Eberhard,

I am always amazed at how inexpensive Mercedes-Benz are in some markets, particularly the US. Only recently have new Mercedes prices here come more into line with overseas markets. If you go back to 1993, the E320 coupe my father owns was over $175,000 AUD as a new car. In good condition today they still command over $50,000 AUD. If it were a cabriolet it would be around $75,000 AUD. Our '90 300TE with its options was around $150,000 AUD on the road new. Today, in good condition it should still be worth around $30,000 AUD. We did not buy them new. The cheapest early W124 sedans (230E) are around $10,000 and you won't get a decent 300E for under $15,000. Everyone tells me what a bargain my '90 190E 2.3 Sportline 5-speed was at $13,000 a few months ago despite its 211,000km at the time, considering it is rare and in great condition. I recently saw another 2.3 Sportline (automatic) advertised for $23k although it had only about 120,000km. Even a common 190E 2 litre automatic of that era is around $10k with average kilometres.

Getting back to older "enthusiast" models 107s are considered good buying here at the moment. A 560SL will set you back around $65,000. An early 350 or 450SL in good condition is still around $30,000. $15,000 will get you an early 107 SL requiring a lot of work. 107 SLCs are a bargain here at $10k to $25k.

If you want go older, how about a 113 SL (230, 250 or 280) or a 121 (190SL) for between $40k and $75k depending upon condition. A 111 coupe in reasonable condition starts at around $20k for a 220SE and the rare 280SE 3.5 cabriolet commands around $150k.

As you suggest, it depends upon the market in a particular country. The market will determine the true value. When considering these prices remember that currently $1.00 AUD equals about $0.60 USD.

Greg

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107.023: 350SLC, 3-speed auto, icon gold, parchment MBtex (sold 2012 after 29 years ownership).
107.026: 500SLC, 4-speed auto, thistle green, green velour.
124.090: 300TE, 4-speed auto, arctic white, cream-beige MBtex.
201.028: 190E 2.3 Sportline, 5-speed manual, arctic white, blue leather.
201.028: 190E 2.3, 4-speed auto, blue-black, grey MBtex.
201.034: 190E 2.3-16, 5-speed manual, blue-black, black leather.

I know this might not surprise Eberhardt, but it just looks so strange to us Amis. I saw a manual 140 taxi at the airport once, but it was at the back of the line, and I couldn't wait for it...really wanted to ride in it though.

Greg, when you ask for rare, do you mean 'factory,' or does this include professional aftermarket work, such as the few 116 wagons (touring) in existence?


Mike

By the way, was the manual 140 available down under?

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Originally, I guess I was curious as to what rare factory cars people owned or knew of and what unusual models were unique to a particular market (eg. 300CD & 300SDL etc. in the US or 180E in Oz). I dont mind if people wish to post regarding modifieds, I'm sure they are of interest to readers.

Regarding manuals in Australia, no we never (officially) got a W140 (or any other S-class) in manual. The more common manuals here (still fairly rare) are the 180E (low spec W201 190E 1.8), 190E and more recently C180 and C200 (W202 and W203) and the occasional SLK. Going back earlier there are a few W123, 107 (280 & 350SL/C), 114, 115, 108 and of course 111 and earlier in manuals. Some of these (and others I may have missed) are grey market imports.

__________________
107.023: 350SLC, 3-speed auto, icon gold, parchment MBtex (sold 2012 after 29 years ownership).
107.026: 500SLC, 4-speed auto, thistle green, green velour.
124.090: 300TE, 4-speed auto, arctic white, cream-beige MBtex.
201.028: 190E 2.3 Sportline, 5-speed manual, arctic white, blue leather.
201.028: 190E 2.3, 4-speed auto, blue-black, grey MBtex.
201.034: 190E 2.3-16, 5-speed manual, blue-black, black leather.

Manual W 140 are very rare in Germany also. Guess most of them are in Russia by now anyway.

A good market for manual Mercedes has always been Italy.

Kind regards
Eberhard

Just what exactly defines "rare". Compared to the 300,000 Ford Tauruses made every year, my 300TD Turbo Diesel, with production for '83 being only 4,898, would be considered "rare". Out of those 4,898, I don't know how many of those made their way to the US.

__________________
1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

After commenting on how rare Sportlines are, I saw two advertised last weekend, both 124s. Out of curiosity I had a look at them. The first was a '90 300CE-24 in a rare colour, Beryl (with black interior). The second was a very tidy '95 E320 sedan. The grey interior (with white exterior) was a little boring for a Sportline though.

__________________
107.023: 350SLC, 3-speed auto, icon gold, parchment MBtex (sold 2012 after 29 years ownership).
107.026: 500SLC, 4-speed auto, thistle green, green velour.
124.090: 300TE, 4-speed auto, arctic white, cream-beige MBtex.
201.028: 190E 2.3 Sportline, 5-speed manual, arctic white, blue leather.
201.028: 190E 2.3, 4-speed auto, blue-black, grey MBtex.
201.034: 190E 2.3-16, 5-speed manual, blue-black, black leather.

I remember getting a W140 brochure (thick, hard cover) and it had a picture and description of either the S350 Turbodiesel or the S280 with the manual transmission. That would be nice!

