One bit of evidence I shall add as proof that Mercedes are potentially collectible is browsing eBay for cars. We all know that there are Mercedes of all ages for sale. Take a look at Toyota, Nissan/Datsun, Honda, Hyundai, Yugo, etc., and you will notice that most of these cars for sale range from 1989 to present models.

What happened to pre-1989 cars? It seems like the design philosopy of these cars is same the as kitchen appliances: inexpensive, trouble-free, and disposible. When they break down, you throw them away. They are too expensive to fix, and besides, the interiors are falling apart. Collectors will shy away from these car with this design philosopy. The pre-1989 cars did not survive to become collectible since they didn't have a chance for a long life anyway.