Your Opinion - 1967 250SL w/Pics

[Starion1974]

Hi:

I posted info about this car a few days ago and now have pics.  I plan to have it checked out by a specialist, but just looking for some opinions of please that currently have one.

Let me know what you think.

[Dash808]

Looks pretty darn clean from where I'm sitting for $15.8.
It could be the angle and the small pictures but the side mirror looks positioned a little low for some reason.  Maybe someone else can tell.
Looks like he put some trim around the fenders.  Now was it because he likes chrome trim around the fenders? Or was it to hide some rust issues?
The black wipers, well...... yeah.....you know....
How does the eng bay look?
Have it looked over and keep reading all the info on the site.    It could be a pretty good deal.

[Starion1974]

Dash808:

I just looked at all of the other photos that I have and you are right about the mirror and chrome around the wheel wells.  How is the side mirrors usually attached?  If I buy it, I would want to make the car as orig as possible.  Are the headlights US spec or european spec?  Here are a few more photos:

[J. Huber]

Hey Star. The headlights shown are US. The fact that it has KM gauges probably means the owner (previous or otherwise) changed the lights. Or maybe the gauges? although that would be less utilitarian and little quirky in my estimation. The fact that there are no bumper guards or side markers would make me think its a Euro. Look at it this way, you are part-way there -- whichever way you want to go! The fender chrome could be nefarious but not necessarily. I've seen quite a few pagodas with this. Engine bay looks fairly decent for that price range. Can't speak for the mirror, it could be twisted upside down. If you go original, the speakers in the trunk gotta go. Judging from the pictures only (heavy emphasis on this), I'd say 15 is a good bargain. Keep evaluating it closely.

[thelews]

The fact that there are no bumper guards or side markers would make me think its a Euro.

Early 250 SLs did not have bumper guards and side markers.

The seats look different to me in the pictures.

[Starion1974]

John,

Is your car a "California Coupe"?  If so, do you miss not having a soft top?

Sean

[Andres G]

If the asking price is 15, I'd say it's a bargain. The cars I saw in that price range had holes on the floor panels, trunk floor and inside front fender wells. Paperwork from prior owners was missing, as well as any maintenance documentation.
 
Aside from other comments above, I'd add the wheels/wheel covers don't belong to the car, probably been updated for later 280 SL style.
Also, there is someting I can't identify inside the engine bay, behind the battery... what is that?

If you get it reviewed by a specialist and comes up good, I'd say you'll be buying a really nice car for the money!

Good Luck
Andres G

[thelews]

John,

Is your car a "California Coupe"?  If so, do you miss not having a soft top?

Sean

Top is 34 years old, and yes, I would miss having it here in Wisconsin.

[Dash808]

Also, there is someting I can't identify inside the engine bay, behind the battery... what is that?

Dual flux capacitors! 

[graphic66]

I see those crappy bolt on battery terminals way to much, just a small detail that can reveal that someone didn't pay attention to small details. Sorry, I just really hate those things. Like most things on these cars nothing is cheap or easy. It is a pain to replace the whole positive cable that goes around the front of the engine to the starter.  Also using plain old screws to cob on that goofy chrome trim that rust and look pretty bad. How many rusty screws does it take to hold them on? They have some pretty bad overspray under the hood on the heater core access plug. Another indicator of the type of work done on the car. But, overall you don't get much for 15,000 in these cars considering a complete parts car can bring over 5,000. My main concern would be rust and engine compression. Get a shot of the trunk mat folded back and the underside. If the rust isn't to bad you could have a nice car and have a lot of fun over the years fixing it up a little at a time. Are you handy with a wrench? If not this car could get expensive very fast.

[J. Huber]

Early 250 SLs did not have bumper guards and side markers.

I stand corrected John!

[john.mancini]

Hello Starion1974,
The comment that you made, "If I buy it, I would want to make the car as original as possible" is really the key factor regarding this purchase. I think the car, at $24K, is overpriced. It needs too much work. It shows rust. You should price out original MB parts. Parts are priced through the stratosphere. If you are looking for a project, that's fine. My advice is try to find a rust free car that doesn't body work, and has all of its trim, chrome etc in great shape. You'll pay more at the start but you'll save tens of thousands in the long run. They make much easier, less stressful projects.
Best of luck.
Pagoda 69

[Dash808]

Except he hasn't found rust yet, and @ $15.8 it is pretty appealing. 

But yes, one with rust & missing chrome/ trim, etc. would be a $24k headache.

[john.mancini]

  I think I had this post confused with another post. My bad!!
John

[Douglas]

Ask the seller for a photograph of the trunk floor underneath the mat. That will tell you everything about the car and the seller.