1983 MERCEDES BENZ 500 SL; convertible, hardtop; 49,108 original miles; full documentation from new sales invoice, 2 registered owners; all service and registration records; euro headlights with wipers; 245HP euro V8 with factory tri-y headers; original black leather interior as new; original black convertible top as new; AT, PS, PB, EW, EA, CL, AC, Cruise Control; all options in working condition, safety triangle; original owners manual, a rare opportunity car with zero rust, clear (free of road rash) original windshield glass, in showroom pristine original unmolested condition. New sales invoice shows price paid of $42,085.dollars in 1983.

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If it's free I'll take it!

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'70 F100 shortbed
'82 Diesel Westy
'83 Euro 300TD
Curtlo Viper
Yeti ARC
Surly long haul trucker

Nice car, I like the black interior.

Thanks for pointing out my oversight! Price is based on the following perspectives: (1) 230-250-280SL Pagodas are now $60,000; some as high as $100,000. (2) MB Heritage Museum now predicts the 107 500SL is next on the appreciation scale on par with earlier Pagodas being this is the "last" of the Pagoda style roofs, and euro 500's were never imported officially into the U.S.;(3) There were about 1,830 euro 500 SL's built in 1983; (4) There is a comparable 39,000 miles 107 advertised in Germany with a price of $60,000;
(5) This low mileage euro 500SL with fully documented history to prove provenance qualifies as one of the best profit potential investments MB classics now.

My price: $17,500 cash.

Timing chain, guides, and tensioners done? Have you looked for seepage from the head gaskets, rear man seal and tranny pump? Other than owning one 500SL for the last 10 years, I've sold 2 low mileage original cars in the condition with the documentation you describe. One with a beautiful Gray(same as yours)/Red color combo and 82k for $13500, the other Manganese Brown/Tan with 75k for $10750. The Brown one sold last November, and was shipped back to Germany and resold there. I paid under $8000 for both of them, and the only needed minor reconditioning to be made "retail ready". I certainly left a few grand on the table with the brown one, but I wanted a quick sell and thought the color would hurt it a little.

Gray selling live on video:
Blacktop Nationals Auction of 1984 Mercedes 500SL - YouTube

Brown bat ad:
http://bringatrailer.com/2012/11/18/bat-exclusive-euro-spec-1984-mercedes-benz-500sl/

I chuckled at the investment idea. Mine is driven regularly as a spare toy, maintained to a top notch standard, but manages to find about $2000 a year in unscheduled repairs. If it weren't for the huge sentimental attachment and how good it looks on me I would have a hard time justifying holding on to it.

I never even bothered listing either here as there's not many buyers on this forum, and most of them want cheap stuff or diesels. I sold my brown one within 24 hours on bringatrailer, and the gray one at a classic car auction. I still have the German flipper's contact information if you're interested. It was a very easy transaction. Its probably a 25k euro car over there, so there's probably some meat on the bone left for him after shipping it back.

There is no rhyme or reason to the prices R107s are selling for, so I won't even begin to comment on what is fair for yours. They are all over the place with no predictable pattern. The most glaring example of a ridiculous selling price was this car at Barrett-Jackson in 2011.

1982 MERCEDES-BENZ 380SL Lot 1527 | Barrett-Jackson Auction Company

I was floored, since I could have found a dozen or more 380SLs in that condition for sale with a 5 minute internet search for a third of the sale price.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Thanks for the comments Tyler. Yes by all means provide me with the German flipper's contact. Now to answer your comments: The 500SL has 49,128 documented miles backed by all receipts, registration papers, new sales invoice, etc. Cams are brand new shiny. Dry as a bone everywhere: no rear main seal, transmission, heads, valve covers, etc. leaks. Hardly discernible slight oil sweat from the oil filter seal. The color of the oil is always clean amber even after the car is driven which indicates no oil sludge built up and is in accordance with the low mileage. Maintenance expenses minimal: records file show MB main dealer stealership general maintenance receipt at 47,000 miles of $1,000 +. nothing major; most cost replacement was ignition electronic computer, and other sundry small maintenance. When I got the car as a preventive maintenance (not needed) I drained the gas tank (fuel was clean) put in new filter, fuel pump, accumulator and fuel hose. At present nothing is needed. Black leather, convertible top, carpets are original and in as new condition. Perspectives on price based on:
(1) There is 39K miles 107 in Germany with a price of $60,000 dollars. (2) Prices of older Pagodas 230-250-280 SL are now in the $60-$100K range and since this is the last of the "Pagoda" style roof is predicted by MB Heritage to be next on the appreciation scale. (3) There were @ 1,800 500SL's built in 1983 and none officially imported by MB to the U.S. (4) As demonstrated by the Barret Jackson auction prices this 500SL euro has high profitability potential.

