Quote:
Originally Posted by MTI
Tom is right on with the marked appreciation on the 190SL. Underpowered, but undeniably headed for six figure status on pristine documented examples. Any buyer contemplating a restoration would have to be in for the long term.
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Underpowered, yeah, but if you base a cars value on its performance you probably would struggle to understand the valuation of a lot of cars. Lots of super valuable cars that drive like crap, cough, Porsche 356 and many 911s even given the jump aircooled has taken.
I would want proof of the mileage beyond some anecdotal story of someone who is obviously flipping the car. Pictures of it on the roll back? Come on, be a freaking professional.
Overseas buyers actually prefer cars this rough, to make a huge dollar car you need to do everything. If you buy a car that restored in the 80s poorly for $50,000 you still do a $100,000 resto to it, if you buy a crap car for $30,000 you still do a $100,000 resto to it. You're redoing everything, why pay extra for stuff you'll undo immediately. Also if you take the car to Poland where skilled labor is still dirty cheap, its not going to cost anywhere near $100,000 to build a $200,000 car.
I think I'm one of 3 active peachparts members I know of that actually have 190SLs as well.
The top isn't worth all that much in that shape, the tops are incredibly expensive to restore, they are around in $1,000 range in that kind of shape. The seals aren't available aftermarket and cost a fortune, and if the glass needs replaced... best of luck.