what is it worth - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

oldtown · #1 02-12-2012, 08:24 PM

well i may have a problem!! after checking out my local craigslist just to see what was for sale i found this

1975 450SL Mercedes

the cars runs fine and cranked right up today at 20F . it has a gas leak so i was unable to drive . the interior is brown/ red , the cloth seats are in good shape with no tears. it looks like the dash cover is cracked. RR tailight broke and slight dent in rear quarter panel. line look straight. car has been repainted. all rubber is shot. was last tagged in 99'. needs soft top. hard top is fine. Car is priced at 1900 deld to local mercedes shop Euro Spec. car was owned by a senator in TN and has 88000. i crawled around and checked the pans and jump seat for rust and there was none. the seller says the car has been in a barn which seems right.

is 1900 Fair? what is the car worth in good shape? great shape?

rowdie · #2 02-12-2012, 10:35 PM

Not enough info.
It has been usi****ated. If it were still original euro spec. it might be worth it in parts.
Being owned by a former Senator is worth $0. Being a euro the front subframe problem is not covered.
This car will never be worth what you would have to put into it.

oldtown · #3 02-12-2012, 11:15 PM

1975 450SL Mercedes

oldtown · #4 02-12-2012, 11:18 PM

1975 450SL Mercedes

oldtown · #5 02-12-2012, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rowdie

Not enough info.
It has been usi****ated. If it were still original euro spec. it might be worth it in parts.
Being owned by a former Senator is worth $0. Being a euro the front subframe problem is not covered.
This car will never be worth what you would have to put into it.

thanks for the feedback

what is usi****ated

nobby · #6 02-13-2012, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldtown

thanks for the feedback

what is usi****ated

It was federalized upon entry to the U.S. and A.

Rowdie uses his own pet name for it that can not be posted on this proper forum.

Edward Wyatt · #7 02-13-2012, 09:47 AM

Just my .02, but I would run away from that car.

1975 had thermal reactors on each exhaust manifold that are very expensive, need regular valve adjusments, and have D-Jet fuel injection. The most undesirable year for a R107 is 1975 because of those reasons, check out prices for D-Jet parts, they are sky high right now if you can get them. Price out sunvisors and the tailight to get an idea of what the cosmetics are going to cost you. Figure that it needs subframe mounts and rear springs based on it's condition and age. That alone will cost more than the asking price.

Right now, you can buy a decent 86 or newer 560SL that is ten times the car for around 6k to 8k. I just passed on a decent 1988 560SL with weak paint for 4 thousand.

They made over 200 thousand R107 models, so they have no collector value except for the very early small bumper models and the 1980 on 500SL euro model.

JimFreeh · #8 02-13-2012, 10:14 AM

The pictures and description do not convey any reassurance that it is a good deal.

Cloth seats could just be a replacement by a shop at some point. Original cloth seats will have matching cloth inserts in the door panels.

The pictures alone do not give any indication that it is a euro. In any event, as Rowdie pointed out, the valuable euro stuff is already gone.

IF it is a euro, then maybe it doesn't have the cats mounted on the exhaust manifolds, which fried the wiring and the vacuum lines.... This may also be the last year for the D-jet injection, which has many hard to find and costly components.

This car is giving off the vibes of a classic "Nothing is more expensive than a cheap Mercedes." car.

It's a fact that these cars rust. Check closely the inner front fenders. There is a reinforcing rib at the top of the front inner fender that runs forward from the firewall. Feel for any rust out, and if you find some, it's terminal. Rust is also common above the headlights, bottoms of the fenders, over the rear wheel (lip), trunk floor, spare tire well, behind the seats.....

Soft tops are $500 for the kit, and close to a grand if you have a shop install one. Check out Millers for a rubber seal kit (sit down first).

These are interesting cars, but the market stinks right now. You can find much nicer cars for not much more money, certainly for less than it would take to bring this one back to good condition.

I'm not trying to be a bummer here, but being an SL owner I've been following the market, and I'm dismayed by the precipitous drop in prices since the financial collapse.

