Author Topic: Potential Buy (Read 23730 times)

Wolfmann · « **Reply #25 on:** December 18, 2011, 19:59:04 »

You are really fortunate to have custody of such a special vehicle John...Or maybe you were just possessed of extraordinary foresight !

Thanks for the info, I always wondered what value the panel gaps should actually be.

I agree by the way, automotive art....

S.

Garry · « **Reply #26 on:** December 18, 2011, 21:26:05 »

Thanks all for comments

Some really good pickups here and a lot that I did not see that should have been obvious. The tail lights are correct for here with orange signal indicators a local requirement even if I imported it. I had to change my own cars tail lights that were all red to get a roadworthy prior to registration. The buttons on the dash may be for a toneau cover?. The sunvisor area looks odd and I cannot make out what the clips are.

Now as for the Blue car. Well I convinced the Ministeress for Finance that getting the right car if it is not blue is more important than the colour. It is a Tunis Beige but I don't have any under car photos. Larry has access to a hoist to have a look for me.
The engine change is a bit of a concern if it is not a 230 engine, something I can check with the numbers easily.

And a few more photos. To my eye on my computer the dash does not look like Tunis Beige?

Garry

stickandrudderman · « **Reply #27 on:** December 21, 2011, 08:27:09 »

I assume you have someone in the UK who's able to inspect it for you?

Garry · « **Reply #28 on:** December 21, 2011, 08:59:39 »

Hi Stick,

I thought of you but Larry (Gnuface) was the closest and had a look for me today and I am awaiting his comments. If I do buy it what I do need is for someone to "wake it up" in about August next year.

Garry

john.mancini · « **Reply #29 on:** December 21, 2011, 16:18:59 »

Bondo is dripping off the inner fender weld area. I avoid those cars like the plague.
John

Oisin · « **Reply #30 on:** January 05, 2012, 16:25:33 »

The funny thing is that this car sold for £12200 in Oct 2008 - With the hardtop!
http://classiccars.brightwells.com/viewdetails.php?id=1082

Does not make sense to me as it is now being offered at nearly 3 times that without the hardtop
http://classiccars.brightwells.com/viewdetails.php?id=2760

You need to be a detective these days

Iconic · « **Reply #31 on:** January 05, 2012, 18:33:10 »

The car has had a lot of work done since 2008 and 3 years have passed.
Both of those things would legitimize a price increase.
How much of an increase is always left up to the buyer.
Given the spectrum of 40+ cars out there, this one sure looks nice to me.

JamesL · « **Reply #32 on:** January 05, 2012, 18:34:15 »

well, the engine has been out for a spray job in the intervening years, and various cosmentics (eg seatbelts) have been addressed

But yes, that really is some return!!

Garry · « **Reply #33 on:** January 05, 2012, 21:54:25 »

The end of the story on the car is I decided not to purchase it . What with a gear box that was now going to be overhauled and the engine displaying poor compression, lots of new panels but no full restoration indicating that there is probably still rust in there. The seller, a dealer was very negotiable and an immediate drop of 5000 pounds and then the offer to overhaul the gear box and then to pick up labour for an engine overhaul made me even more wary.

And the major stumbling block as pointed out to me several times, it is not Blue

Meanwhile I have found a very good rust free 230SL in good original condition and a driver here in outback of Sydney that I am going to view later this month and it is Horizion Blue

A friend has driven it and said that it is very good. We will see.

Garry

pj · « **Reply #34 on:** January 06, 2012, 19:46:11 »

So do we know what happened to the "gold" 230? Did someone else buy it?

Larry & Norma · « **Reply #35 on:** January 06, 2012, 20:35:55 »

Still on e-bay for £37500

Naj ✝︎ · « **Reply #36 on:** January 06, 2012, 21:20:04 »

Hi, Larry,

Did it have the correct 230 (M127) engine?

Naj

Garry · « **Reply #37 on:** January 31, 2012, 11:54:10 »

Spot the non standard items.

Now I know from the last car I got serious about you were all able to give me some really good data on the errors etc and I did not proceed, well here is the one that I am going to look at as the potential buy, tomorrow!

Note its Light Blue '65 Aug 230SL, a good start

Any comments appreciated

Garry

mdsalemi · « **Reply #38 on:** January 31, 2012, 12:35:18 »

I'm no expert on the 230s, but just a couple of things I see (which should NOT stop you from buying)

Black door pull; should match the interior color (mine did once, in Bamboo); ditto on the window winder insert? Or not?
One piece wheel covers, that car would have had 2-piece
Should a car with an "ivory" steering wheel also have an Ivory shift knob, even on an auto? Or not?
Are those non standard, after-market, non-retractable 3-point safety belts?
How does that AC work? Original dealer added, or sometime later?

