Need info on worth of 72 350SL

[Cap'n Carageous]

A local dealer has a 72 350 SL on the lot. It's burgandy with creme interior. It looks to be original and complete except for a Kmart Clarion stereo and a 8-10 year old repaint that looks pretty good. Seats look good but the console is cracked in several places. The right hand power window doesn't work and the turn signal lever doesn't lock in position. The A/C compressor is turning but unit doesn't cool. Odometer shows 61,000 miles but I doubt it. It smokes a little at idle but the motor is strong and transmission shifts fine. It feels like it needs a motor mount or transmission mount when accelerating from standstill.
Ok, it's a 31 year old car and I realize that. I figure it needs about 3 to 5 thousand worth of attention. It has plain chrome bumpers that mount close to the body so I'm thinking Euro, correct me if I'm wrong.
Anyway on a scale from 1 to 10 I'd give it a 6. Any idea what it's worth? Asking price was $16,000 and 'first cut' went to $12,500.
I'm thinking $10,000. Am I far off?

What 'snakes' do I need to be looking for in this model??

[suginami]

I think $10k - $12k is correct.

1972 350 SL's are among the most desirable of the 107's.

72 and 73's came standard with the Euro bumpers.

'72's have no smog equipment. No cats, etc.

Do you know if the paint color is original? Burgundy with creme is my favorite color combo...

Go to www.collectorcartraderonline.com

There are currently 15 1972 350SL's for sale in the U.S. listed on this site.

The "good" examples seem to be priced from around $8k to $14k.

[hill]

If there is no rust it sounds good for 10K. I would look at the smoke at idle problem. Mine has 220K miles and only smokes at cold startup and WOT.

[Cap'n Carageous]

Thanks Paul & Hill! I looked at the autotrader site. At first glance it looks as if the 350's command a better price than the 450's. What's up with that?? Anyway, after seeing those this dude is gonna have to get right if he wants to sell this project to me!!

I paid a little over $4k for mine a year and a half ago. See http://www.carcentric.com/Ludwig.htm for the details of what was wrong and right with it.

By the time I get done, I'll have $9-10k into it, but that's with a new repaint (all the old paint removed), a newer 5.6 drivetrain, custom wheels and new tires, new sound system, stainless fender trim and sills, new seals and mounts, etc. - in other words, just the way I want it. I'd recommend my path only to those who really enjoy projects, however.

For the same price, $9-10k, you should be able to find one with no rust, no oil burning, and no interior problems (stay away from blue interiors, they seem to crack a lot more frequently than other colors). If you have a chance to buy one without a hardtop, talk the guy into dropping his price $1000-1500, then buy a used top for $300 the next time one shows up on in your city on eBay. Don't think the same way about the soft top, though, get a good one - the labor for a new one is more than the cost of the replacement. And don't buy any of them without a $50-75 inspection from a competent MB mechanic.

Another advantage to buying a 350SL is that sellers often don't know it has the 4.5 engine, so you can compare the one you've found to the some "bigger" 450SL elsewhere to leverage down the price. Even if they've heard the 4.5 is in both models, can they prove it?

[ctaylor738]

10 large seems like a lot of money for anything but a near-perfect original, needs-nothing car with all the records. You've got a repaint with unverified mileage, non-working R12 AC, and some other problems. It is nice to have the small bumpers, and no smog, but this sounds more like a 7-8K car.

[Cap'n Carageous]

I think I'll walk away, but it is a good looking car!!

[Cap'n Carageous]

Another

[slsmag]

Keep in mind that for what that dealer is asking for the '72 you can (with a little patience) pick up an '85 380SL in perfect condtion or a decent early 90's 300SL.

The introduction of the '03 series has put downward pressure on many of the 129 and 107 series cars. Last week I was able to get a fully loaded '98 SL500 in 8.5 of 10 condition for a price that was unthinkable just six months ago (under $25k).

That being said, this doesn't appear to apply to more 'classic' SL like the '68 - '72(?) 280SL which still seem to fetch upwards of $18 - $20,000.

- michael
'98 SL500
BLK/BGE w/18" Moda

[deportes]

I sold mi 73 450 sl in April, owned for a couple of years, nice car, silver and red interior. Used oil and air conditioning was hot. needed a paint job. soft top was getting old. sold for 7K. car is bad on gas and I have seen some in a lot better shape than mine for 7K. Original owners and paint no rust etc. It is not really a collector due to the quantity made. Buy the 98 SL for 25K and you are getting something really nice.

[kip Foss]

For 10k you can get a 1980 or later 5.0slc in prime condition. Check out www.classiccartraderonline.com.

[Deneals]

http://homepage.mac.com/deneals/iMovieTheater41.html

I thought I would buy a 350SL a local mechanic had on consignment. When I found out the asking price was $14.9k I forgot it.

Then I found a 1995 SL320 at a dealer that was just off Starmark with all the known repairs made (evaporator; wiring bundle, head gasket, front seal)

I bought it for $16k. I'm really happy with it and glad I found it.

[afmcorp]

hello

i bought my first one 72 350sl on ebay for 8800.00. had 107k. (you won't believe this) from.....a little old lady. she owned it but one of the mechanics where she got her work done sold it to another guy who i actually paid the $$ to. flew to fla gave them the 8800$ and the lady turn the title over to batman and robin. i grabbed the keys and drove out. deal was a bit ?? but the car is near perfect.

lolady and her husband bought it new in so. calif. when they retired they moved it to w. pb fla. the husband died she decided to sell. she must have loved her mechanic cause seems like there is nothing that is not new on this vehicle.

it probably was only luck. anyway turn the car north and drove like 1500 miles to north west indiana. now the only thing wrong was it was missing the "fasten seat belt " sign. just the little cover. but as luck would have it i met a person on this forum would sent me the cover he just took off. car is completely whole again.

the reason i bought it was. 1972 was the year my wife & i married. and of course i couldn't afford it then. it was my wife's favorite car. and it had the original hubs w/out any dings.

one thing how the person views the car. me it's our special go for a short rid on sunday car. some use them as daily drivers they put less value on the car. me i use my 87 for my work car and my 88 (completely redone/reworked/and tlc'd) as my customer car.

but i would say this if it just a daily i would look for the best deal say 4500 - 6k if i wanted a keeper i'd say the lines are about 8k - 14k but i would want the car to be absolutely complete.
good luck