How Many Left Standing...

[wingding]

Out of the 23885 280SL's
5196 250SL's
and the 19831 230SL's

For a total of 48,912, I often wonder how many are still around?

[MichaelB.]

I would say a fair amount.

Lets recognize that most of the original owners of these cars were fanatics compared to their counterparts that were purchasing XKE's or Corvettes, or MG's and Healeys.

Generally the Pagoda SL buyer was/is meticulous and more into the engineering than the pure showoff of body lines etc. And my take on that is that this particular style of owner keeps things in order and may manage the belonging a little better perhaps (in general terms). Not to mention that these cars are built to last in comparison with other similar vintage roadsters.

Sure there are exceptions, but I would guess 70% of them are still left standing.

[thelews]

Well, here's one, '71 bought in '72 by my mother.  Driven 17 years in Wisconsin, including winters.  Grocery store, country club kind of life.  No engineers around.  Died of rot in '89, when she switched over to 107's, UGH.  Know of others with similar histories.

Picture circa 72-75.  Her favorite car ever.

[dseretakis]

I find it hard to believe that even the really rusty ones get junked especially in this day and age.  Isn't the VIN # alone worth something? 

[Mark280SL]

I notice the paint color of the wheel covers does not match the body color exactly, was that an optional thing from the dealers? most obviously have the same color as the body but I've see a few over time that are like this and was wondering.

Well, here's one, '71 bought in '72 by my mother.  Driven 17 years in Wisconsin, including winters.  Grocery store, country club kind of life.  No engineers around.  Died of rot in '89, when she switched over to 107's, UGH.  Know of others with similar histories.

Picture circa 72-75.  Her favorite car ever.

[thelews]

I notice the paint color of the wheel covers does not match the body color exactly, was that an optional thing from the dealers? most obviously have the same color as the body but I've see a few over time that are like this and was wondering.

The hardtop was black.  Hubcaps match the hardtop.

[k]

The Gullwing is estimated to have 1000 (out of 1400) survive; and that is a much more exotic/rare model.

The big # is mainly b/c of racing & many were playthings of rich/infamous in 3rd world.

Many have been found in Iran/Iraq/Vietnam for example, and will never see these shores.

I would say

-20% are gone
-5% are/will be basket cases (regular ebay flow: 2-3/mo.)
-5% are/will be beyond repair/scrap/parted
-5% are lost (ie, in iraq, north korea, cuba, uganda)

The economics of restoration v. $ value, will drive the basket/scrap #s up over time.

[PnHi]

The Gullwing is estimated to have 1000 (out of 1400) survive; and that is a much more exotic/rare model.

The big # is mainly b/c of racing & many were playthings of rich/infamous in 3rd world.

Many have been found in Iran/Iraq/Vietnam for example, and will never see these shores.

I would say

-20% are gone
-5% are/will be basket cases (regular ebay flow: 2-3/mo.)
-5% are/will be beyond repair/scrap/parted
-5% are lost (ie, in iraq, north korea, cuba, uganda)

The economics of restoration v. $ value, will drive the basket/scrap #s up over time.

Amen to that.  Soft top frames are going for twice what I paid for miy 250 in 1998.

[Andres G]

If the actual "survival rate" is about 70%, I'd say it's pretty high... I've always heard that Land Rovers was the one brand that had the highest number of cars made still running.

Andres

[glenn]

I've got my 3(three) or 0.006%.   If 17,000 others have the same--------and do their part.  I doubt that Gates or Buffett can say the same.  We're all rich in OUR OWN way.