Hey guys!

Boredom at my current job, and an endless love and passion for Classic and Soon-To-Be-Classic Mercedes Benz models has me itching to start my own restoration business. I currently work in the Auto industry, however i am with Volvo at the moment... I have been having a blast buying old 124's, 126's, and yes- even a 140 and completely going bonkers in bringing the cars back to stock (after people have whored them with purple window tint and ghastly aftermarket radios, wheels, and chrome fender wells......) I have found that the desire for righteous and show-worthy older Mercedes is astronomical. I enjoy nothing more than taking an older Benz and turning it back to what it was the day it rolled off the assembly line.... It's like i breath new life into them! These cars are timeless and true works of art. If you have ever partially torn-down an old Benz, you will see what i mean. The quality in an older Benz is superb and heirloom worthy. I think i have found my niche and hopefully i will continue to restore these beautiful legacies!

Now time for thoughts- What do you guys think? Now there will be a place to buy classic like-new Benz's..........

All My Children:
1996 E320 105,000 (White) Daily Driver Since 2002 Paid $18,000 with 52k
1996 E320 103,000 (Green) Daily Driver Since 2005 Paid $11,300 with 78k
1989 560SEL 137,000(Black) SOLD $3,500
1992 300SE 207,000(Black) SOLD $6,800
1985 300SD 272,000(White) SOLD $4,200
1986 190E 78,000(Silver) SOLD $3,500
1987 260E 76,000(Black Pearl) SOLD $4,800
1988 300CE 90,500(Silver)Available/ Current Restoration Since3/20/2007
1993 300E 3.2L 87,000(Green) !!!STOLEN!!! 05/28/2004
1993 300E 2.8L 101,000(White) SOLD 08/23/2006 $3,800

Sounds like a fun and a good idea. You should talk to Bruce Mendel,"BruceM105" a forum member here, and look at Benzworld.com, where he checks in at W126 section quite frequently, he buys W126 cars from all over the country, and Japan too, (mostly only the best ones he can get), fixes them up, and sells them, and has the same passion for them that you do, makes money on some, loses some on others, and probably could you good advice, and talk about what it would be like. I think he is in Pa. so not far away from you. He is well respected, with a client list, very fair and VERY savvy.

Your passion for the cars isn't in doubt, you sure have a big collection of them. When do you have time to drive all of them?

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Hi, Good luck in New Jersey. I specialize in German car tops and interiors since 1971.... 862-222-4618

I think enjoying what you do for work is the single most important factor in choosing your job. If you're good at it, the money will generally follow and you don't dread going into work every day. It sounds like you've got the passion and desire to do this so go for it!

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Crunch the numbers before you make the decision and make sure you have customers before you take the plunge. Quality of life is the most important thing as long as you can pay the bills.

Only start it if you don't really need the money.
It sure does sound like something fun and fullfilling.

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

I sort of agree with Larry. In looking at the 8/06 sale ($3,800), I wonder how you will make out if this is your major source of income. Being in NJ, well, you know what it takes to live here. It's not cheap.

I don't want to discourage your passion, but the accountant in me skips past the romance and wonders about the dollars and cents in these entrepenurial desires.

Will or do you do body work? Motor work? interior restoration? How did you price that $3,800 2.8 124? How much did you make per hour? Jumping from a hobby to a full time endeavor is a big jump.

I do wonder if 124 sedans will ever acheive collector status to warrant high restoration prices. There were after all, lots and lots of them produced.
My point is you have to sell a lot of $4-5,000 automobiles to get by. Are there enough hours in a week or month or year to produce and sell enough to live on?

Also, don't overlook this: where will you locate this business? On your property? Have you checked zoning in your town? NJ allows for home occupations in some zoning districts, but your municipality's zoning ordinance will control. (But would this be a home occupation?) A trip to the zoning office might be advisable.

Good luck.
PS Where in NJ are you. No, So, West, Central? Highlands, Pinelands, flatlands?

And I happen to like my chrome "eyebrows"

Where in NJ you thinking?

I know the next time I buy a W126 I would be more then happy to pay a premium for a really good example. I just don't have the time anymore to buy a poor example, and bring it to my standards. Most of the ones left out their are junk, or decent drivers at best.

I don't know how many die hard older MB fans are out there, well fans that would be willing to pay say $10k, $15k+ for a super mint W126 sedan.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

My parents have an estate in Saddle River, with a massive working garage. It's heated/ air conditioned and ideal for restoration of cars.... Just gotta watch out for the Corniche when moving equipment around....

yeah, that corniche might be a little hard on the wallet to fix

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82' 300SD

It's better off as a Coffee Table. Too embarassing to actually drive. I feel like a drag queen in the pride parade. TOO FLAMBOYANT for me!