Now we are compairing museum cars to "rotm" resto cars. Please, I love these cars. I wanted one in the eighties when ( I was a kid) I just could not ever seem to put the extra money together to buy one... They are beautiful and always will be. This was a reference to a very poorly displayed, foggy pictured ad on craigs list. At this point I have dozens of what I feel to be great classics. Porsche, MB, Alfa, BMW, and even some old early fifties/sixties American stuff. I love cars. If I were to have an extra 40k just waiting to take up yet more space in my world, I would not buy a mediocre restored car for nearly top money. I would buy a (hopefully one family) owned car from a region that is not in the RUST BELT and proceed to spend 20k restoring it. Again, I love these cars. The 190 sl although it drives like a truck, is a beauty even if you only sat in it in the garage once in a while. Was not trying to ruffle any feathers, simply speaking my sometimes loud mouthed opinion

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64 European Coupe Brilliant Silver with Red interior 4 Speed Sunroof
87 TDT 286k
87 SDL 195k
83 SD 202k
83 SD 201k
83 D 286k
02 R1150RT 32K
00 122HP FLSTF
07 KTM 250SX

"Danger takes many forms"

I can see the 100k figure, because parts have skyrocketed in the last few years. Try $5500.00 for a speedometer, for example. Skilled labor is not cheap either.

My car, a '61, is all-original save the battery box, fuel pump, .20 oversize pistons, starter drive, water temperature gauge, clutch disc and drivers side window mechanism, even down to some of the heater hoses with the band clamps. It has less than 37k miles, documented back to day one. It is not close to show quality and the paint has a few chips and scratches, the chrome is a little dull and has a few dents, but it is mostly the way it left Germany in 1961, with no rust. Even this car would cost upwards of forty to fifty thousand to restore to Pebble Beach quality. Probably more, considering that used parts are selling on fleabay for more than nos parts were selling for ten years ago, and the cost of chrome plating and correct paint, vat dyed leather, and top materials.

yah you're right. my bad...

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64 European Coupe Brilliant Silver with Red interior 4 Speed Sunroof
87 TDT 286k
87 SDL 195k
83 SD 202k
83 SD 201k
83 D 286k
02 R1150RT 32K
00 122HP FLSTF
07 KTM 250SX

"Danger takes many forms"

I'm not trying to prove anyone wrong, and would think way differently if I wouldn't spend too much time on fleabay chasing parts and looking through Hemmings when I can find a copy, but I'm very cheap an don't buy unless it's a deal. I have more fun chasing elusive parts than anything else. Today it's eBay, yesterday it meant walking thru junkyards watching out for snakes and wasps.

A few years ago nos parts were very affordable and available, and I really regret not buying what I needed.

Yo Guys!

I'm not too worried, I'd prefer a 280 SL 'Pagode' ... in silver, please

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Not if you live in Florida, Texas or California... which are places that tend to have retired rich people... the kind that would buy a car like this.

If you go to the MB SL specialty forums, and web sites his price is lower than a lot of the same model cars for sale. I would pay a professional to fully evaluate the car and all of its systems. Is the new engine correct etc. If the body work and the new paint was done right it really is a very good price. These are the cars that sit in the garage for late spring through early Fall driving only on Sunny days. I would dearly love to own one of these cars. The good ones are a fine investment going up in resale value every year. The bad ones that are misrepresented will only cause heart break and bankruptcy to the novice MB buyer who did not do his or her home work to look the car over properly during the pre-purchase stage. John