Is this Finney worth 3 Grand? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

muleears · #1 05-25-2016, 05:51 PM

Its a 67, 4spd floor. over 100K miles, not sure how far. Has had routine maint. but no clutch or brake work in the past few years. Driven daily, up to 150 miles. Some rust spots on the back end around the molding. Little else that I can see. Problem is the car is 2000 miles from me in Oregon and all I have is pics and descriptions from the owner. Is it worth anywhere near $3K? Relevant opinions please, and be nice! This would be my first Finney.

muleears · #2 05-25-2016, 05:54 PM

of potential purchase

joshhol · #3 05-25-2016, 11:17 PM

It's worth as much as anyone is willing to pay. Honestly, it looks really nice in the pics but that's not enough info for anyone on the inter webs to say. Some riding mowers cost about as much.

ESchwab · #4 05-26-2016, 01:43 AM

The car may have much more than 100,000 miles. It is nearly 50 years old. I drive my car daily but never very far and fewer miles than anyone I know. In the last 9 years, I have driven it about 40,000 miles. If a car is driven 40,000 per decade, it would have roughly 200,000 in 5 decades. Then if you add in some time when it was driven up to 150miles a day, you have considerably more than 200,000.

A 50 year old car that is driven 20,000 per decade (2,000 per year) has 100,000 miles on the odometer.

The car does appear to be very clean with no apparent rust. If you are serious about the car, you should contact a Mercedes or foreign car specialist near where the current owner lives and work out the terms for an inspection. Ask to owner to take it there for inspection. Get a report on the amount of rust, the condition of the car, and what it would cost to pass ordinary safety inspections. I think I saw a thread or topic in this forum that lists recommended repair facilities; if you can't find one here, go to the Benz world forum.

muleears · #5 05-26-2016, 03:35 AM

Thanks Joshhol. It didn't appear to have much rust, which I really liked. It is driven regularly, which I guess is good. The current owner has owned it for 5 years and not done any clutch work.

muleears · #6 05-26-2016, 03:47 AM

Thanks ESchwab. That's good advice. I seem to remember the current owner telling me he owned it before it turned over the 100K mark. Although I suppose that could have been the second or third time it had done that. I would think the interior would show much more wear if it had 200K or more on it. He tells me the accessories (windows, heat controls etc.) all work properly. It doesn't have AC, which is probably good as it wouldn't work, I am sure. Any pertinent questions I should ask?

muleears · #7 05-26-2016, 04:31 AM

It has a power brake booster under the hood, so I'm assuming front discs? Is this a safe assumption? I've asked the owner but haven't gotten a response yet.

gmog220d · #8 05-26-2016, 10:10 AM

It does look like a nice car. I'd want to see more photos of the floors under the mats, in the trunk, underneath/rockers, inside the wheel arches where the tires kick up water and rocks, to better gauge how much rust there is/isn't.

Carpenterman · #9 05-26-2016, 11:08 AM

Front discs, drum rears.

The car looks like it is easily worth $3k.

muleears · #10 05-26-2016, 11:13 AM

gmog220d, that's good advice. I'll see if I can get some more pics.

Carpenterman, That's good to hear, I'm leaning toward giving it the nod, but I have to figure in about $900 more to get it to Virginia from Oregon...

I just found out the head was rebuilt about three years ago and it has the original 13" wheels.

strelnik · #11 05-26-2016, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carpenterman

Front discs, drum rears.

The car looks like it is easily worth $3k.

If no rust then maybe 3K but without air, somewhat worn seats and everything else, I'll sell you my 1983 240D with redone AC and redone AT for 3K.

JeffreyNMemphis · #12 05-26-2016, 12:15 PM

[QUOTE=muleears;3601706] I'm leaning toward giving it the nod, but I have to figure in about $900 more to get it to Virginia from Oregon...

QUOTE]

The question changes to "Is this Finney worth $3,900" when you add shipping.

The Emerald Bullet was listed for $3,000.00 in 2009 when I bought it for $1,000. Seeing a car in person with cash in hand makes it possible to make an informed decision and negotiate.

It may be worth $3,900.00. How much will it cost to make the car run and drive reliably? If you spend $4,000 to be happy and safe driving it, would it be worth $7,900.00? Could you find a better Fintail for $7,900.00 than this car for $3000 plus shipping plus parts it will need?

I saw a Fintail listed in Florida for $17,000.00. Was that car worth $17k? I was thinking that it would cost much more than $17k to make my car look as clean and new as that original low mileage one owner garage kept example. If I had Warren Buffett money and wanted a Fintail I would have bought that one.

We all have scarce resources and unlimited wants. I choose to buy what I can afford and create sweat equity instead of buying the best that only needs regular oil changes.

muleears · #13 05-26-2016, 12:34 PM

"The question changes to "Is this Finney worth $3,900" when you add shipping.

The Emerald Bullet was listed for $3,000.00 in 2009 when I bought it for $1,000. Seeing a car in person with cash in hand makes it possible to make an informed decision and negotiate.

It may be worth $3,900.00. How much will it cost to make the car run and drive reliably? If you spend $4,000 to be happy and safe driving it, would it be worth $7,900.00? Could you find a better Fintail for $7,900.00 than this car for $3000 plus shipping plus parts it will need?

I saw a Fintail listed in Florida for $17,000.00. Was that car worth $17k? I was thinking that it would cost much more than $17k to make my car look as clean and new as that original low mileage one owner garage kept example. If I had Warren Buffett money and wanted a Fintail I would have bought that one.

We all have scarce resources and unlimited wants. I choose to buy what I can afford and create sweat equity instead of buying the best that only needs regular oil changes.[/QUOTE]

You are absolutely right. I think I can get the car for $2800, maybe $2700, which would put me at $3500 in the car at my doorstep. I don't want a perfect car either, I want one that needs some attention, but I detest rust. Good advice Jeff. I also have a line on one in Dallas but I can't get ahold of the owner. Looks a little nicer and has some new parts, starter, clutch, radiator, (and non-working AC). But he's at $4500. Transport would be a little cheaper but not free...

Thanks again for all the advice, I need to think this through before I make a multi thousand dollar mistake.....

meltedpanda · #14 05-26-2016, 01:43 PM

you really need to have pictures of the underside, so much could be wrong under there, probably not , but why not ask
ask for floor board pictures, rockers and if she is leaking any oils, fluids, smoke at start up, blow by question, burn oil?
ect

muleears · #15 05-26-2016, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meltedpanda

you really need to have pictures of the underside, so much could be wrong under there, probably not , but why not ask
ask for floor board pictures, rockers and if she is leaking any oils, fluids, smoke at start up, blow by question, burn oil?
ect

For what its worth, the Owner told me it does smoke a little at start up but stops quickly and he also said it doesn't leak anything.