Value for rough 280sl conv.

[TigerTank]

Hi to all,

   I have always wanted a Pagoda. I have long believed them to be amongst the most beautiful cars ever built. I own a 71' 911 and and a later Mercedes.

I have found a 1970/1971 280sl complete with a cat living in it.... (expensive cat house) that has sadly fallen into a bad state. It looks to be an earlier restoration - say mid 90's and was probably taken off the road for a minor problem... so since then it has sat and the years have and weather outside have helped the sad onset of rust - holed floors - rear valance - lower leading edge of the front bumper inner fenders/wheel arch - rockers look ok although I have not prodded.

From 50ft it looks amazing but get up close and the last paint job is coming off to reveal a sorry story.

I am wondering if anyone of you with the knowledge I lack could give me an idea of a safe offer to make the owner that would allow for keeping for restoration or passing on to braver hands or doner to another better example.

it had the following features: 5spd - AC - soft top (no hard top) silver body with blue MB tex int. good chrome apparently a running engine (to be taken with a pinch of salt)

Any suggestions.

Thank you.

Tom

[graphic66]

From talk here and watching ebay, the transmission is worth $5000.00+ alone, if it is a working 5 speed. The car must be worth another $5000.00 easily as junked out rusted out parts cars bring $4000.00+.

[Kayvan]

I'd guess $5000...maybe

While the other parts maybe in theory worth more.....you can still find 113 SLs running without holes in floors/panels for $10,000.

That drives value v. labor/cost to dismatle/sell parts

[w113dude]

My suggestion is if you are not planning to spend a lot of time on restoring  & I mean a lot of time, then you'd better off buying that it's in a better condition, i agree with the prices above, $4000.00 is a fair deal.

Shaun

[scoot]

Sounds like you found a good parts car to part out, and I think it would be more cost-effective to buy a different car independent of whether you buy this car as a parts car.

[bsimaz]

Probably worth whatever you are willing to pay for it.  See 'Pagoda in the Barn' thread under photo gallery.   Agreed price was $3000 for one that really just needed to be cleaned  and tuned up.  Not everyone will find a deal like this but one that is pretty rusty and needs alot of work will quickly run up the costs.  Easily running into the thousands....  So, if you are willing to spend alot of time or spend a lot of money, spend more and get one that you can enjoy now.

my .02

[waqas]

Please don't part it out! The five-speed is a very rare option, and the silver/blue combination is also sought after. Either save it, or pass it up.

The others are right, it will be costly to properly restore the car. However, restoring a 280 SL (for better or for worse), as opposed to the 230 and 250, is most likely to allow you to re-coupe costs down the line (higher resale value than the others). All sheetmetal is still available. A 280 SL with these options, in excellent restored condition, will easily fetch 30k, and likely much more, especially once the economy recovers.

If you're not daunted by a project (and you have the patience), bargain with the seller and see how low you can get it.

Save the car, document the process, and be a hero!

[Kayvan]

Even if you got this car for free...it could be hard to make money on it if you do a full restoration.

However, if you want a runner to slap some floors and panels on and a quick paint job for a summer runner or have a project.  

Yes it can be done, if you access to a shop or cheap labor.

However, any major mechanical issues: Fuel Injection pump, tranny, head, master cylinder, cov. top frame...could easily run $2-5K in work/replacement very fast.  Once you are down that path you might be better off walking away.

There are plenty of SLs in NY.

[scoot]

I disagree wth the "restore it or let someone else restore it" concept, and also disagree that the 280 SL is superior to the 250 SL, but that's been fought out enough so I'm not going down that path.    I don't believe that a car requiring a full restoration has intrinsic value because of the original color combination or the original transmission - I also think you could very easily put way over $30k into restoring a rusty car.  Why bother?  Part the car out I say.   Nothing will go to waste.  All of it will help make other cars better.

[Garry]

$5k for a gear box, well it would want to be in good working order and a known history for that sort of money. Then again fools and their money are soon parted. New replacement gears will cost as much as that to buy and an overhaul can be the same cost as an engine overhaul.

I agree with Scoott, it doesn't take much to run up a huge bill unless you have access to all the gear and a workshop for nothing and a lot of time to work on it and even then the costs can far exceed the value of the car if you are not careful.

It sounds like a good project car for someone who is looking for the end product and the journey of getting there and not the cost.

Now If you are going to part the car out then I am interested in the gearbox! 

[66andBlue]

...  Nothing will go to waste.  ...

Really Wouldn't that be nice.  I disagree, much of it will end up in a land fill.
Every Pagoda that is restored is one more on the road, so by all means resell it to someone who is willing to do the job if it is too much work for you.

[TigerTank]

Thank you all for your thoughts.

With regard to the save it versus part it out debate I think its fair to say that at some point a car becomes beyond repair and that the most valuable thing to do is to pass the parts on to other owners - I believe that surly this constitutes preservation of the marque - ?

With regard to the car I have found I am hoping to get back to it soon to give it a proper going over in order to get a clearer idea of the extent to which it is rusted.... I will post some pictures as I soon as I get to it (this weekend)

Regards to all.

[menesesjesse]

Tiger Tank
I got my car for free and I have 8K wrapped up in just the motor and tranmission.  My dad bought the car for 8k(too much) and gave up on it and now i am enjoying it for what it is and that is a runner.  Great car I have done all the work myself and have had access to all sorts of tools and the cost i put into this car does not make financial sense.  This car is not worth 20k yet.  I have done the work to enjoy the car, the hobby, and the people within the community of the Pagoda Mercedes.  Not everyone has 50-100k to do a ground up restoration but I would rather take a car that has everything in working order then a trailer queen.  The satisfaction of bringing something back from the dead is also a great feeling.  If it is about the money and the wanting to restore it to perfect condition be prepared for the ugly but if it is about enjoying the car for what it is i say go for it and you will have many years of satisfaction. just my take

[w113dude]

I totally agree, a driving Pagoda in a respectable condition is the way to go.

[scoot]

 I disagree, much of it will end up in a land fill.  Every Pagoda that is restored is one more on the road, so by all means resell it to someone who is willing to do the job if it is too much work for you.

Every pagoda that is parted out makes the ones that are on the road that much better.  For that matter, every pagoda that is parted out might GET two or three other pagodas back on the road...   Sure, some of it will end up in a landfill.  Who really needs a rusted through body.  Who really needs pitted interior door handles when good ones can be purchased for less than re-chroming.  Who really needs  overpriced cracked subframe mount covers that people buy on ebay for more than they cost new from MB.  Many of the parts are cheaper to buy new than to fix/rechrome, so that stuff probably will end up in a landfill.  Is that a crime against cars?

[john.mancini]

Were there factory five speeds after 1969?
John

[hkollan]

Were there factory five speeds after 1969?

Not in the US.

Hans