The MB that got away, Is there one you wanted to buy, but didn't,couldn't

[Jim B.]

I will start. ( I have two tales)

1. I was looking for a good car as a student in 1972, starting Law School, living in DAVIS (near Sacramento) And a medical student at UCD had to sell his car, a lovely maroon/palomino int. 1965 220SE automatic, in the family since new, books showing car delivered new in 1965 in Santa Barbara to MB dealer, (Gregg Motors perhaps?) original (IQx 1965) issue Santa Barbara Calif. black plate car, freshly rebuilt engine, disc brakes, barber pole speedometer, beautiful wood on dash, asking price $1200. Yes that was the *asking * price (I only had $900 at the time, so I passed, and spent the money on a '67 Cougar, an OK car).

From what I understand, it was one of the last gas Heckflosse models, almost the top of the line of the Heckflosse cars that year.

And here's the kicker: My father said, after I bought the Cougar, why didn't you buy the Mercedes, I would have loaned you the extra $300, why didn't you ask me?

To this day, a good friend who was around at the time, still teases me about that "Mercedes you let get away"


2. Years later somewhere around 1980 or 81, I think, I tried again, this time looking to get a mint 240D or maybe a pretty decent 300D, I was going to try again, back then about $7,000 to $8,000 would get you into one, in the SF Bay area. I looked at several, in the SF Bay Area, finally found one, in Vacaville, owned by a serviceman at Travis AFB, a 240D with about 120k, I think a stick, was dove grey and MINT, (MINT is a strong word but the car was MINT) and I wanted it bad, but my bank wouldn't do the loan ; it
had slid out the bottom of the blue book already AND so they wouldn't write a loan on it!!!!!!

Well stuff me sideways with a Mexican cactus!!! Grr. I had to go and buy
a slightly used Delta 88 Olds coupe, right away, 'cause I needed a company car for all the road trips (about 1000 miles a week, Napa, Santa Cruz, SF, Sonoma etc.)

That 1977 Oldsmobile, even with the best of care I gave it, never lived to see 1990. It was literally junked by the next owner in 1989 in fact.

But if I had bought the 1977 240 diesel, I probably still could have it today, there's no doubt of it.

Or the '65 220SE, same story. I could still be driving it.

[Jim B.]

Forgot to mention that the 1965 220SE had only 93,000 miles on it, with a newly rebuilt motor, new injectors, not a spot of rust, paint and interior were perfect.

[t walgamuth]

having owned more than 100 cars in my day and 29 benzes if i count right, you can see i dont have too many regrets about not getting a particular one.

my usual regret, if any is that i DID buy it.

an 85 ford one ton van with 6.9 comes to mind.

tom w

[rchase]

I saw a 1978 116 chassis car on a car lot. The front grille was smashed and it was Avacado green with a green plaid interior. Being a high school student I saved my pennies only to discover the car had sold before I was able to come up with the funds. As funny as it sounds I still would love to find one with that color combination.

[Monomer]

I passed up on a beautiful black 87 (I think) w124 turbo diesel.


Owner had all matenance records, interior was flawless, car had less than 200,000 miles and the asking price was $4,000.

[suginami]

When I relocated back to the U.S. in early Spring 1992 after living and working in Japan, I was passed at a rapid rate of speed by an older gentleman and his wife driving a mint condition 1972 280SEL 4.5 with a For Sale sign in the window.

I quickly sped up to them, and wrote down the phone number.

He wanted $4,500 for the car, so my wife and I went to go look at the car. The lived in Laguna Beach overlooking the ocean, and were the original owners of the car. He picked it up in Germany (U.S. spec), drove it there for a few week's vacation, and had it delivered to the U.S.

It had about 225,000 miles on it, and was religiously maintained by a Mercedes Benz tech in Newport Beach.

The car was a light beige color, with dark Brown MB TEX interior, floor shift, and a/c that blew ice cold. Everything worked, and was in near original condition.

I decided I'd offer him $3,500 for it, which is what I thought it was worth. These cars weren't worth much 14 years ago, and figured he'd take my offer.

Well, after several weeks of waiting he didn't, and eventually sold the car.

Now that these cars have started appreciating, I bet this car would be worth at least $6K - $7K.

I've thought about that car from time to time over the last 14 years, and have decided that I will own a W108 with a 4.5 one day.

[kitchenrat]

in 1964 i was driving a new chrysler newport that i had paid 3200 dollars for. i passed a place in chicago called ******** that had a silver 300sl gullwing on the floor. it was a 2 year old pristine low miler and they wanted 7500 dollars for it. we arrived at a deal on a trade in--2500 for my chrysler and 5000 that i managed to borrow from a bank. i was a block away from the dealership on my way to pick it up when i got t-boned at an intersection by a fat lady in a buick electra who had no insurance. i doubt i would have hung onto the car to this day, but i sure regret missing the chance. i did find a very nice 190sl after dumping the remains of the chrysler, but having come so close to the real thing the little 190 was a bit disappointing.

[t walgamuth]

that i would regret too. but there wasnt anything you could have done really. you didnt choose not to buy it.

tom w

[Tom Valdriz]

I agree with Tom.

Sometimes the biggest regret is buying a car, not doing your homework
and finding out that the car is a bigger challenge that your ability and
checkbook can handle.

Mercedes diesels have a mythic quality about them. But the good old ones
are getting older, and things wear out and do need fixing or replacing.

Finding one that has a documented history of quality service is the key for
me.

Knowing the market, having a good working knowledge of how a particular
model acts, knowing what years have predicatable problems is also important.


Currently, my biggest regret is giving my 83 240D to my son. I like the
simplicity of that car, and I have scraped my knuckles under and around it
enough to know it well.


There was a 57 Thunderbird in High School that was selling for $75.00 because someone died in it and they couldn't remove the smell.
(Remember that Urban Legend?).

Tom

[Arthur Dalton]

< (Remember that Urban Legend?). >>

Yeah, the guy got killed while parking with his girlfriend by the Insane Fugitive Escapee with the hook arm.............

[Pete Geither]

I had the opportunity to buy Bobby Rahals' personal 500E a few years back. Low miles, Smoke Silver,,, my favorite, and the celebrity history of course. Too rich for my blood at the time, but I know it didn't sit around long. Wonder where it is today.

[Two560Two]

I have sold some mint low mileage SL's a couple of years ago.Every buyer that came to look at the car ended up calling me tons of times after I sold the car because they couldnt make up their mind about it. I suggest to all that if you see something you really like, have the budget and will treat it well then go for it!

[rchase]

Originally Posted by Pete Geither

I had the opportunity to buy Bobby Rahals' personal 500E a few years back. Low miles, Smoke Silver,,, my favorite, and the celebrity history of course. Too rich for my blood at the time, but I know it didn't sit around long. Wonder where it is today.

Never understood the value put into pop culture celebrities. Perhaps Winston Churchill's car or Adolph Hitler's car might be historically interesting. I saw one of Whitney Houston's beat up and trashed inside 220 body S class cars for sale here in Atlanta selling for a premium. Needless to say I passed.

[t walgamuth]

sixteen years ago after i bought my first commercial real estate building i was talking to a man who owned a lot of real estate about it. i said "everyone thinks i paid too much for it" he said "that's why you own it".

it turned out to be a very good investment for me.

so if it is a good one, and this is true with cars too, and it is the one that fits your bill, it is good to buy because that combination doesnt come along every day.

of course you can pay too much and get buried...in old buildings or old cars.

you just hope you have gotten up enough financial momentum to glide over the void with out falling into it.

tom w