Good luck with your cars sale, although equating the 107 with the earlier model is not realistic, and as Tyler pointed out there seems to be no rhyme or reason to some final sales price agreements. I hope you find your buyer at that price.

Carlo(s) - Sorry dude but that car needs work... The rims are beat on it, the front emblem is faded out and the tail lights as well. The top looks after market and the springs are sagging.

Oh... and you have the wrong windshield wiper blades on it too and that third tail light shouldn't be on it either.

Any pictures of the interior?

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Eric, 1983 500 SL

Eric, Sorry dude but in response:
Knowledgeable MB forum moderators always mention the risks of cars posted in the boards being nitpicked to death by armchair lurkers. In the spirit of freedom of speech see answers:
(1) Third brake light put in to comply with federal and Texas state safety mandates by NHTSA after 1986; it is a MB original item put in later model SL's.
(2) Rims are not "beat to death" and do not have any curb rash at all; in the spirit of the 80's art deco times they were chromed at some time and after 28 years chrome is flaking showing beautiful original aluminum finish.
(3) No fading in rear lights; the different euro lights look new.
(4) Emblem has white baked enamel common to SL's rather than blue enamel common to MB sedans that do not show in bright sunlight.
(5) Suspension is tight and drive as new; no spring sagging; SL's did not have much weight at the rear and they carry more weight bias towards the front. Original Pirelli Cinturatos CN 36's 205-70's are long gone except for the original spare tire. Replacement U.S. tires of same size have a much wider sidewall that fit whole fender.
(6) Original chrome wipers are in the trunk; mandatory replacements by state of Texas inspection stations in compliance with NHTSA to cut glare are installed in order to get safety sticker.
(7) Mercedes sold different styles of convertible tops depending on models and markets; not all MB's carried the top expensive tops.
(8) Euro 500SL's of which not many were imported in 1983 have a host of appearance, performance and looks different from the U.S. 450SL's, 380SL's and 560SL's. In particular less desirable U.S. 380SL's equipped with a troublesome lighter engine have lees of a front rake.
But of course you knew all that!
In spite of Texas Governor Rick Perry talk to declare Texas an independent nation free from federal government rules, its agencies are heavy enforcers of federal mandates.
Pictures of interior sent so you can nitpick them to death!

Carlo:

no criticism here. Could you send me those pics of the interior? I may have a buyer for you.

Thanks.

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"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

Pics of the original German perforated black leather seats in almost new condition. No cracks, fading, etc. There is a slight discoloration of the chord at the bottom of the driver seat back but not the usual heavy wear or tears common to used driver leather seat caused by getting in-out of the car with a with large billfold in back pants pocket. Mint condition of leather seats speaks volumes to confirm low mileage and use of the car. Note that the chrome trim of the seat holders has been taken our waiting for original chrome replacements kit.

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I made my point. Good luck with your sale.

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Eric, 1983 500 SL

BS on the 3rd light, Texas does not require retrofit. I had a 6.9 and 6.3 and NEVER any mention of such a thing, only on cars MADE after 86. Ditto on the wipers, state of Texas does not do this. I suppose it is POSSIBLE if the car was IMPORTED after 86 they might require that, no mention of import date.

And the explanation about the sidewalls on the tires of US tires is weak, a tire size is a tire size. The numbers dictate the dimensions, not country of origin. If it has a bigger sidewall it is because it has a larger aspect ratio.

Price is only high by around a factor of 2. Great if you can get that, but thinking an average car, especially one that is just a driver as an investment, is probably not a good idea.

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MB-less

"No good deed goes unpunished"

The seller has fairly described his car. Pity about the nitpicking/lowballing. During the "gray market" era in Texas, the things required to federalize cars here in Texas varied all over the map. Some shops added the nasty bumpers and maybe even the offending 3rd CHMSL.

Looks like a nice car I would have as a stable mate for my Euro 350SE.

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Charles Cleaver
1975 350SE + 1992 300CE-24 SportLine 5-speed + 2002 SLK320 6-speed + 1974 W114 280
1986 190E 2.3-16 (Decomm rear self-leveling suspension; Euro-code headlamps) sold
2004 Audi S4 6-spd - sold
1969 (2) and 1980 Porsche 911T, S, and SC - alas gone
1987 300SDL - Graf Spee; Euro-code headlamps; 16-inch 8-hole wheels - sold
1994 E420+(E500 suspension/E-code headlamps/PAD chip) sold
1968 250SE 4-speed (NICE car) - long gone
1962 220S 4-speed/column mount - long gone

Nice car, but.......



Any prospective buyer of a R107 should plan on doing front subframe mounts, rear springs, timing chain and related, and sun-visors if they are more than a few years old. That is just a start, figure on spending a couple of thousand a year on normal wear and tear if it is used as a weekend driver.

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"I was a dirty bird, Carol's not grungey - she's *****in" John Milner....American Graffiti