Original 230 SL Auction

[thelews]

Everyone see Michael Benet's beautiful original 230 SL at auction on What's My Car Worth Sept. 12 episode?  Gooding auction in Scottsdale at the beginning of 2012.  Donald Osbourne has nice things to say about the car, he's a very cool guy, always looks great in whatever he's driving.

http://www.tvrage.com/shows/id-25491/episodes/1065210946

I'd seen Michael's car on several occasions and spoken with him.  A beauty that he was proud to own.  Won numerous awards.  Great shot of the key fob reproduction we offer 133ers too!

[twistedtree]

Love to look at it, but as soon as I need to add new software, or sign up with some service to do it, everything comes to a screeching halt for me.  Oh well, maybe I can find it on youtube

[mdsalemi]

Everyone see Michael Benet's beautiful original 230 SL at auction on What's My Car Worth Sept. 12 episode?  Gooding auction in Scottsdale at the beginning of 2012.  Donald Osbourne has nice things to say about the car, he's a very cool guy, always looks great in whatever he's driving.

http://www.tvrage.com/shows/id-25491/episodes/1065210946

I don't have the Velocity channel; your link to TVrage requires a HuluPLUS monthly subscription, which I also don't have.  I'm with Peter--maybe it will be on Youtube or on a direct stream...

[49er]

We watched that episode last night and it was nice to see one of our cars on TV:-) Some pretty positive commentary about the pagodas in general as well. Looked like a beautiful 230SL!

John

[thelews]

I'm wasn't advocating HULU, it's just a link I found.  Search Google for What's my car worth, Sept 12, 2012 episode and maybe you'll find something.

[Nate]

$67.5K.  Seems about right.  Donald wasn't a fan of the 4spd manual transmission.  Also, looked like he wasn't used to the oversteer in one of the scenes, that or the steering wheel was too big for him!

[thelews]

Here you go..........

http://velocity.discovery.com/videos/whats-my-car-worth-mercedes-benz-230sl-concept-convertible.html

[MichaelB.]

Boy do I have a story to tell about that TV stuff. But I digress...

Donald really luved the car, he raved about it to me in person. Keith liked it plenty too - and after the auction he actually said "man I am so sorry" because the preauction estimate was a fair bit off actual sell price (and off of what we thought it should have pulled). I would have really like about eighty as a gavel price, that was closer to what it was really worth but Keith & I both thought the color may have held back the aggressive bidding. A similar car just sold at Pebble this year for over $100k. And I think mine was a better overall example.

However for the buyer of my car he was going to have the 1.buy price, 2.buyer fees and 3.transport involved. It may have been close to eighty by the time he registered it and paid 4.tax.

But that car was/is worth it.

[thelews]

While I personally liked the color combo, it may have been the limiting factor.  A 190 SL recently went the other way at Gooding.  100-130 estimate, 185 hammer (203,500 with fees).  It was the color (strawberry-restored) and a couple of drunk cocksmen impressing their ladies, my guess.

[MichaelB.]

Yes I saw that 190. One of my Porsche contacts assisted in the restoration. That thing had it all, even the original fitted luggage like a 300SL (and a factory gas can if I recall correctly). The color was unbelievable. To have the guts to order that back in the day was in a word - daring.

[Frank Mallory]

I'm really NOT trying to be unkind; but I thought that price was all the money in the world for that car, plus some.
Undesireable (just plain boring) color, plus the 230 series is generally on the bottom tier of our 113 series cars value-wise for the most part.

[KevinC]

Undesireable?

[MichaelB.]

Thank you Frank, but... No, I dont think so. Here is a Monterey 2012 example:

Lot S105: 1965 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Convertible. 68,785 actual miles. This 1965 230 SL convertible was originally built for the European market but spent its entire life in California. Finished in code 670 Light Ivory with an extra cost Cognac leather interior, this attractive SL incorporates a 2.3 L/180 HP inline 6 with a 4-speed manual transmission, power steering and brakes and independent suspension, and comes complete with rechromed bumpers, both hard and soft tops and new tires. ***SOLD FOR $105,000***

[Frank Mallory]

Fair enough: I'll consider myself "Schooled"! 

[KevinC]

An interesting color keeps showing up in today's advertising and marketing!

[Frank Mallory]

Michael, I think we would all like to hear about your "Behind The Scenes" TV taping experience. I would imagine that sort of event does not always go smoothly?

[mdsalemi]

An interesting color keeps showing up in today's advertising and marketing!

A neutral, demure color that must stay put in the background, and not attract your attention or your eyes so as not to detract from the product being sold...
They would NEVER use 568 Signal Red in one of these advertisements, or a Middle Blau, or Metallic Green...

[ctm14]

Michael,

  I agree you are spot on and beat me to saying it. While cream or ivory is an elegant color I would imagine it appeals to these print add folks because it sets the background and doesn't compete as much with their product. As far as I am concerned they may as well be Benz adds because it is all I see

Chris

[KevinC]

A neutral, demure color that must stay put in the background, and not attract your attention or your eyes so as not to detract from the product being sold...
They would NEVER use 568 Signal Red in one of these advertisements, or a Middle Blau, or Metallic Green...

Thanks as always for setting me straight.