What is the oldest Benz here?

[Tomguy]

It's not just vintage that I see that in though. For example, "One of 3 Mustangs prepared by Ford like that" - that doesn't mean it'll be worth a fraction what you paid for it in 10, 20, even 50 years. It just means you paid a lot for a special edition of a mass produced vehicle, so it isn't at all rare!

Rare isn't always valuable. How many 112s are out there? Of those out there, how many fetch high dollars? And valuable isn't always rare. 67 Mustangs aren't rare, but they cost a lot of money. Sometimes, it's just high demand that drives up prices, like with the "E500E"s.

[Squiggle Dog]

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

They didn't (As in MB)

But there were couch-builders who did conversions.

You could order the wagons from Mercedes, and they were even in the catalogs, but what happened is IMA, a Belgian coachbuilder, bought sedans from Mercedes, converted them to wagons in small numbers, and sold them back to Mercedes. There were also a few independent companies that converted them and sold them on their own, such as Binz and Miesen.

[Marrs]

Now that I really think about it, my car is SUPER rare and is also 1-of-1 because it has the unique combo of my a$$ having been in the driver's seat plus there's a BB-chip on one side of my windshield. Just try and find another one like it.
Boom, instant collectable, somebody call Gooding & Co.!

[strelnik]

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

Definitely agree with this one. You run into it all the time in G-Class discussions. There aren't too many of the pre-MBUSA models in the U.S but if you know where to look then finding them isn't difficult at all. (Finding the right one for you however is another story) However within that niche you CAN find rare models or options that you don't see often at all. For example there are very few 2 door lwb models in the us and even fewer 4 door pickup truck varients world wide. One factory G-class option was a power take off but I have never seen one in the U.S with it and Safari roofs are also few and far between.

Now with all that being said, any one rare option or even a rare variant does not necessarily increase its value 3 fold as far too many sellers think. There are way too many other factors to take into consideration.

Agreed. Plus you can go into the ghetto in Detroit and see people who have pimped their 1990 Buick 225s. That hardly makes any of them rare, just one-of-a-kind-that-I-don't-want -to own...


I have seen a few that I did like, for example a 1958 190 sedan that had been tasefully made into a four-door convertible.

[daw_two]

I had a 1958 Ponton 220S at one time......
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-cars-sale/294951-fs-1958-ponton-220s.html#post2671673

I didn't restore it though, but hopefully my efforts have saved it from the crusher.

[mangrum]

I own a 1955 W120 180. It is not only older but there were changes made after 1956 (grill, tail lights, etc.) that make it rarer (fewer made) and the parts much more expensive (fewer made and more expensive per to produce and fewer used available) than the later cars. For example, tail light assemplies would run around $1,500 for the pair for my car, wherease a later car it would be 1/3 that. Does that mean I can sell my car for 3 times that of a later car? I wish! Only someone who knows the difference and really wants that particular year and model would pay more.

[JiveTurkey]

I desperately want a 170.

[strelnik]

Originally Posted by JiveTurkey

I desperately want a 170.

Why?

Most of the people who have spare parts try to screw you to the wall to buy them.

One of the worst of these died a while ago, but the tradition lives on.

[cornemuse]

Originally Posted by JiveTurkey

I desperately want a 170.

I figured someone else would have a 170d. Mine is a 1950 model. I think they were made up till 1952, tho they were pretty much the same car since 1937.

The 170 has four wheel independent suspension, rear like VW swing axles, front traverse leaf spring. semaphore turn signals, (on this one they dont work, i dont know why, it has 1950 porsche bullet turn sig lites installed, what looks like a horn ring in steering wheel is turn sig switch. The horn button is on the dash. It has a locking steering column. There is a pedal above the clutch pedal, basically like another brake cylinder filled with gear oil, which is for lubricating the front suspension, I guess when it starts squeaking.
It has a lever on the dasboard you rotate down 'partially' for glow plugs, a small 'dome' with a hole in it (on the dash, below the lever) to view a glow plug coil, when it glows red, they're all glowing red, & you turn the lever down 'all the way' to start. You turn the lever 'up-backwards' to stop the motor, a mechanical fuel shut-off'. The oil filter is removed for cleaning & then reinstalled, the air filter is an oil bath type, nothing to replace.

It has been parked since 2000 when I bought it. I was working so much I didnt have time or energy to do anything with it. so there it sits.

Main issues with it are the front end lube system had leaked gear oil on the LF brake shoes and made that brake totally useless, hard braking & it changes lanes! The drums are in excellent shape. One of the fuel governor to nozzle lines has a slight leak at the nozzle, & they had several different inside diameter of fuel lines, they 'should' be the same size. The biggest problem is the mice have been nesting in it & it stinks to high heaven of mouse piss, & to a lesser extent, crap, its BAD. This is all based on the year 2000, I dont know how anything is after a dozen years of sitting. I took the shoes out of the LF brake & never put things back, A local brake shop (an ole timer) said 'no problemo' to re-lining the shoes.





In the last pic, next to the 170 is, (as they are now), my '64 Porsche Reutter hardtop cabriolet, (both sadly mistreated). I want to get the Porsche on the road now thatI am retired, Its been parked since about 1982. It was in excellent running condition then but not good as a family car. So there it sits.

[DieselPaul]

Originally Posted by cornemuse

I figured someone else would have a 170d.

A friend of a friend has a pair, been trying to convince him to sell me one or both for several years now, but he's in no hurry to part with them. Such good looking cars, would love to have one.

[Squiggle Dog]

A local wrecking yard is selling a 170, but it's mega rusty and beat, and they want $17,000 for it. I think it would be difficult to source affordable parts for one. But, they are really cool. I used to see them in the Middle East along with fintails.

[strelnik]

Originally Posted by cornemuse

Attachment 120284

Attachment 120285

Attachment 120286


In the last pic, next to the 170 is, (as they are now), my '64 Porsche Reutter hardtop cabriolet, (both sadly mistreated). I want to get the Porsche on the road now thatI am retired, Its been parked since about 1982. It was in excellent running condition then but not good as a family car. So there it sits.

Interesting that you have a Reutter modded car. I have one of the 8 Citroen Reutter four-door convertibles that was further modded later by Nicholas Roddier.

[cornemuse]

After WWII, the brits got (as reparations?) a lot of 170's & used them as taxis. I looked into parts & there were quite a few suppliers in England, mainly engine/mechanicals.
$17,000 seems outrageous, for even a nice one.

And, a pic for strelnik:
(last time I saw the 'whole' car, was making room for the 170)

[Marrs]

Originally Posted by cornemuse

And, a pic for strelnik:
(last time I saw the 'whole' car, was making room for the 170)

Attachment 120296

That's a beauty, even trade?

[Dee8go]

Good points! I think of the 300SL more as an iconic car, although it is rare in terms of affordability. Most of us will never be able to buy one that is in decent condition. So, what I gather from the comments here is that the fifties are pretty much the cut off point for the Benzes that are somewhat available to most of us.

I have been painting some of the pre WWII Mercedes recently like the 710SSK, the 500 and 540Ks, etc. Those are all presumably priced into the stratosphere.