Satire or savvy advertising?

[66andBlue]

"This 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Pagoda is a very desirable project car. Missing various parts. Includes the hardtop and soft top frame, front and rear bumpers as well as the seat frames. Sitting for many years. Great candidate for an extensive restoration. For $5,950."

Who would fall for these claims? I don't think it is intended as a joke but could be shrewd and savvy advertising.

https://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com/1966-mercedes-benz-230sl-pagoda-c-7514.htm

[Pawel66]

Heart is aching when you look at this poor car...

[ejboyd5]

Doesn't the dealer Beverly Hills Car Club tell you all that you need to know?

[peterm]

Yes look at that softtop frame and hardtop-  perfectly preserved.... if we were in a post apocalyptic world-  looks like one of the burned out hulks youd see on the road side after a nuclear holocaust. 

On the bright side i do see 4 hubcaps

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

I think the dealer should be ashamed of himself to put this on the web!

My 2 cents

Dieter

[Rothko]

Oh my.  I wouldn't take that... car... if you paid me.  It would cost more to haul it to the dump than it is worth.

Someone probably died in that car.  I bet it's haunted.

[Cees Klumper]

We had this conversation before - doesn't this mean that a VIN number is worth that much to someone who has a 'hot' car?

[dirkbalter]

We had this conversation before - doesn't this mean that a VIN number is worth that much to someone who has a 'hot' car?

Exactly.  Sad, but the truth.

[Iconic]

Really nice detailed pictures ! 
If you only want the hard top, it is compressed for easy and inexpensive shipping.
I'll bet the A/C only "needs a recharge".
I have no idea why I am wasting my time and yours ... sorry.
Mark

[UJJ]

Made me laugh, so it's worth something!
Urban

[thelews]

Actually, a legitimate dealer.  Advertises in our 190 SL club magazine.  Has tons of cars from rust buckets to quality.  Saw him featured on Chasing Classic Cars once.

[doitwright]

Looks like they pulled it out from the bottom of a stack of 10 cars. Someone will take it and one day we will see the before and after photos.

[TheEngineer]

As luck would have it: Didn't I see a fellow posting: he was looking for a 230SL to buy?

[Bonnyboy]

The last time I saw a car like that getting ready for restoration was an old Corvette that the guy said he was going to restore.  I saw the car a couple months later (matching VIN anyways) and the frame car was stripped down and was getting ready to put a body back on.    All he did was switch the vins by cutting them out of the stolen car and replaced them with ones from burnt car.  He went so far to do something I think was called "texture burnishing" on the frame members so you couldn't see where the number was welded in. 

This Mercedes should not be permitted to be sold as you know its going to be replacing VINSs in a stolen car.   

[66andBlue]

Actually, a legitimate dealer.  Advertises in our 190 SL club magazine.  Has tons of cars from rust buckets to quality.  Saw him featured on Chasing Classic Cars once.

Hi John,
of course, Alex Manos is a legitimate dealer, around for a long time and he does know his trade.
My point wasn't the car really or whether it can be used for illegitimate purposes but whether this is smart advertising or not.
Judging from the responses that I read here, it certainly looks that way.
Selling on the internet requires eyeballs to look at what you are selling and by putting something as rotten as this car on his site he may have achieved his objective.

[johnk]

This 280 is in excellent shape compared to the 190sl they had advertised a few years back titled "perfect car for a restoration". They wanted $20k for it and literally every part on the car was like swiss cheese. It even sagged in the middle about 6 inches as the frame and body had no strength left.

[ejboyd5]

Actually, a legitimate dealer.  Advertises in our 190 SL club magazine.  Has tons of cars from rust buckets to quality.  Saw him featured on Chasing Classic Cars once.

Much depends upon one's definition of "legitimate."  Mere advertising and an appearance on a television show fails to confer such status.  Regardless of the quality and motives behind the BHCC offering, this piece has fulfilled one of the basic tenets of advertising by drawing attention and getting people to respond.  Even if such response is primarily negative. the goal has been achieved by making BHCC a name to remember.

[thelews]

I was only pointing out that Alex has a large inventory, variety of cars and has been in business for several years.  Compared to other dealers, I've noticed he offers rough and rougher cars as they are as opposed to rough cars with a paint job to fool the buyer.  There is a market for the rough stuff and you can find it there. As with any salesperson, promotion (which can be honest) is the core.

I posted more in response to the negative comments than the original poster's title.  Alfred, I'd say a bit of both, good strategy.  At least the buyer of this car can't complain about surprises.

[stickandrudderman]

If you need a donor car for a California coupe conversion to convertible or you need a 230 block because yours has thrown a rod, the price is about what you have to pay for both of those things together.

[Cees Klumper]

Stick, both of these pieces in this car are toast so normally I'd agree that the parts value adds up quickly, but in this case it's really just about the VIN; nary a usable part on this carcas. For me this is not really advertising.

[iftykhan]

https://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com/1966-mercedes-benz-230sl-pagoda-c-7514.htm

Spotted this 230 for sale.
Wow!

[Rothko]

Umm, read the first post.

 

[Shvegel]

Alex trades in dreams.  Considering just the grill and headlights cost more than the car it looks like a really bad dream.  Imagine chiseling the melted aluminum valve cover out of the oil pan.

[gnj588d]

I can smell it from here.Mike.