Might be time to sell my 1969 220

[Topher39]

Well, I am thinking about selling my '69 Gas 220 with the standard transmission. I have gone thru just about every mechanical system, has been my daily driver for the past year but my son is off to school and he needs a better car. I enjoyed every bit of the "putter factor" but maybe it's time. Wondering what would be the best bet to sell it thru? Ebay, Craig's list or this forum. I realize it's not a collector car, just want to find a new home for it.

I have grown attached . . . I have put so much time in the car, though I have enjoyed every moment.

Thoughts?

I think my wife and I will give him our Hyundai Accent and she and I will have to shop for something else for ourselves. With cash short with him starting college, this should be interesting. She does not drive a stick! and while I enjoy driving a little piece of history, she likes a bit more . . . refinement, LOL.

[Skid Row Joe]

EBay.

[Topher39]

My thought too, broad audience.

Chris

[ScooterABC]

I assume that your son has no interesting in the 220? Cuz if he does, it might be a fun car to take to college and it has lots of space to haul stuff around. If you have gone through everything it is probably as reliable as anything else...

Assuming that is a "no", I would say to put it on ebay with low expectation, craigslist, and the forums in parallel. It really depends on how much you want, condition, and location.

On the other hand, does he really need a car? Can't you keep it?????
:-) It's not like you are going to get so much for it that you will be able to buy a car that the wife likes a lot... AND if you call it your primary car whatever other car you buy might be rated lower for insurance as a "second car"....

[ScooterABC]

Originally Posted by JMela

In my experience memory, college cars have a tough and abbreviated life. I wouldn't ship the kid off in anything you value highly.

Yeah but it isn't a high dollar car... If you value it highly keep it.

You might get some interesting feedback if you tell us about the condition and location of the car, equipment level, what works, etc. And pictures.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by Topher39

My thought too, broad audience.

Chris

However, if it's somewhat of a beater, I'd go CL and duke it out locally to get the dollars you want out of it. The trouble with CL is that there's the aspect of the buyer getting too comfortable with where you live, etc. CL is a Wild Card, to be sure. I've had good luck selling on CL, if my price was anywhere near reasonable for the car/item.

[ScooterABC]

Well, first of all we need to establish where "locally" is, and if the car is a mechanically wonderful rust bucket or a mechanically wonderful nice driver. I find it difficult to imagine getting a lot of $$$ out of a 220 that is a good driver from ebay or CL because I don't think that audience has much appreciation for how much time and $$ and love might have been put into a little putter car. If you are talking about a $1500 car then why sell it at all... If you are talking about a $5000 car then I understand a little... And if you have had your fun with the car, loved every minute, and ready to move on then getting top $$$ isn't really the issue, it's letting go of a friend so it can have a new home. If THAT's the case, then I think the car finds a car lover via the forums as well as anywhere else, and maybe through MBCA newsletter or something...

So where is this car?

[tbomachines]

Can't really hurt putting it on here and cl first, then eBay as a last resort.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ScooterABC]

I see a lot of cars sell multiple times on ebay meaning that they buyer(s) flake out. If it's a low $$ car that means it is a mental pain. I've bought a couple of cars on ebay and as a buyer it has worked out fine for me, although I think the seller didn't do so well... I was particularly pleased with my 1968 280S sedan for $700 that had a working weber setup... That car provided the engine for my 250S sedan project car.

[Topher39]

I will post the details and you can all give me your feedback. will take some photos etc.

Chris

[Topher39]

1969 220 / Standard Transmission / 4 cylinder gas
I am looking to sell or trade the car for a good running modern car for my 18 year old son.

Here is the rundown on what I have done on the Car over the past 2 years.

1. Rebuilt the Carb (original MB Stromberg)
2. New Fuel Pump and New Fuel Hoses
3. Flushed the gas tank and cleaned internal, tank fuel filter
4. Replaced the points with pointless ignition and new coil, wires etc.
5. Replaced Battery
6. Replaced intake and exhaust manifold gaskets
7. Adjusted Valves and replaced valve cover gasket
8. Flushed Radiator & Cap / Hoses
9. Flushed Heater Core, replaced seals in Heater Control Valve
10. Rebuilt All Brake Calipers, All New Brake Hoses, All New Brake Pads
11. Replaced front wheel bearings
12. New Tires All Around
13. New Brake Booster, New Brake Master Cylinder
14. New Clutch Master Cylinder & Slave
15. Replaced the Shift Lever Gaskets at the exit of Transmission
15B. I also replaced the shift linkage bushings
16. Replaced Oil Pan Gasket
17. Replaced Engine Mounts
18. Replaced One of the Drive Shaft Mounts/Bushing
19. New muffler and exhaust resonator
20. New Rear Window Seal
21. New Headliner
22. New Front Leather Seats - New Seats From a Honda Odyssey Conversion Company - They are almost the same dimensions as original MB Seats but Modern and Super Comfortable.
23. New Rear Seat sewed to match the front Odyssey Seats, same color and style.
24. New Custom Dash Pad covers some minor dash cracks.
25. All gauges were taken apart, cleaned and replaced, all work except for the odometer which stopped about a month ago (go figure)
26. All Lights, Blinkers and Flasher works.
27. All New Carpet and Pad.
28. Replaced the Old Non-retract seat belts with newer MB retractable versions.
29. New JVC Stereo with speakers in the front doors and two on the rear deck (sound rocks)
30. New Suspension to body bushings.
(I know I am forgetting some items but in short, I have gone through each mechanical system)

Body Condition - Car was sold in California and lived most of it's life in Arizona. Surface rust on very few spots, and some trunk rust - I will replace the trunk floor section with new sheet metal prior to being sold. No rust in wheel wells, or under the car - super dry and clean. Body panels are straight, a few minor dents but nothing major - typical of a 44 year old classic that is a daily driver. Car was resprayed during the last 10 years, clear coat is flaking on roof and a few other surfaces but not bad. Could use a repaint at some point.

Glass - original glass, some typical front window pitting but not cracks or major chips.

Running Condition - This is my daily driver, runs really well, no issues, carb is tuned well. Comfortable, drives well on highway, hills etc. Does not over heat on highway even when driving on long mountain grades we have between Phoenix and my home in northern Arizona. At one time it had AC, but compressor and engine components were removed by previous owner. The side vent window are great in hot weather!

Why am I selling this after countless hours of work? The main reason is I need to buy or TRADE for a car for my son who is going to be off to college in Phoenix in August and his current car is on it's way out. (a Daewoo with electrical problems) I also enjoy bringing cars back to life as much as driving them and I am ready for a new project sat some point anyway. My son needs to come first, I can always find a car for myself another time.

[Topher39]

A few more quick images attached

[ScooterABC]

Quite honestly after the work you've done this sounds like the perfect car for your son, except perhaps for the lack of AC in Phoenix... You've done everything!

[Topher39]

Lack of AC and the low mpg (phoenix is 100 miles from our home) will make for heavy gas prices.

[ScooterABC]

But unless you get what the car is worth, which is never the case when you put so much work into it, how are you possibly going to find something reliable without spending an arm and a leg? Is son going to commute 100 miles, or live in Phx and come home sometimes? Cheaper to insure a 69 220 than a newer car... way more amusing (unless son is embarrassed by such things). Fixing the AC might not be that difficult.... Well, maybe $1500... Yeah, it's not cheap to fix AC but it's not the end of the world.

I guess the Hyundai Accent would be more practical for him... maybe fix the AC and keep the car and get wife to learn to drive it?

I've been fairly successful at police impound auctions in CA, but I have no idea how it works in AZ...