John Lennon 230 Finally Sold!

[johnk]

I was jst parusing through Saturday's resjults from Barret Jackson Scottsdale and saw that the John Lennon 230sl finally sold. The $187k sale price was less than half than what we have seen it listed at for the last couple of years. Not sure if I feel bad for the seller or not.

john K

[zoegrlh]

Last time I saw the Lennon SL was at a automotive museum in I believe Sarasota, FL. Possibly the museum sold it. Lots of automotive museums keep cars on their showrooms for several years waiting for values to incline, then sell for new exhibits. I do remember that the SL was not restored, but in original condition. Wonder who bought it, be interesting to know.

[specracer]

The "nicks" in the front fenders at the headlight bezels had been smoothed. I didnt go under the ropes to look at it further.

[Benz Dr.]

Which is why I wouldn't try to sell my wheel barrow at that dog and pony show. 1,800 cars sold and only three were reserve?

I've been told that about 1/3 of the cars are bought back by their owners. When I was there in 2002 I saw some guys completely loose their **** when they found out their 150K car just sold for 32K. They were removed from the property by some really big dudes as quickly and quietly as could be done and the TV cameras always focused on the smiling faces of the new owners and their '' well bought '' car. I never saw any bought back car owners on TV.

[Shvegel]

I see the value of that car slowly fading away.  John Lennon wasn't a car guy like Paul Newman or Steve Mcqueen.  I just don't feel like his ownership adds much value to the car.  Mamy serious car guys could name 3 or 4 cars Steve Mcqueen owned but I doubt they could do the same with John Lennon.

Some of the best advisors I have ever seen are the people who told Priscilla Presley to sell Graceland when she did.  Elvis fans are dying off and Beatles fans are getting up there too.  In 20 years how many John Lennon fans will be left?  A friend has a couple million dollars worth of 1950's Corvettes.  As his generation has begun to stop driving the values have begun to sink.  I am willing to bet that if you put that car and a nice pristine 280SL away for 20 years the 280 Will be worth more.

[MikeSimon]

Pat: I totally agree with your train of thought. In the small Friday breakfast group you are familiar with, we talk about the exact same thing.
Values of classic vehicles depend a lot on the existing "fan" group for that vehicle. The size of that group is largely age dependent.
It has to do with what you grew up with, what you liked and dreamed of when you were a kid or what time you were getting into vehicles.
Myself, personally, I can NOT get excited about cars made before 1950 and motorcycles made before 1969.
A 1932 Ford Roadster, no matter how nice it is being done and whether it has an original steel body or not will not get me to drool over it.
The interest in older vehicles will die off with the guys who are into them and the younger generations are looking at different vehicles.

[114015]

The interest in older vehicles will die off with the guys who are into them and the younger generations are looking at different vehicles.

Absolutely right, Michael...

That's why our cars are only worth 30'000 $$ (pounds, Euros) in 30 years or much less - counting with today's money...
...because no-one want's to drive around a +80  year old car anymore. With fuel being expensive like hell, only stupid electric autonomous cars driving around us and with plenty of too-extended-storage-being-too-little-driven gremlins with the capricious fuel injection system that nobody can fix then anymore..

... and that's why we should enjoy our wonderful cars today - not (the day after) tomorrow.


IMHO....

Achim

[mbzse]

Hear hear, Achim !  Right you are

[Mike Hughes]

It'll be interesting to see if the Lennon Pagoda makes an appearance at Amelia this year.  Apparently one vehicle category will be "Cars of the Rock Stars."  Classic Motorsports reports that John Oates (Hall & Oates) will be showing his M.G. Twin Cam and an Emory massaged Porsche 356.

[MikeSimon]

Just saw a rerun of that auction again and it blew me away to see a 2020 Toyota Supra GR, No 1 produced, engine signed by chairman Toyoda himself for 2,150,000.
Must have been the first Japanese car ever to sell for over 2 Million. Smart investment? Money wasted? Or just plain insanity of some rich people who don't really know anything about cars?

[specracer]

I didnt see it there. Saw the 356 a couple times (Werks and Concourse), nice looking car.

It'll be interesting to see if the Lennon Pagoda makes an appearance at Amelia this year.  Apparently one vehicle category will be "Cars of the Rock Stars."  Classic Motorsports reports that John Oates (Hall & Oates) will be showing his M.G. Twin Cam and an Emory massaged Porsche 356.

[Vander]

Just saw a rerun of that auction again and it blew me away to see a 2020 Toyota Supra GR, No 1 produced, engine signed by chairman Toyoda himself for 2,150,000.
Must have been the first Japanese car ever to sell for over 2 Million. Smart investment? Money wasted? Or just plain insanity of some rich people who don't really know anything about cars?

It was for charity, so a corporation received a tax write off.

[specracer]

I was in the room when the Supra sold, the winning bidder owns a Toyota franchise. He was named over the PA, as was his wife, who was on stage representing the befitting charity. So it seems, it might be less about the car, but the cause.

[MikeSimon]

The only Pagoda I saw at Amelia was a green one.

Another q: When was the change made from the "dog dish" to the full wheel hubcap?

[114015]

Another q: When was the change made from the "dog dish" to the full wheel hubcap?

Mike,
Go get see the parts list 10202 or 10808...; it will tell you.

The change was made on the 280 SL serial no. 000045
(i.e. the last one with small hub cap and beauty chrome ring is/was 000044).


Achim

[mbzse]

.../...When was the change made from the "dog dish" to the full wheel hubcap?

Some more info here:
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=28252.msg203871#msg203871

[specracer]

There was a white one close to the back side of Mercedes hospitality (around the awards lawn), I think representing the Mercedes club tent. Was among a couple 300 SL's and fantastic 190sl.

The only Pagoda I saw at Amelia was a green one.

[Mike Hughes]

What about at Cars & Coffee?  There is usually a pretty good turnout of 60's Mercedes there...

[MikeSimon]

If I saw this correctly, the Lennon car had whole wheel hubcaps. That was the reason I was asking. Didn't think it was correct.

[Mike Hughes]

Oh, there is a lot of stuff that isn't quite right about that car, from ill fitting exhaust, later hubcaps and outside mirror, to the off-brand radio, just for starters.  Despite its sheltered museum existence the car was in pretty rough cosmetic shape for only 20K miles.  The only reason why that Pagoda brought that kind of money was the Lennon connection and it should have brought more if it had been in better nick.