values

[n/a]

Hi all, just wanted to revive a tired topic. There seems to be a real disparity in price between the pagodas on ebay and what the experts say. In fact, on ebay it almost looks like the cars are plummeting in value: granted this is based on pictures, but it seems you can get an almost perfect car for 25k, and a decent one for 15k. Am I wrong? If not, maybe it's time to stockpile pagodas. It's a shame they aren't small enough to put in the basement, or in the closet.

[mdsalemi]

Hello Boxman,

Prices are all over the place because the conditions are all over the place.  You can have very nice looking cars that run awful; very bad looking cars that run great; very bad looking cars that are simply in need of a refreshing, and very nice looking cars that hide a myriad of problems.  You REALLY have to know what you are looking at, and spreading this knowledge is one of the wonderful things this and other forums accomplishes.  Rather then use eBay as any kind of price guide, one would better speak with John Olson, Alex Dearborn, Mark Passarelli and Brian Peters, amongst others, who have intimate knowledge of the [113] cars that they sell and thus can place a better "price/condition" ratio on it then eBay can, which is often times sellers who know little (How many times have you seen "I'm selling it for a friend" or getting elusive answers to simple questions?) and buyers who know less.

Stockpile Pagodas?  One of the sure-fire ways to kill one of these cars is to NOT drive it.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[n/a]

aiiieee believe me I know now intimately the consequences of not keeping them excercised (see poor pagoda blues.) Still it seems that a  pedigree seems to be a very important factor- eg. an SL tech car versus one which appears to be equally nice on ebay (if that were possible.)  But are people really getting over 50k for these cars? I know about DBAGs 130k one, but otherwise....? Well what i'd really like is a lovely blue one with a 5 speed.

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by boxbeetle

aiiieee believe me I know now intimately the consequences of not keeping them excercised (see poor pagoda blues.) Still it seems that a  pedigree seems to be a very important factor- eg. an SL tech car versus one which appears to be equally nice on ebay (if that were possible.)  But are people really getting over 50k for these cars? I know about DBAGs 130k one, but otherwise....? Well what i'd really like is a lovely blue one with a 5 speed.

I'd imagine some are getting over $50K.  Why not?  Take a tired old runner, add a top notch restoration, and devalue the total by 50% and you are probably at about $50K.  I doubt you'd find an eBay one for that much, but from or through some of the top-notch resellers, on consignment, of a top notch car, I'd imagine that's very possible.

Pedigree is one thing, correctness is another...we'd like to believe they go hand in hand but it isn't always so...and that's a long story in and unto itself, and one you can appreciate by looking at these cars over the years.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[Cees Klumper]

I do expect the better, specialized dealers (like Dearborn, Passarelli and Peters) get the prices they ask, or close to them. There are many enthusiasts to whom guarantees and seller reputation are worth a premium, not to mention that, in general, the cars they sell are in better condition than many others. And the value of an extra $10-20,000 relative to that piece of mind for some people is not as much money as for others ...

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[joelj]

If you can spend the amount that the specialized reputable pagoda dealers are asking you can probably drive the car worry/headache free which is great. On the other hand, the slow process of starting off with  a decent pagoda, (a much lower investment) where you can restore over time (labor of love) is part of the joy of owning one of these classics.

There are still great buys out there from independent/owner sellers who have cared for their Pagoda's over time.

To everyone looking for a pagoda...happy hunting

Joel-j

1969 280sl auto
White exterior
Blue interior

[keesing]

Hmmmmmmmmmm... I think it's just luck - buyer beware! I bought one from a "specialty Dealer" - paid pretty high and had nothing but problems and expense - bought another on eBay from another "dealer" for alot less, and it is supurb! just the luck of the draw I think!

1967 250SL Signal Red
1969 280SL "Tweety Bird Yellow"
1987 260E Charcoal

[perry113]

These cars are totally undervalued.

50K+ for the right car with the right colors and condition should be considered very realistic.

Compare it to other classics of similar vintage. 113's are worth it.
 
Many of these cars although still nice, are still tarted up under shiny paint, and, or require tons of $$ in mechanical work. Parts, labor and time add up quickly. Condition will bring the money. If you buy a perfect one for 25K, you stole it.

I'm not sure when its going to happen but I'm certain that 113's have not had their calling yet.