urgent 58 220s buy or not

A chance to buy a 1958 220 s for 7 thousand dollars just came up the car was just sold for 15k but seller backed out of sale because buyer could not properly shift the car and seller thought he was abusive to it. Seller leaves country tomorrow. Origanial paint very good condition interior beuitifull not restored amazing wood work second place finishes in major car shows has been on display in downtown san fransico car has nice histroy 10400 miles buyer is wealthy wants some one who will love it not the cash car spent almost its whole life in arizonia negitive some wiring gremelins have to decide tonight if he desides I am a proper new owner thoughts comments
Dave S

[sokoloff]

Snoop around on the Ponton Page, www.mbzponton.org. There is a price list page there. Prices have been going up, but I still think a sedan has to be exceptional to command $7000 let alone $15,000.

Len
'59 220S Cabriolet

Thank you I will look there I dont like the quick nature ofv the sale

[Benzcrusher]

Is this the one from ebay where it was originally a diplomat's car in Japan?

[mj_sid]

Don't you think that three broken Mercedes infront of the house is enough???
--Matt

It is not broken and it is for doug and theres only one BROKEN MBZ in front of the house and thats just a jumped timing chain just because your car has no transmission in it does not make it broken just undergoing replacement part. Besides it is your car in my driveway so it does not count. I want the 1962 220s on craigs list for $350 it goes but does not stop lots of spare parts though dare me and it will be here when you get home
Dad

[norbtx]

Go for it!

[300SDog]

Originally Posted by sokoloff

Snoop around on the Ponton Page, www.mbzponton.org. There is a price list page there. Prices have been going up, but I still think a sedan has to be exceptional to command $7000 let alone $15,000.

Len
'59 220S Cabriolet

Gotta agree with Len's cautious assessment of www.mbzponton.org price listings..... And can add that official appraisal prices going up may not reflect resalability. Let's face it *any* Vintage Benz practically falls into the category of rare works of art. And when the economy goes in the crapper then hairlooms and antiques assume a false posture of higher monetary value - yet they are also difficult to unload at whatever praemium price the experts seem to agree upon - er - because the economy is in the toilet and not many people can afford to support even their hobbies and interests, right?

Meanwhile, Its like the general consumer would *like* to think that every car he buys can be a superb investment, however nobody will admit that fear of taking risks on antique vehicles (as potential investments) outweighs whatever use value they anticipate getting out of whatever vehicle they purchase. Therefor the actual market value of a '58 MB is practically impossible to determine.

Hell, we've got another recent visitor here at the Vintage Forum with a basket case early 50's Cabrio A..... probably one of the most historic and important cars that MB ever built - first of the 'modern' new world automobiles for MB when they recovered from a 7 yr slump after W2. But what do you tell this guy with the BasketCase Cabrio A - when he wants to know what the car is worth? Ummm, professional bumper to bumper restoration will probably cost at least $18k or maybe 5 yrs in DIY garage - and then you *might* get as little as $20k for the car if it's seen at Concourse Competitions and you find somebody who's got 20 thousand to throw away on something they probably wont be driving everyday.

For sure, consumers are beginning to wake up to the fact that Brand New cars and even collectibles can cost them many times more than they are worth..... especially as new cars drop in resale value by about 30% from their first mile off the showroom floor. Such is never true with even a much younger 20 yr old Mercedes Benz which has nowhere to go but up in value, assuming the buyer knows what he's doing and can appreciate use value over restoration costs. Yet hobbyist value can also equate to use value even if the car is hardly driven at all. Meanwhile the genuine antique market is about as deep as a paper cut.

And just to make matters worst, fewer and further between are young'uns today who ever grew up working on their own cars or have a clue in the world what to expect at making their own repairs and even replacing simple automotive parts. But we cant blame the little bastards just because they would rather deal with threshold technology in other areas instead of wasting their time with base automobile ownership which practically everybody now takes for granted.

So what's the solution? Matt, here's an answer to all your problems..... swap the slipped-chain 115 (assuming the piston crowns have not yet cracked) - swap it even for DieselDog's incredibly reliable yet shabby and rusty body 149k mile 240D that he will drive happily more than 2,000 miles across country to complete the deal.... then get rid of the busted tranny car any way that you can and replace it with the Dog's old reliable steed that just saw an 800 mile day last week and is driven daily in tiptop mechanical condition. Then quickly run and buy the '58 220S just for the helluvit - knowing you can easily cherry it out and take it on the Car Show circuit where it has already won 2nd Place Trophies.

If you do not buy the '58 220S, then you might as well admit you are giving up a lifetime opportunity to own a Concourse d'Elegant Car Show competitive vehicle.

Hell, if that '58 has trophies and is widely known at auto shows then how come the seller cant unload it? That's easy - the guy probably neglected to advertise it in places like 'The Star' magazine which is the bible for MB enthusiasts..... or maybe the old codger is a tough old bird who doesnt really want to sell it at all and would probably be happier shipping it overseas to his new adress. Another possibility is that he is being sand-bagged by every antique dealer in SanFran who would rather steal the car for less than it's worth and they are now roasting the old guy right down to the last minute, bunch of nasty greedy bastards. I sort of feel sorry for the seller irregardless of how wealthy he is.

Let me guess Matt, at your day job you work as a commodities and exchange analyst or broker?

__________________
'80 300SD/ w116
'79 240D 4-spd
'71 750cc Guzzi

previously owned:

'83 240D 4-spd
'77 280SEL 4-spd
'74 280/8
'72 250/8
'65 220Sb 4-spd
'63 220Sb 4-spd
'63 190c 4-spd
'61 220Sb 4-spd
'60 190b 4-spd

---

Last edited by 300SDog; 08-26-2004 at 12:59 PM.

[ctaylor738]

My .02 -

1. A friend got something north of $12K for a very, very nice 220S sedan, but it took a long time to sell. So if selling it fast is a requirement, better pass.

2. How complicated can the wiring problem be?

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Just a couple of thoughts -

Have you, or will the seller let you TEST-DRIVE that '58?

For $7000, you could buy that $350 '62 220S, fix the brakes and then some and probably have cash left over!

Happy Motoring, Mark

Thank you for your well reasoned responses we passed on the car.
Dave S

what about the children

[t walgamuth]

The story sounded like BS.

Personally.

Tom W

[Jim B.]

Sadly, the OP passed away a year ago, so we can't know.

[Lycoming-8]

And in case it was not clear from the back and forth banter, MJ Sid, the poster in post #5 was his son! The Matt of mattdave......