SELL OR REPAINT ??

[duke]

I HAVE A 1964 230SL.  I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS.  I RARELY DRIVE IT ANYMORE AND IT IS IN NEED OF A NEW PAINT JOB.  MECHANICALLY IT IS IN GREAT CONDITION.
NEITHER OF MY CHIDREN CAN DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IT HAS BOTH TOPS AND IS A EUROPIAN MODEL - ODOMETER IS MEASURED IN KILOMETERS. WHAT IS THE CURRENT MARKET FOR A CAR LIKE THIS?  SHOULD I REPAINT AND KEEP IT? OR, SHOULD I PUT IT ON THE MARKET?  ANY SUGGESTIONS?

[badali]

Keep it the way it is.  It doesn't look bad in your picture.  If you paint it you'll spend a small fortune then you won't want to drive it so you won't damage the new paint job...

[Bonnyboy]

Its your car so its hard to tell you what to do but I would suggest that you don't repaint as it looks fine.  Take it in for a "spa treatment"  -  touchups, cut polish etc. if you really want to.        If you want to sell it I wouldn't repaint as you probably won't get your money back and many buyers are looking to see originality.  If you have rust you could always get that fixed but a full paintjob usually isn't necessary.   

Just drive it like you stole it and enjoy yourself.  This may be a good time to teach your kids how to drive a standard.  They may enjoy it. They may not.

Go rent a manual car from a cheap car rental place and teach your kids how to drive stick for an afternoon.  Then let them take your car out in the early evening with top off....doesn't get much better than that.

Good luck

 

[neelyrc]

If the part of the car we can’t see is similar, I would agree with Brad. You might want to consider a professional detail job and ceramic coating.  Is this factory original paint?

[Mike Hughes]

I concur with Brad and Ralph. Your photo depicts a decently taken care of car that may need no more than a little deferred TLC to look great. Teach one or more of the kids to drive a stick and turn passing the car to the next generation into a bonding experience!

I was at car show last weekend where one of the class winners was a car that was entered by a friend who let his 16 year old grandson drive him to the show. When he won the award he insisted his grandson go up to receive the trophy. 

To keep our hobby alive we need the next generations to get involved!

[mdsalemi]

Oh my…

That photo shows some pretty well preserved paint. A full repaint isn’t necessary but as others suggested maybe a good detailing. Alternatively going over the paint with a “clay bar” followed by a good mild polish and wax is pretty easy to do yourself if so inclined. I believe you’d be amazed at the result of your efforts.

As for your kids not being able to drive a stick…well, it’s a life skill. Easy to learn. What may be more challenging is getting them excited about the car. If you can do that the stick shift learning curve is easy.

BTW, it may be a Euro model but those are USA sealed beam headlights.

Good luck with that beauty!

[john.mancini]

Boy, it looks pretty nice from the photo. Also, it’s not a color that you see every day. I agree with the others. Paint correction and professional polishing.

[lreppond]

I agree with what other members on this forum have said.  Get your car detailed by someone highly qualified.  I can’t tell the condition of the brightwork but unless it is badly pitted it’ll polish up nicely too.  If you’re planning on selling (pity!), I’d put on some white walls and have the center caps painted the cars color.  You’d be surprised how each of these will transform your car. 

[Starchild]

Curious as to why you rarely drive that plum beauty?

Have had my 280 SL for thirty five years. The car still puts joy into my system every time I take it out on winding back country roads. In summer I can barely control myself not to take the car out everyday.

  My bucket list is to drive the car across the country and back through the Colorado Rocky Mountains,  down the Pacific Coast Highway and the redwood forest, visiting every Cars and Coffee and MB club events I can find along the way. (I think there may be a song in that thought somewhere) Just wish the Pagoda had air and a bit more modern window wipers.

Gee wouldn't it be great to do a drive like that with other Pagoda owners for a few weeks. A new adventure with the Pagoda everyday!

[Lorsar]

About 2 years ago, I purchased a hardtop that had been sitting in a garage for 20 years.  I found this article about restoring the finish on a car with single stage paint.  Basically, you coat the car with Meguiars No. 7 and let it soak in for
at least 24 hours. I would try this first.

https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-to-articles/25304-secret-removing-oxidation-restoring-show-car-finish-antique-single-stage-paints.html

[lreppond]

About 2 years ago, I purchased a hardtop that had been sitting in a garage for 20 years.  I found this article about restoring the finish on a car with single stage paint.  Basically, you coat the car with Meguiars No. 7 and let it soak in for
at least 24 hours. I would try this first.

https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-to-articles/25304-secret-removing-oxidation-restoring-show-car-finish-antique-single-stage-paints.html

Thanks Lori.  This is an excellent reference and very helpful.  I have an original paint car and I’ve been stymied with what to do with it.  Apart from keeping it clean, I haven’t known how to best preserve it while putting some life back into it.