Best bets for next generation "vintage" MBs

This is just kind of a general question - what models of late 70s and 80s MBs would you folks consider as the ones most likely to be in demand, say 15 or 20 years from now, as collectibles?

[diametricalbenz]

I am certain the M-100's W109 6.3, W116 6.9 will always have an allure. All the SL's for certain.

Any impeccably maintained car with documented low miles with a pristine body would be worth something 15-20 years from now. How much exactly is anyone's guess

[danwatt]

The w126 and the 107.

[leenart]

I think the smog emission laws plus computer systems is going to put the demise on collectable cars. Why hassle with the diagnosis and cost of replacing computer systems and parts, when you can pick up a mechanical operated car which will have lower maintenance costs, old school design and no state laws against modifying.
Lets looks at the 500 or 600 sl, how could you keep that on the road 20 years from now? I think the 116 6.9's or the 107's are the end of the road for the collector, after that its all destined for the junkyard
Leonard

[squasher]

The 1982-85 W123 300CD turbodiesel coupe and 1982-85 W123 300TD wagon.

The 300CD looks great and the wagon is both practical and cool looking. Both are low production, run forever, and great fun to drive!

(I have one of each and intend to keep them forever).

[leenart]

I was thinking about that, too bad there isn't a diesel sl
Now there would be a sight, you could even put one of those 'powered by vegeoil' stickers on it
I can see the diesel coupes being an inexpensive collectable. If I was to venture into any collectable car after about 1970, it would be a diesel coupe.
Has anyone cut the roof of a 300 coupe and made it into a roadster?

[gerryvz]

Originally Posted by diametricalbenz

I am certain the M-100's W109 6.3, W116 6.9 will always have an allure. All the SL's for certain.

Any impeccably maintained car with documented low miles with a pristine body would be worth something 15-20 years from now. How much exactly is anyone's guess

The M-100s will always be a niche collectible, simply for the reason that they have four doors. Their appeal will only be to a very small fraction of Benz owners/collectors. Great cars, but collectibility and appeal limited by having too many doors and/or a solid roof.

Cheers,
Gerry

[j9fd3s]

ive sorta replaced the 71 300sel 3.5 with a 1990 190e 2.6. the 71 smells better, lays more rubber down, but it gets half the mileage and its louder.

the repair bills are comparable too

mike

[gerryvz]

The '90 also should have far better HVAC, be safer, and overall be a far more refined car. You shouldn't have to deal with a regular spate of problems over time with the 1990 as with the 1971. With older Benzes, there is ALWAYS something that needs fixing. Some people just don't want to admit it, or they learn to "live" with things that don't work as they should.

Cheers,
Gerry

[leenart]

It isn't so much that you learn to live with it as you learn to wait to see it on ebay. Yes I know how much people hate ebay, but face it ebay gets the people who need the parts together with the people who have the parts. Finally got my choke for the MFI on my 220se coupe.
what your missing here is that with the early MFI cars it isn't what the problem is as much as waiting for the part to turn up; they have fewer parts, no computers, everything is mechanical and the symptom is is a direct correlation to the solution. With computerized systems, the failure could be related to this system or that system or heck it could be the failure of the test instrument....oh please someone argue this point with me....palease!
Face it, future classics are the diesels ie, 300cd. Come see me in 20 years when a 2000 600sl is restorable and collectiable (note that is 'and' and not 'or'), If I am wrong I'll give you the keys to my 1965 220se coupe, but I know I am right. As for the environmentalist; thats not a problem as the number of oleder cars is low, plus the mileage they acquire is year is even lower. My w111 has been driven 40,000 the last 12 years.
Let the environmentalist look into the older cars and then figure out how much pollution we contribute. Then we look at the 'moving museum' value we add to the roads, plus the economy of the replacement part industry. If it means that I have to pay a $1000 a year to finance Polluting Gas & Electric's need to upgrade their system, fine with me.
Leonard

[300SDog]

Originally Posted by gerryvz

......or they learn to "live" with things that don't work as they should.

Cheers,
Gerry

I like this 'learn to live' theory..... So far I've gutted the central locking system from my car, pulled the electronic cruise control that never worked, disabled the seatbelt sensor and ripped out the leaky AC system from under the hood - enabling superior cooling for the regular radiator. Another good idea was pulling the dopey rubber trunk liner from the trunk, so water wouldnt get trapped underneath.

Hell, with an '84 or newer Mercedes there'd be no end to the useless crap I'd be pulling out of the car.

It would be an enjoyable challenge to reduce one their new machines to simplicity of the 110 - my favorite Benz i've ever owned - 1963 190c sedan souped up with 220Sb dashboard woodwork, variable heater fan dial and deluxe 2 spd wiper switch. Thats all.