These are just little things, and the car looks nice. With that color, RHD and Auto, I'd imagine it looks might good to Kate...now, how does it run?

69 280 · « **Reply #39 on:** January 31, 2012, 12:41:16 »

Hi Garry
it looks very neat. just to give you a bit of encourgement, if you decide not to proceed, let me know and I will buy it

Just do it. it is only money and the bank has plenty of it.

Hamid

Iconic · « **Reply #40 on:** January 31, 2012, 12:55:55 »

Garry,
Are those factory spot welds ... they look good in the picture.
I hope it has fender notches (just for an added bonus).
The car looks fantastic. I don't know the early cars and having a bunch of things on different sides of the car is throwing me off a little.
I believe on the earliest cars they did have black grab handle and window crank inserts, so that might be as it left the factory.
I get all excited when I am looking at a "new" car, so I bring a checklist along ... do you do that?
How close is that color to the SMS (Jag)?
It looks like there are a lot of things correct about that car !!!
GOOD LUCK !
(I hope the seller doesn't read this forum ...

)
Mark

Garry · « **Reply #41 on:** January 31, 2012, 12:57:17 »

Michael, Picked up on the hubcaps straight away, not sure on the door handle infills but would have thought the gear nob and seat levers should also be the ivory also. Engine has a bit of lower end pressure not too bad but price reflects that problem if it is one. There is a kindy seat in the back so not sure on the belts. Two owner, female for first 33 years. meant to be in reasonably good original condition and was classed as a 8/10+ driver. I asked a question about the Air-conditioner and Becker Mexico with cassette player in a 60's car in another area of forum.

Mark, yes has fender notches, colour very close to the SMS light Blue also.

Hamid will call if going through Canberra tomorrow with new Pagoda

69 280 · « **Reply #42 on:** January 31, 2012, 13:07:29 »

Great look forward to it.
Hamid

Larry & Norma · « **Reply #43 on:** January 31, 2012, 13:51:30 »

Looks very tidy Garry, if you want me to pop over and take a look..........................

Larry

49er · « **Reply #44 on:** January 31, 2012, 17:45:48 »

Good looking 230. I am no expert on 230s either, but it appears that the torsion bar that holds the hood up is bent by where it rests on the left fender support. Not sure how that could have happened but maybe the hood was forced down at one time, or slipped out of the guide? Also the hood's fabric stop strap is missing.

John

69280sl · « **Reply #45 on:** January 31, 2012, 21:17:11 »

Garry.
I'm not sure, and even then it is not a deal breaker, but do not the 230's have comparatively large perforations between the pleats of the seats?

Gus

Garry · « **Reply #46 on:** January 31, 2012, 21:20:43 »

Interesting comment Gus, The seats are supposed to be original leather as per the data card and I see that the pleated leather is perforatedbut I am not familiar with the leather in early cars. Anyone know?

66andBlue · « **Reply #47 on:** February 01, 2012, 02:08:58 »

Quote from: 49er on January 31, 2012, 17:45:48

.... Also the hood's fabric stop strap is missing. ..

John,
I believe very early 230SLs did not have the strap. I am sure Achim will know.

ricrose · « **Reply #48 on:** February 01, 2012, 05:48:40 »

Garry

I may already be too late - but it looks really GOOD. With regards to the seats - I think that the adjustment wheels on the sides are from a later period, but really not an issue as the smaller ones are no longer available.
The colour combo is great. I don't think that my car (65 230 auto) has never had its steering wheel or gear knob changed. My wheel is ivory and gear knob black - so I should think what you have could be original.

Good luck with it.

Garry · « **Reply #49 on:** February 01, 2012, 09:48:24 »

Well I have purchased it.

On inspection the VIN turns out to indicate it is Aug 65 so not so early.

Have just done 300 miles in it heading home and had to stop for the night. Back in it tomorrow for another 5 - 600 miles to get it home. it ran really well but the compression test I did just before purchase was low but even over all cylinders so a ring change is probably in order some time. Now that it is dark I have not had a chance to inspect oil usage but will check first thing in the morning.

Will add more details when I get home

Garry

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Author Topic: Potential Buy (Read 23730 times)

Wolfmann

Oisin

69 280

69 280

ricrose