Here's my experience FWIW:

I bought a rust free, original paint, no body damage Arizona car from a list member that had been stored for many years, likely because of a head problem. The previous owner fettled the car, rebuilt the head, and spent a bunch (stainless exhaust, replacement top, shocks, brakes, fuel system) getting it to the point of being reliable.

Three months after I started driving it, the subframe broke. Long story short, I parked the car in the back of the shop for six years, while starting and moving it every couple of months to keep it from deteriorating from just sitting.

I just finished replacing the subframe with a new one and installed the MB gussets to prevent tearing the control arm mount out of the subframe. All new front end, shocks and steering parts installed. This was over a grand in parts alone.

I still need to refresh the interior and paint the car to make it nice, but right now I essentially have a 7500 dollar 3500 dollar car, counting my time for free. Once I do the paint and chairs, the value would likely rise enough to cover the additional work, but not enough to recover the previous investment. I've also got a few R107 cars for parts so I've kept my costs low (relatively).....

The two things that make me keep this car (other than being buried alive) are the fact that it is a solid, rust free car (which is pretty hard to find on the east coast), AND my wife likes it. One is more important than the other.

Jim

RadioTek · #9 02-13-2012, 10:16 AM

If the body is in nice shape, you have a fair amount of spare cash and free time, and you need a project REALLY badly, that wouldn't be a bad place to start. The ignition system could be "cured" by getting the exhaust manifolds for a '73 - '74 model and replacing the resonator with a cat after changing the manifolds out. Then you can install a Megasquirt.

Of course, the rubber bits underneath are going to need replacement, but you can do that when you get the subframe reinforced or replaced. Look here for the gory details about the subframe: C/R107 Front Sub-Frame Recall Information - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum

As I said, how much money do you have lying about, and how badly do you need something to occupy your time?

Been there. Done that. Got the T-shirt. And the scars.
Scott

rowdie · #10 02-13-2012, 10:49 AM

Yeah, that is my description a euro that has been brought up to U.S. standards upon import. I didn't know that was not allowed here. Darn censors.

The cloth seats and rear seat indicated it may be have originally been a euro. Jim is correct that all of this could have been added.

meltedpanda · #11 02-13-2012, 02:37 PM

ummm, no -$1900 is too much. I'd offer a grand cause you could part it for that. too many unknowns , and as Rowdie said,dont ever expect to get your money back. That said they are a fun car to have around, Djet is quircky but easy , the rest are nuts and bolts..

strelnik · #12 02-13-2012, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meltedpanda

ummm, no -$1900 is too much. I'd offer a grand cause you could part it for that. too many unknowns , and as Rowdie said,dont ever expect to get your money back. That said they are a fun car to have around, Djet is quircky but easy , the rest are nuts and bolts..

All things considered, walk away if you cannot get it for less than 1000.

97 SL320 · #13 02-13-2012, 06:00 PM

With a car like that I'd be real tempted to do something silly like install a roll cage, late Camaro drive train and do track days. Using a car like you describe, you won't feel bad about taking a 100 point car apart.

JimFreeh · #14 02-13-2012, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97 SL320

With a car like that I'd be real tempted to do something silly like install a roll cage, late Camaro drive train and do track days. Using a car like you describe, you won't feel bad about taking a 100 point car apart.

Hah!

I've got an 80 380SL out back that someone has already installed a Chevy 350/350. So it does fit... Only obvious mod is a remote oil filter. Even has the A/C compressor lines hooked up. Too bad the rest of the car is pretty beat. Too many projects, too little time.

Jim

nobby · #15 02-13-2012, 08:13 PM

If you are asking...that, to me, means you are unsure.

Listen....there are a lot of SLs out there.

The cheapest one will end up being the most expensive one.

If you can't find one locally, they have these things called airplanes that can transport you anywhere that a good SL resides.

I live in Barrie, Ontario, Canada and bought my SL in SC. and drove it home.