Author Topic: Need help and opinions in buying this 280SL  (Read 16146 times)

Benz Dr.

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Re: Need help and opinions in buying this 280SL
« Reply #25 on: June 30, 2008, 14:12:02 »
What happened to the car in Ontario? Was it sold or is it still around?
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

JamesL

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Re: Need help and opinions in buying this 280SL
« Reply #26 on: June 30, 2008, 14:31:39 »
My opinion

Run. If you don't, you are a far braver man than I
James L
Oct69 RHD 280 in DB906 with cognac leather

Douglas

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Re: Need help and opinions in buying this 280SL
« Reply #27 on: June 30, 2008, 14:51:23 »
I actually think it's worth taking a closer look at this one.

Richard Madison

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Re: Need help and opinions in buying this 280SL
« Reply #28 on: June 30, 2008, 20:19:50 »
Jaka:

It's not easy to judge a car from photos but the $12K car looks like it has a complete engine, the interior is not bad, the body looks fairly straight.

Some questions might be the condition of the floors, the truck floor, and other rust areas...how does the engine run? Needs paint and a windshield at least and probably more...but it might be an OK buy if the price were low enough.

May be worth a closer look by someone near the car. It will take some work but might be a reasonable project if it hasn't been rusted out and if the engine is basically sound...not all danger areas are shown in the photos.

A lower counteroffer price might be accepted after you are satisfied that the car is within your budget and your skill zone.

Richard M, NYC  (defintitely not expert at evaluating a car.)
« Last Edit: June 30, 2008, 20:20:26 by 280SL71 »
1969 280 SL, Tunis Beige, Euro Model (Italy).

hkollan

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Re: Need help and opinions in buying this 280SL
« Reply #29 on: July 01, 2008, 01:36:49 »
Hi,

I agree with Douglas.
That's the most interesting car you've come up with so far in my opinion. No quick makeup put on to hide the defects here. Looks pretty virgin and original to me. If the panel gaps are good and there's not too much serious rust, this could be a great restoration candidate.
Hans K, Cuenca, Spain
1968 280 SL 387 Blue met., parchment leather
1971 280 SL 462 Beige met, Brown leather
1968 280 SL 180 Silver, Red leather
1964 300 SE Lang 040 Black w/Red leather
1985 500 SL 735 Astral Silver w/Black leather
1987 560 SEC 199 Black met., Black leather

SLOpagoda

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Re: Need help and opinions in buying this 280SL
« Reply #30 on: July 01, 2008, 04:10:52 »
Thanks for all those kind answers and opinions again. Here is also the text of the add:

the car is still available, the min bid is $10500.00. this is a collectors car. ive seen totally restored ones online for 85k$ the car still runs and drives.the hard top comes off, the soft top has deteriorated and there is a crack in the windshield. automatic tranny, 6 cyl. there is spot rust but no major rust in the floor panels and in the trunk, which is what everyone asks me. you can find over 40 pics at this link, just copy and past it. there are also pics of invoices of $3000.00 of repair already done to the car. this is a restoration car for collectors, not a car to buy and just drive around.

The car is located in Las Vegas, so do we have some members that are located near Las Vegas also? Yes I also think that car could be a nice project, but of course if we compare it with JAmes Stenrn`s 280SL that he was selling in classifieds section I soon can realized that James`s 280SL was really a hack of a deal:)

Thanks again,

Jaka
« Last Edit: July 01, 2008, 04:12:46 by SLOpagoda »

SLOpagoda

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Re: Need help and opinions in buying this 280SL
« Reply #31 on: July 03, 2008, 16:05:20 »
I`m still waiting for some pictures of the last 280SL we`ve been talking about, because there is some rust on the undercarriage, so I will let you know when I get some more pictures.

Now I again found also something interesting on EBAY, so if anyone will have some time it would be good to hear some opinions about that also. I was allready talking with owner about the car, it`s a really nice car with new interiour, new top and so on. Ok it`s not perfect. He is asking around 20000$, so what do you think, is the car worth so much or it isn`t?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200236190325&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:MOTORS:1123

If someone will have some time to give me a tip I would be grateful again.

Thanks,

Jaka

Cees Klumper

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Re: Need help and opinions in buying this 280SL
« Reply #32 on: July 03, 2008, 19:03:18 »
Gee, I was in Las Vegas only a few weeks ago!

From the photos and considering prices, I like the Alaska/Nevada car better than that most recent Ebay car.

Jaka, have you checked the cost of shipping and importing to Slovenia? If you are on a tight budget, you don't want nasty surprises. Why not check around Belgium, Holland, France as well? This you can visit and manage better than the US (although with the US dollar as low as it is today, Pagodas would be relatively cheap in the US currently).

