1971 280 SL at Mecum

[dakman29]

This morning I saw a 1971 280 SL automatic go through the Mecum auction at Indianapolis.  The bidding went to $57,000.00.  The seller had a reserve of $75k.  The Mecum rep was working the bidder and telling him that he knew the seller would take $60k and convinced the bidder to offer $58k.  As far as the broadcast went the car moved on without selling.  Given the emphasis on American muscle and hotrods in Mecum auctions generally, I'm not sure that would be the best option for selling a W113 car.

[Cees Klumper]

Agree. And it seems odd to tell a bidder a seller's reserve is not what the seller said it is.

[Vander]

Dakman29...

You are well informed. Was this all on TV? I was the bidder they were "working". I would like to watch it.

The car has it's needs, still in negotiation. I know the owner, and the history of the car.

[dakman29]

Hi Vander:  Yes this was all part of the broadcast.  I was a little surprised by the actions of the Mecum guy.

[mdsalemi]

...given the emphasis on American muscle and hotrods in Mecum auctions generally, I'm not sure that would be the best option for selling a W113 car.

Mecum is the largest (by number of cars sold I believe) auction house out there. While many of the others may specialize in low volume, high value auctions, Mecum moves the metal so to speak.

They are no stranger to Mercedes-Benz...in a recent auction no less than 57 MB vehicles crossed the block. What distinguishes Mecum from the rest is that they have a bit of everything, and that auction I mentioned had 107s, ML, SL, and everything in between at all price points. Some of the auction houses with shall we say, a more luxurious following may sell that multi million dollar Ferrari, or a barn find Gull Wing, but for sheer volume of MB cars at auction, safe to say Mecum is up there.

When you move so many cars, you need to move--like transport--those cars, and they have their own transport division too. I'll be using them to move my car from MI to NC in June.

[Shvegel]

Bringing a classic European car to Mecum is like bringing Fried Chicken to an elegant dinner party.  Their clientele wants to buy AMerican muscle cars, period.

[MikeSimon]

I have some bad experiences around Mecum auctions. There seems to be an "inside" circle that bids on each others' offers in order to jack up the prices. ebay would call it "shill-bidding"
If you watch their auctions closely, you will find some vehicles selling at one auction only to pop up again in another location.

[Vander]

I have some bad experiences around Mecum auctions. There seems to be an "inside" circle that bids on each others' offers in order to jack up the prices. ebay would call it "shill-bidding"
If you watch their auctions closely, you will find some vehicles selling at one auction only to pop up again in another location.

Mike, I have seen the same vehicles pop up as well. Sometimes it is a "wholesaler" that sees a value buy, never takes possession of the car, then runs it at Mecum in another city for a potential profit.

[mdsalemi]

Bringing a classic European car to Mecum is like bringing Fried Chicken to an elegant dinner party.  Their clientele wants to buy AMerican muscle cars, period.

It all depends on your perspective and location. Perhaps fried chicken at an elegant dinner party in Cleveland may be laughed at. The same in the southeast might actually be expected; along with [horrors!] catfish, mac and cheese, and biscuits. It's disingenuous to lay your expectations as a template on everything and everybody as the one and only truth.

I've never bought a car at auction, and never sold one there either. I'd prefer a private sale or purchase in every case, but that's just me--clearly auctions are big business.

Irregularities in the auction world exist for everyone. Years ago I flew across the country to California to attend an industrial auction; I was interested (as were others) in the electronic equipment from this printing house going out of business. Some guy was there and bought every piece as we walked around the plant, paying up to 20% more than the average retail for the stuff. Those of us who were there trying to bid on some pieces we needed finally got frustrated and walked out. Something was amiss on that one, there's no reason to pay +20% unless something irregular was going on.

Shill bidding is pretty much illegal and probably much against a contract one signs with any auction. It doesn't mean it doesn't exist, it means it's hard to catch. I've read stories of bidding irregularities at many an auction house, some which garnered some legal action. Anything with legal action is probably quickly settled to avoid undue publicity. Shill bidding is only one kind of auction irregularity, but that combined with all the fees and commissions etc. has me more agreeable to private sales.

In the Mecum Indy 2021 auction currently underway (May 14-) there are 53 MBs consigned. There are a number of Pagodas, at least two 190SL, one 300SL Roadster, 107s and some later (1990s and 2000s) SLs. Many of the newer cars already "sold". I think you have to register or something to get the final hammer prices; those marked as "sold" don't have a price on them. I didn't count them all, but there seems to be over 2,000 "lots" for sale, and that may include boats and motorcycles. Ferraris, Ford GTs, BMW old and new, pre-war classics--you name it, it's in there. Hardly just "American Muscle".

[dakman29]

My observation was just that there may be better options for selling a w113 car than a Mecum auction. As a buyer it may be a very good option. I also agree that Mecum is not exclusively American Muscle and Hot Rods but if you compare those numbers to the number of vintage Mercedes vehicles crossing the block I think all would agree where the emphasis is found. Interestingly they included the 300 sl roadster with three other entries in a bit they call Four on the Floor. A 59 Cadillac convertible won. Enough said.

[john.mancini]

Bringing a classic European car to Mecum is like bringing Fried Chicken to an elegant dinner party.  Their clientele wants to buy AMerican muscle cars, period.

Don't you mean, "Bringing a classic European car to Mecum is like bringing caviar to a cookout"? 

[MS616]

Anyone have the Link to this said vehicle? I google 1971 280SL and a lot of came up that went trough Mecum.

[MS616]

$49K - 250SL - 1967

[Vander]

MS616....That is from the sale in January, not the most recent sale

[MS616]

It was kind of heart breaking to see that number. Was hoping for a stronger number.

[Tyler S]

Part of the sale price is condition. Without seeing some of these cars up close its hard to critique the hammer price one way or another. That 250sl has the wrong wheel coverings and who knows what else.

[Vander]

As Tyler S said, there is no way that car can receive a proper valuation without A LOT more info and pictures. From experience I strongly recommend looking at them IN PERSON.
That person could have overpaid for that car significantly, or it could have been well below it's value. We can not determine that off of a single photo.


Also there are additional buyer costs not reflected in that picture you posted. If you are disappointed in that number than you don't want to know what the seller actually netted.

[MikeSimon]

An observation:
Do not expect to see or find a bargain at any auction, on-line or live. Auctions these days are crowded with professional resellers who either drive prices up or snatch up good deals for profit.
On-line auctions in general have a slightly different bidder audience. Younger and more interested in 1970s-1980s vehicles.
Live auctions have serious collectors of expensive classics from pre-WWII to the 60s.