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2008 BMW 335i Coupe

If it really is a "90SL" then that would be real rare! A 900cc convertible. I suspect that it really is a 190SL that someone has tried prising the badge from and broken off the "1" (or possibly a typo SPOCK?).

190SLs whilst not common, aren't real rare here yet either, at least not among club members. In Oz they currently range from around $30k AUD for roughies needing restoration to around $75k AUD for the best (or the dreamers). My father-in-law wants to sell his 1960 190SL which has no soft top due to his insistance that the chassis number implies it was built as a coupe (removable hard top). He is fussy about originality and it is a concours award winning car. He is asking $55k AUD and you can see a pic over on the Cars for sale forum.

__________________
107.023: 350SLC, 3-speed auto, icon gold, parchment MBtex (sold 2012 after 29 years ownership).
107.026: 500SLC, 4-speed auto, thistle green, green velour.
124.090: 300TE, 4-speed auto, arctic white, cream-beige MBtex.
201.028: 190E 2.3 Sportline, 5-speed manual, arctic white, blue leather.
201.028: 190E 2.3, 4-speed auto, blue-black, grey MBtex.
201.034: 190E 2.3-16, 5-speed manual, blue-black, black leather.

I took the "1" and now I have a 301 D which is just a little bit better than Spocks 300SDL.

I saw a 260SE advertised for sale the other day. It must have been a "grey import" as they were never sold here. The smallest engined late W126 (update) sold here was the 300SE. The 260 has the 2.6 litre rather than 3 litre version of the M103. In the earlier W126 we did get the 280SE with the older M110 six cylinder.

__________________
107.023: 350SLC, 3-speed auto, icon gold, parchment MBtex (sold 2012 after 29 years ownership).
107.026: 500SLC, 4-speed auto, thistle green, green velour.
124.090: 300TE, 4-speed auto, arctic white, cream-beige MBtex.
201.028: 190E 2.3 Sportline, 5-speed manual, arctic white, blue leather.
201.028: 190E 2.3, 4-speed auto, blue-black, grey MBtex.
201.034: 190E 2.3-16, 5-speed manual, blue-black, black leather.

Will anyone mention the mighty 6.3 or 600?
Those cars are rare anywhere. Also 111 coupes are rare but especially 112 coupe with air suspension and 3 liter m189 engine from gullwing. BTW I will have a chance to see the biggest gathering of 6.3 in the world in this years M-100 Meet in Woxall PA. Can't wait!

300se6.3,

Which car do you have? Did you transplant an m100 motor? What does the 'c' stand for?

For the rare list - how about the 380SLC? or 450SLC 5.0's? Don't see to many of those around.

The C55 - There were less than 50 built, I believe.

126 300SEL's with manual transmissions? None made it here, but I dont think there were too many in Europe either.


Mike

Yes, the M100 engine has a strong following in our clubs here. I guess the 300SEL6.3 and 450SEL6.9 are both rare but due to their strong following we do see many at club functions. The 600 is rare but we even have a few of those show on occasions, usually only "short" wheelbase versions though.

The 111 and 112 coupes are very sought after here and have a strong club following and the cabriolet versions are both rare and valuable. The 280SE3.5 coupe and cabriolet are the real favourites and are the dream car of many club members here.

Regarding the 107 in the SLC, yes the alloy engined versions are rare, despite the SL continuing for many years more with the alloy engines. The six cylinder (M103) 300SL in the 107 series is also fairly rare I think. I know of only one although they were never sold in Oz.

__________________
107.023: 350SLC, 3-speed auto, icon gold, parchment MBtex (sold 2012 after 29 years ownership).
107.026: 500SLC, 4-speed auto, thistle green, green velour.
124.090: 300TE, 4-speed auto, arctic white, cream-beige MBtex.
201.028: 190E 2.3 Sportline, 5-speed manual, arctic white, blue leather.
201.028: 190E 2.3, 4-speed auto, blue-black, grey MBtex.
201.034: 190E 2.3-16, 5-speed manual, blue-black, black leather.

fahrgewehr
Well when it's ready then I can say I have one. It's been 2 years already. I am having it build by a friend and it is a sort of part time affair. He is at a stage of preparing for assembly once the whole body comes back from the body shop.

Another rare car I forgot to mention and have seen here in Australia (and this one is rare anywhere) is a 1991 300CE 3.4 AMG. It came to Oz early in its life while owned by a German businessman for what was meant to be a temporary visit still wearing its German number plates. Following the failure of his business it was siezed by the liquidators. I believe it is still currently owned by an interstate MB Club member who runs an independent MB parts and service business.

It is rare (one of only a reported 25 made) and is left hand drive (meaning it cannot be registered for use here). It has a modified 3.4 litre M104 good for 200kW (almost 270hp) and manual transmission. There are also numerous AMG driveline, suspension and body modifications.

What a beast! If only LHD cars could be registered here I would be real interested in buying it.

__________________
107.023: 350SLC, 3-speed auto, icon gold, parchment MBtex (sold 2012 after 29 years ownership).
107.026: 500SLC, 4-speed auto, thistle green, green velour.
124.090: 300TE, 4-speed auto, arctic white, cream-beige MBtex.
201.028: 190E 2.3 Sportline, 5-speed manual, arctic white, blue leather.
201.028: 190E 2.3, 4-speed auto, blue-black, grey MBtex.
201.034: 190E 2.3-16, 5-speed manual, blue-black, black leather.