Check out this 109 auction!!

[jerhofer]

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1972-mercedes-benz-300sel-4-5/

[JMela]

Jeeeez. Again, I don't get it.

Clean, nice car, 130k miles, but $64k?

[Tomguy]

Most 108s and 109s rusted out (including mine) years ago. The ones left tend to be basket cases or fairly nice cars, with few in-between - or at least that's what it seems to be the case when I look on Craigslist and eBay.

The market for these cars has hit its stride and is slowly catching up to where the convertible market was 10-15 years ago. One of two things will happen: They will plateau around $100k for cars in that condition in another 5 years, or they'll keep climbing like the coupes and convertibles have. That's barring any "Market corrections" (Recessions).

However, keep in mind that B.A.T. auctions tend to go for more than those on eBay, they seem to have the car auction formula down (auctions can't be "Sniped")

[jerhofer]

I have had good luck selling cars on eBay over the years with final auction prices for more than market. But I also was selling very nice cars.

BAT has evolved a lot during the past two years. Cars on their site are now bringing top dollar for good cars. While eBay will ultimately have more potential buyers looking at an auction, the quality and knowledge of BAT's buyers is much higher. And they obviously have money...a key attribute!!

The quality of their cars is also impressive, as are some of the bids. A 1974 Lancia Sratos is currently bid to $360K with a number of days left on the auction.

Besides not being able to snipe auctions, what is working for BAT is the comments section for each car. The best sellers post many quality photos while the commenters are vetting the car. By the time the end of the auction rolls around, the buyer should know that car pretty well without seeing it. Plus BAT is not bashful about kicking people off their site if they do not follow through with the sale as either the buyer or the seller.

We are spending January in Florida in our motorhome. I plan on listing my car on BAT sometime after we return. It won't bring anywhere near the money of this car but, based on recent auctions, I think it will do well. And I already have my next project lined up!!!

[JMela]

Originally Posted by jerhofer

It won't bring anywhere near the money of this car but, based on recent auctions, I think it will do well. And I already have my next project lined up!!!

Saw that Stratos, what an insane, unicorn of a car.

If this auction is any indication, the crowd there appreciates clean, well executed restorations. The thorough documentation and crossing of all the 't's with your resto will pay off, literally, when you're ready to sell. Your narrative style and photos will be well received.

This auction went up $30k in the last half hour. Looks to me like two guys having a money fight than rising tide in 108/109 pricing.

[bracurrie]

Originally Posted by jerhofer

I plan on listing my car on BAT sometime after we return.

I totally get going after a new project. You obviously love what you do to each car. But, may I suggest a long road trip in your car first. It's where that car of yours will really show its stripes and you will long remember the experience.
Brad

[CTD]

Originally Posted by jerhofer

I have had good luck selling cars on eBay over the years with final auction prices for more than market. But I also was selling very nice cars.

BAT has evolved a lot during the past two years. Cars on their site are now bringing top dollar for good cars. While eBay will ultimately have more potential buyers looking at an auction, the quality and knowledge of BAT's buyers is much higher. And they obviously have money...a key attribute!!

The quality of their cars is also impressive, as are some of the bids. A 1974 Lancia Sratos is currently bid to $360K with a number of days left on the auction.

Besides not being able to snipe auctions, what is working for BAT is the comments section for each car. The best sellers post many quality photos while the commenters are vetting the car. By the time the end of the auction rolls around, the buyer should know that car pretty well without seeing it. Plus BAT is not bashful about kicking people off their site if they do not follow through with the sale as either the buyer or the seller.

We are spending January in Florida in our motorhome. I plan on listing my car on BAT sometime after we return. It won't bring anywhere near the money of this car but, based on recent auctions, I think it will do well. And I already have my next project lined up!!!

Is your next project a Benz?

[jerhofer]

Originally Posted by bracurrie

I totally get going after a new project. You obviously love what you do to each car. But, may I suggest a long road trip in your car first. It's where that car of yours will really show its stripes and you will long remember the experience.
Brad

I would like to do that but not sure if it will happen. Since we bought the motorhome, nearly all of our long distance drives have been in it. Not the most rewarding vehicle to drive but it is nice to have our things with us as well as the dog. We tow a Fiat Abarth behind the motorhome and, fortunately, it is a fun car to drive. Couldn't see towing an SUV.

If I have the car long enough, maybe I could drive it down to the Amelia Island Concours in the spring. That would be fun.

[jerhofer]

Originally Posted by CTD

Is your next project a Benz?