Maybe you should take a break for a month or two and then see what you want to do. There will always be plenty of Pagodas for sale, including rougher ones, and a good deal will present itself sooner or later.
Cees Klumper
1969 Mercedes 280 SL automatic
1968 Ford Mustang 302 V8
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Coupe 1600
1962 FIAT 1500S OSCA convertible
1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1.3
1983 Porsche 944 2.5
1990 Ford Bronco II

Kenneth Gear

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Re: Need help and opinions in buying this 280SL
« Reply #33 on: July 05, 2008, 12:16:43 »
Here's one worth looking into. (I have no afiliation with seller)

http://www.cascadiaclassic.com/
Ken G
1971 280 SL Silver/red

Longtooth

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Re: Need help and opinions in buying this 280SL
« Reply #34 on: July 08, 2008, 00:48:38 »
Jaka,
I understand your passion to buy a 280SL ... and reason for your need to buy one at a relatively low price ... <USD 20k.  However, there are several decisions that should or will most probably influence your interest in a given car besides the price... how much rust damage, etc.

Some questions, for example:

Does it matter if the car's been in an accident and it now has unmatched numbers?

If the engine's not "running" but everything else is reasonably sound, does that matter?

As you are clearly aware already, in general, the lower the price the more issues with the car .... and the converse... in general, the better the condition of the car the higher it's price.

What this means is that a drivable, street restoration car is going to cost you more than you're willing to pay at present.  This therefore means that purchases of parts you'll need for restoration or just usability will force expenditures beyond the price you pay for the car.

If there's body damage/rust, upholstery, chrome pieces or pieces that require rechroming, instruments that don't function, etc. all will cost labor and parts.  

Which brings me to the next issue and questions you need to consider carefully before you plunk out $15k or so for your passion.

Do you have a spare garage where you can take the car apart as necessary or a place where this can be done without forcing you to move the car for extended periods?

Do you have tools and a place where some of the disassembly and / or repairs can be done by yourself or with help of a friend?

Do you have any experience with mechanical aspects of cars and engines? and other mechanics on a car?

No matter how you cut it some things you'll have to pay for out of pocket ---- and a likely total cost to get the car to a reasonably reliable driver without spending a cent on paint or interior upholstary, etc. is in the range of $5k - $8k.  Add any body/paint/chrome work and you're adding another $5k - $8k minimum. (in Yugoslavia).  If you need genuine replacement parts, add more.

So assuming the lower estimates, you'll be adding upwards of at the minimum USD 10k to a purchase price --- not to mention tranport from US to Yugoslavia.   The more issues with the car (say one for $12k) the more you'll be spending later.  No matter how you cut it, you'll be spending at least $25k (US) for a driver with some degree of reliability... and the more you bring the car back to it's original condition or close to it, the closer the total price will approach $35k - $40k.

So, is your issue with low price one of cash flow... i.e. you only have $x to spend NOW... but will have $y later (whether to spend on purchase or to spend on restoration)?  Are you able and with space & tools to do a lot of the labor effort (dis-assembly, assembly, engine mechanical work) yourself or are you forced to farm it out to vendors in your area?

Here, for example is a 280SL from a reputable California MB restorer/dealer who takes cars on consignment or buys them, fixes them up to a given degree, then offers them for sale, as well as offers space on his website for other sellers to advertise their cars.  There's one now on his site for $15k... but it has several deficiencies which is why the price is $15k.... it's a driver though.

It's in your price range, but with deficiencies (honest MB classic car dealers will bring out all the issues related to mechanical, cosmetic, and restoration issues.  In particular, this one as no hardtop available, and numbers don't match... among some other things that limit the ultimate restored value of this car.  I bring it to your attention only to discover what issues you are willing to pay for or not pay for in a 280SL?

http://www.oursl.com/listing-forms/inventory.htm

http://www.oursl.com/listings.php?op=showads&modelid=7

http://www.oursl.com/listing-forms/listings-det.php?op=showdet&aid=2431    

perry113

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Re: Need help and opinions in buying this 280SL
« Reply #35 on: July 08, 2008, 09:03:18 »
quote:
Originally posted by Kgear

Here's one worth looking into. (I have no afiliation with seller)

http://www.cascadiaclassic.com/



I like this car. It's original and seems to be well represented. This is the type of car you should seek.
I know what its like to be passionate about buying classic cars. But you need to be very careful. You can end up burying yourself alive in the wrong car.
Good luck.
Peter Perry
1965 230SL
Peter Perry
1970 911T Bahia Red
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1963 220seb coupe barn
1965 230SL Light Ivory automatic
1966 230SL Havana Brown 4 speed Barn Find
1970 280SE living 3.5 donor car