selling advice

[shaall]

This is a great site.  I wish I had discovered it a long time ago.

After reading some of the posts (e.g. 230 vs 250 vs 280SL) on this forum I believe I have found the right place.  I could use some advice.

I have finally decided to part with my 1967 MB 250SL (red with bamboo interior, both tops, European version in great condition) and I have no idea how to begin.  I dread the thought of using eBay or craigslist.  I am just as concerned about finding a "good home" for the car as I am in getting top dollar (but I'm not going to give it away either).

I live in Tucson (not my idea of a foreign, classic car mecca).  So I think my best chance to find the right buyer will require internet advertising.

Is my best bet to sign up for full membership and advertise it here?  I didn't see many cars being advertised here just mostly parts.  Does anyone have experience with another website that they would recommend just for selling classic cars? 

Which is better consignment or auction?  With respect to finding the "right home"?  With respect to getting top dollar?

Then, how does one even begin to establish a selling price?  There are so many examples of 250SLs in various conditions at various prices on the internet and there is no telling which ones are accurate and completely honest.  And after reading a few posts on this forum I am convinced I don't know jack about the true value of this car.  All I know about is my emotional value which by the way kept me from selling it 10 years ago for a cash offer of $20K!

Thanks in advance for any ideas.  I will include one picture if I figure out how to do so and I have more upon request.
Herb

[Jordan]

Herb, its a nice looking car from the one photo.  Why do you want to sell it?  You could start here if you are not in a big hurry.  Provide as much info about the car that you can, how original is it, what has been repaired or replaced, any problems, what needs fixing, any rust, is it driven regularly, mileage etc.  Include lots of pictures (exterior, interior, engine, and undercarriage) and those will generate more questions.  Include a picture of the tag in the engine bay above the drivers side wheel and include the VIN.  These will provide a lot of additional info for someone interested in the car.

Other sites you could advertise include www.hemmings.com and www.oursl.com.  Check out both sites and it will give you an idea what they sell and what is being asked.  Have you had the car appraised?  Good luck and continue to ask questions.

[shaall]

Thanks for the quick reply and good suggestion, Jordan.  I did visit those websites and you are correct they do have lots of data examples I can use.  I still have a problem with the concept of "comparables" in the automobile context though.

I did have it appraised by an auto body shop back in '84 when I first purchased for insurance purposes.  They basically punted and said they would verify that it was worth what I paid for it but they were not comfortable evaluating it beyond that.  I don't know where I could get a good appraisal in a town like Tucson.  Most of the classic cars in this town are muscle cars or trucks.  The mechanic at Stuttgart Autohaus (the only place in town I trusted and that took a lot of trial and error to find) that worked on it has retired.  I guess I could try the MB dealer for a lead.

Why am I selling?  I ask myself that question all the time.  For me its a time in my life (retired) when other activities fill my days.  As much as I would love to hang onto the car for a ride every now and then I just can't justify it anymore.  And this car always commanded a lot of attention whenever I took it anywhere..  This car deserves someone's undivided attention or at least more attention than I can give any more.  I have owned two other foreign sports cars ('60 Healy 3000 and '59 Alpha Spider) over the years.  I will probably always attend sports car shows and events but I am finally ready to move on to "the other side of the rope" so to speak - Ill be the guy admiring not the guy showing.

Part of my dilemma about selling the car is due to the fact that I haven't driven it in almost 18 months.  It was running fine at that time but many events and much travel transpired and before i knew it 18 months had passed.  I feel terrible because I didn't even start it up once and a while.  My lifestyle has changed and selling my MB is one ramification.

So the questions is:
 
Do I spend a little money to get it running and cleaned up a bit then try to sell, or
Do I spend somewhat more money to do some minor body work, new paint job then try to sell for big $$$, or
Do I try to find someone who would rather take the car somewhat "as is"

I can't even decide on which approach to take much less what to ask for in either case.  The first two approaches require that I find another mechanic capable of working on this car - my previous mechanic has retired.   My mechanical shortcomings are legendary.  As a HS senior I worked in a gas station in Baltimore that specialized in sports cars and I am comfortable changing oil, lubricating, and other minor tune-up activities.  I might even attempt to tune SU carburetors but this baby is fuel injected.

But that what I am dealing with now and I am starting to collect a lot of data on prices and such so It won't be long until I pick an approach and set a price.

I do plan on posting more pictures as soon as I figure out how to do so.  I ran up against a 256Kb limit with my first post.  And I had to downsize the bejesus out of the original picture just to get that.  From my records, I am putting together a little database of the work I have had done and the expenses.  I can include a little history of the car with that too.  It may take me a day or two.

Herb

[scoot]

I did have it appraised by an auto body shop back in '84 when I first purchased for insurance purposes. 

Part of my dilemma about selling the car is due to the fact that I haven't driven it in almost 18 months.  It was running fine at that time but many events and much travel transpired and before i knew it 18 months had passed. 
 
Do I spend a little money to get it running and cleaned up a bit then try to sell, or
Do I spend somewhat more money to do some minor body work, new paint job then try to sell for big $$$, or
Do I try to find someone who would rather take the car somewhat "as is"

Here's my 2 cents:

1.  Appraisel from 1984 is not relevant.  Value is determined by comparable cars offered for sale and having sold.

2a.  If it ran 18 months ago, have the gas drained (before turning the key and having the fuel pump send grubby gas through the system), Fill the tank, charge/replace the battery, check the oil, and turn the key and let the fuel pump pump for 20 seconds and then try to start the car.  It will probably just start.   I think it is MUCH more marketable if you can drive it than if it is not running and if it was running 18 months ago then it is likely that the work to get it running again can be as minimal as changing the gas and charging the battery.

2b.  If it does start, change the oil, coolant, brake fluid and you are good to go.  Check the tires for cracking...

3.  Take a zillion pictures of it and set them up on a photo hosting site like photobucket or ...    Take pictures of the underside.  Take pictures under the trunk mat, under the carpets if you can, engine bay, under the parcel shelves behind the seat - anywhere you can to show the presence or absence of rust.  Show everything good and everything bad you can about the car with photos.

4.  Post here and on other MB forums - decent chance that you will find your buyer that way.  (Yes, become a full member so you can list your car here)

5.  eBay is great exposure if you have a well-documented running car. 

[thelews]

Or, call Brian at www.motoringinvestments.com and let him guide you.  You may do better consigning the car to him.

It looks like you may have an early 250 SL or Euro, more desirable than the later for cosmetics.

[Peter van Es]

As you will have figured, most people on this site already own Pagoda's. Then again, there are some people looking around here.

You will need loads of photo's and as it's for selling purposes, you don't need to upload them here... although 256K is a sensible limit for uploading photo's if you know what you're doing... it's easy to maintain quality if you follow these instructions.

If you want to get a better idea of value, just upload more pictures and ask people to review it. I'm sure there will be more views. Finally, the advice of thelews is good too: by using Motoring Investments you get access to a world-wide buying public, not just a local public. Prices vary dramatically from region to region.

Peter