Back in 1978 when I joined the Porsche club, I met a gentleman (A more apt description could hardly be found as George was truly a southern gentleman from Virginia.) and his son Ed, who was in college at the time. George passed away some years ago and I have stayed in contact with Ed throughout these many years.

A couple years ago, Ed contracted a degenerative nervous system disease in his lower body. It is not ALS but has similar symptoms. The good thing is, unlike ALS, this disease attacks the body very slowly. Ed's doctors says he has decades to deal with this disease. Not that it will be the most enjoyable decades but it is better than going fast.

Ed is a gentleman like his father. Both were mechanical engineers. Recently I heard that Ed's disease had progressed to the point that he uses a wheelchair. So I thought I better give him a call to see how he was doing and to offer encouragement. During the course of the conversation, he told me that they had bought a ranch house and that their tri-level was on the market as he could no longer do stairs.

His dad had bought a 1986 Porsche 911 turbo look new and left it to Ed upon his passing. Ed mentioned that he had recently sold that car. Another mutual friend of ours is interested in buying Ed's 1965 356SC. Ed also has a 1970 914-6 which he will be selling. Both of those cars are out of my price range.

He also has a 1974 914 that has been converted to a six cylinder engine and has had steel GT flares installed. The bodywork was done by a 914 guru in Tennessee for a Texas owner in 2004. The engine is a 3.2 liter with 250-275hp. The car has re-inforcement panels welded in and was done correctly. Ed bought the car in 2005 and only drove it less than a year before the transmission let go at a track event.

He had the transmission rebuilt by another 914 guru and it is still in the plastic wrapper from the rebuilder. The car has been apart since 2005 and has sat in his garage. He offered the car to me at a more than fair price as long as I would also take his other parts and wheels so he clean out his garage. He is not in a position to sell these parts so that job will be mine.

It is one of the better looking 914's that I have seen and promises to be a really special car once I get it back together. The car is in Michigan so I don't plan on getting it until spring. The car comes with 18 wheels!! One of the photos below shows a modern Boxster wheel but the other photo shows a proper Fuchs wheel which is what I plan on running with. Both of my kids like 914's and have said they want to buy the car when I am finished with it.

[JMela]

Ah, was going to guess 911-something.

Good for you on this new project. I hope you'll do a similar restoration thread on the Porsche forum here.

Porsche parts, especially 356 stuff, is very much in demand.

[jerhofer]

Originally Posted by JMela

Ah, was going to guess 911-something.

Good for you on this new project. I hope you'll do a similar restoration thread on the Porsche forum here.

Porsche parts, especially 356 stuff, is very much in demand.

Going back to my roots on this one. I will post a similar thread here on the 914.

My most recent Porsche threads here are:

Projects on our (new to us) 1967 912-6 - Pelican Parts Technical BBS


Projects on our new to us 1988 944 Turbo - Pelican Parts Technical BBS

[CTD]

I'm going to have to start watching the Porsche boards then. Always enjoyed your detailed posts and excellent photographs.

[jerhofer]

Originally Posted by CTD

I'm going to have to start watching the Porsche boards then. Always enjoyed your detailed posts and excellent photographs.

It will be spring before I get the car. I will post photos then on my 280SEL thread. One of the things I did on the 912 with the 911 motor was take everything off the top of he motor and reseal it. Since this motor has been sitting for 13 years, I will be doing the same on it.

The motor has a set of PMO carburetors which are basically improved Weber's. PMO also makes throttle bodies for an EFI conversion. It's expensive but I may consider that as I am spoiled by fuel injection. Even the D-Jetronic on my car, an early EFI system, is far better than carbureted cars for everyday drivability. However, the 914 owner says the car ran well with the PMO's.

[Benz Dr.]

Rarity doesn't make a car valuable. Sinking a butt load of money into a sedan hoping to cash in on the other side is a very risky move. Just because he found someone as willing to spend large on a normally medium value car as he did doesn't mean the next guy will.
This car was very well done but the same amount of work could have been done on a coupe or SL with more potential in the market. The parts prices to do the job probably would have been more but the sale could of also been more, or not.

I wouldn't take this one time sale as any sort of indication that 109's are taking off in the collector car market.

[berfinroy]

Originally Posted by Benz Dr.

I wouldn't take this one time sale as any sort of indication that 109's are taking off in the collector car market.

Well, at least two people thought it was worth it, and judging by the many enthusiastic comments, probably more than that.