Bring a Trailer sale of 230SL

[Bonnyboy]

I was following a  1967 230SL ivory car with brown soft top on ring a Trailer.   It was lot #176411

It originally sold for $64,000 in October 2018 on BAT and then listed on BAT in March 2021 and was bid up to $59,750 - not sold.

Then sold to a new owner in 2021 details not provided.

Then $58,000 in maintenance was completed including rebuilding the engine and transmission, instruments, new exhaust etc.   

The car just sold today at $65,000 to what looks like a dealer (Prestige Auto).   Sounds like a deal of the month.
 

Still some deals to be had on Bring a Trailer.

[AdelaidePagoda]

It was not a good deal for the person who had to spend $58,000. That would have made some on very sad.

A good deal for the next owner but it seems that engine rebuilds rarely get recouped back in the next sale.

Imagine buying a car and then finding out you need to spend the same amount (or more) just to get it back on the road!

It is this fear that keeps many people away from vintage cars that are expensive to fix.

[john.mancini]

I follow the W113 cars on Bring a Trailer. The auctions are very entertaining. There have been so many SL’s, in need of extensive repairs/restorations, that unknowing bidders buy. Then, after getting the car, they find out that they’ve bought a rust bucket for big bucks. And the repairs cost more than what they’ve already paid for the car. There’s one on there right now that someone is trying to dump.

[MikeSimon]

Then there is that ignoramus who calls each and every W113 "what a beauty" and "great color combination". Seems like he has no clue, maybe he is paid by BaT to puff up the auctions..
Not worth my time.

[Bonnyboy]

Mike, someone told me that those useless posts are by people collecting "likes".  Once a new posting comes up, they comment and then take off to the next posting so that they can post a comment on a new auction and collect their "likes". 

I don't get it.

I really enjoyed the old BAT when they showed listings around the world where you needed to actually bring a trailer to take it home.  Had many protracted email discussions with friends trying to figure out who we knew in different regions so we could rescue those poor cars and nurse them back to health.   I remember a particularly sad Lancia Delta Integrale that had more than a few bumps that needed a new home -  my buddy is still talking about that "one that got away".  Poor guy needs an Integrale so bad ......and a Ford Escort Cosworth.

[Raymond]

When I decided to sell my BMW E30 convertible on BaT, they refused to take the listing if I wanted a reserve price, even if I wanted to pay extra for the listing.  They told me it would be 6 weeks before they could post the listing.  I guess they've just gotten too big to care about their customers. 

[parklandmb]

Unless BAT is guaranteed a sale they will not list it and they won't be interested.
Last summer I was asked to sell a 8k mile E50 for an older friend of mine.
I submitted it on BAT but they would not let me list it for what I was asking them to list it for.
I then reached out to MB market and they would accept the reserve I asked for.
The car ended up selling on MB market and all went good.
Just to sum it up. BAT is a very entertaining market place for most and as a seller there is potential to sell your car for a
higher price than in other markets (private sale). However, it's a potential and depends largely on the peanut gallery that day and of course the quality of your car. But unfortunately, some of the commentators and the peanut gallery decide how far up or down the price goes that day. Also, be prepared to be scrutinized on your car during the auction and if you want top dollar you better have the right answers. It's almost a bit political in a way. And if your car sells for top dollar at the auction your not guaranteed a sale! I know of a fair amount of sellers where buyers got cold feet and vanished..... then you have to do it all over again.
Anyways, just my two cents.
Cheers 

[MikeSimon]

Mike, someone told me that those useless posts are by people collecting "likes".  Once a new posting comes up, they comment and then take off to the next posting so that they can post a comment on a new auction and collect their "likes". 

I don't get it.

What's the point of "collecting likes". Are you becoming a BaT "expert" and earn special accolades? Several years ago, a friend of mine sold a BMWR90 with a sidecar on BaT. I wanted to sign up, but they they wanted a credit card, I never did. After a while reading useless and uneducated comments, I quit even looking.