280SL UK Prices?

[Danesgate]

Can someone point me in the right direction for a realistic price guide for late W113 280SLs?

I *know* "Condition is King", but I see such a wide variance in prices (and see auction cars apparently accurately described as vg/exc going for £18k?) from under £15k to over £30k?!

Any help appreciated!

Cheers

Phil

[paulr]

hi

I am in London and have a good Aug '70 280sl. It has been retrimmed and has an engine rebuild and the same with the gearbox over the last 18 months. It has little history other than the £18K the last guy spent on it. I paid £28K from Chelsea cars and didn't really mind as it was the colour I wanted both inside and out and is in good daily driving condition. I will restore the hard top next summer and may have a a bit of body tidying when I'm next on holiday. Its pretty good despite this. Some may think that I paid too much and honestly I sometimes wonder if I bought too quickly and I see cheaper cars all the time, but at least my car is intact and needs very little if anything trim wise doing to it. Its very easy to spend a lot of money replacing tatty bits as Im sure you'll find out. I have had electronic ignition fitted and I have taken a view that I have my car and I will spend some money maybe restoring stuff as I need to. I have had a few problems which haven't helped recently but am optimistic that these will be sorted out soon, but what are we to do? I would love a concours car but then I have two messy little dogs, stuff always in the boot (trunk) and I drive all over the country and in London daily. I love this car and hope that I keep it always, slowly doing bits and bobs as I go along. Just have a good look around the usual places for rust as you would any car and others will tell you about specifics relating to this model and spend what you feel comfortable with. You could spend forever trying to find the perfect one, and whats that? Try www.silchestergarage.co.uk, they seem to have some nice ones under £30k and so do www.classic-chrome.co.uk. They have a nice looking silver one in at the moment. Also www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk, there are some nice ones on there too which might help give you an idea of conditions and whats around. If you are in town, email me and you are welcome to have a look at mine if you think it might help. I'm sad to say that I although Chelsea cars have a few cars, I don't think they have the support structure you may need later, no mechanic etc. They are nice enough but I wouldn't recommend them. I hear that Silver Arrows are good although they might be a bit too expensive if you're looking around £20K.
Good luck. If you find a good one they really are great. I hope this helps you.

paulr

[JamesL]

Phil

Your best bets at that sort of price will be Mercseller or the Gazette which comes with membership of the UK M-B Club. £17-24,000 should get you a pretty decent car, especially if you hunt around and compromise on colour etc. However, the golden rule is bodywork...

Relatively, repairing most everything else is cheap. I picked my car up from service last week and a decent looking 250 was there. Bloke paid £12,000 and, I was told "when we unloaded it, I said " load it back up again, it's a basket case"". Wings/panels apparently barely welded on etc from previous repairs and so while the buyer paid 12k, he's got some huge bills ahead.

[glennard]

Paulr, Are those prices in pounds, euros, or dollars?   Also, are the macy's photos your's?  Your critique?   Cheerio

[ja17]

Hello Phil,

One of our own listers (John Olson) publishes "The SL Market Newsleter" which analizes the market trens on all Mercedes SLs monthly.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[paulr]

Hi Glennard

The prices are in Pounds (£) and the Macy's pictures aren't mine. I was only interested in the lamp lenses. I think the pictures are good, I like them.

paulr

quote:Originally posted by glennard

Paulr, Are those prices in pounds, euros, or dollars?   Also, are the macy's photos your's?  Your critique?   Cheerio

paulr

[Danesgate]

Thanks for your help!

 

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by ja17

One of our own listers (John Olson) publishes "The SL Market Newsleter" which analizes the market trens on all Mercedes SLs monthly.

www.slmarket.com

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420