PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - To sell or not to sell...

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I've been down this road a few times. I painstakingly and beautifully restored a 1974 VW Karmann Ghia convertible. Stripped it to the shell, rebuilt everything, engine, transmission, brakes, steering, suspension, body, the thing was better than new, because it ended up with an award winning paint job.

I swore I'd never sell it, but as time went by, and the rarity with which I actually drove it, in part because there were so few places I'd take it, as I didn't want to park it anywhere unattended, or where I couldn't watch it. LOL

As time went by, I grew tired of the car needing something nearly every time I took it out. Just odd things that happen with 40 year old cars with a bunch of ****ty aftermarket parts, because that's all that is available.

Little things like one day pulling the hood release to find it jammed and you have to work it for an hour to get it open.

So, after a great deal of soul searching, I decided, what I liked about the car was the pride and joy of having brought it back to life, and I sold it to an older gentleman, who bought it as a chance to relive his youth.

And and felt a sense that I had been unburdened. Funny, I'd say that with all the work I am doing on the 300TD I'm currently bringing back to life.

There is a magical sweet spot where a car is in great shape but not too perfect where one is reluctant to drive it.

There is also a second wind / swann song if you will, where the car is in obvious decline ( body rust ) but the mechanicals are still willing. At this point the shear joy of keeping it going far beyond what any retail buyer would have is reward in and of it's self.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rstl99 (Post 3744650)

Yeah sounds like you've had a long "marriage" of sorts with that Vette, with the highs and lows that involves. I've only owned the wagon for around 5 years, but had a nice 240D sedan for 10 years before that, which was in nicer condition overall, but a slug in traffic (automatic) and the wagon is so much more useful in many ways, for hauling etc.
As long as I can keep the snow, salt and rust away from my wagon, it may well outlive me! Unless some future government outlaws such "polluting" cars and forces me into some kind of electric Jetson car...
Yeah, and then the possibility of unobtainium parts, as people alluded to re: vacuum pump.
Cheers.

My Dad bought my Vette new in 1968 so I've been looking at this car since I was 6 years old. Crashes, fires, blown motors you name it the old chevy has had a hard life.

I can actually see owning a TD (or our 240D) long term as well, the car amuses me and the 123 is such a practicle Classic to own and drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97 SL320 (Post 3744697)

There is also a second wind / swann song if you will, where the car is in obvious decline ( body rust ) but the mechanicals are still willing. At this point the shear joy of keeping it going far beyond what any retail buyer would have is reward in and of it's self.

Have owned a few like that myself, and it might even be more fun than a shiny looker. You can relax and just have fun with it, as money and value are no longer considerations at that point.

Eh, I'd be perfectly happy driving around a pristine car. That's no different than people that buy new cars, right? They don't buy a brand new car and then leave it parked in the garage because they're too afraid to drive it. If it gets dinged up and scratched up, oh well, get it repainted eventually.

I drive a car that's dented up and has peeling clear coat. It drives me crazy!