pass on it. There were too many unknowns. I will post pics with details after I get home tonight.

[pwogaman]

Well, I took thee chance and drove 200 miles (each way) to check it out, fully prepared to buy it. As the inspection and conversation revealed, there were just too many unknowns.

Here is the link to the sellers Craigslist posting: http://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/799114367.html

I snapped off 51 pictures, here: http://s284.photobucket.com/albums/ll4/pwogaman/1980%20450SLC%20-%20not%20bought/

A few of the things that really swayed me were:

The mileage was represented as actual, but did not reflect that on the title (seller said that the "Lady at DMV did not believe a car that old could not believe it had only 89K and so she marked it as not-actual on her own." I believed that representation lacked credibility;

The driver's mirror frame was broken and loose;

The front seats had been recovered with a very cheap vinyl SL (not SLC) pattern cover - it was paper thin!;

The rear seat was sun baked and crumbling;

The brake resevour housing had what looked like a paint thinner can cap;

The rear tow loop was broken loose, revealing rust developing under the undercoating (apparently sealed over);

The inner wheel wells at front and back had a resin coating covering rust;

The dash had numerous cracks;

The rear side windows had been sealed on the outside with resin or caulk;

The driver's side rear floor area sound padding was sponge wet;

The driver's foot area under the carpet was damp;

The EGR hose had cracked and been repaired with garden hose;

The exterior had been repainted (nicely), but appeared to conceal poorly repaired rust damage;

The trunk was fine except for rust under the battery storage area;

The windshield wipers were secured with wire;

There was significant rust under the rockers at the ends.

Overall it appeared to be a poorly maintained car. There were no service records and no information about the prior owners.

The seller inherited the car from his grandparents and really had nothing to do with its history or maintenance and did not appear to be too knowledgeable about C107 issues, so I don't fault him on any account. He is a nice guy who just wants to get rid of the car. I considered really low-balling him on the price and grabbing it for parts, but that price would have been too high on the home front.

If anyone else is interested in it I'm sure you could pick it up for even cheaper.

[asphaltking]

you should even ask that question because that is a no brainer dude!!