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1935 Mercedes-Benz Roadster Replica

Owning a pre-war Mercedes-Benz Roadster can be a wonderful experience…right up to the moment that it suffers a mechanical issue. It’s at that moment when an owner will start looking at a second mortgage on the family home. Or possibly, a third. That isn’t the case here because this 1935 Mercedes-Benz CV Roadster offers all of the old-world charm with a mechanical package that will be inexpensive to maintain. It presents well and would grab plenty of attention wherever it goes. Located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, you will find this classic listed for sale here on Barn Finds Classifieds. The sale price has been set at $24,000 OBO.

The original owner chose a gorgeous car on which to base his replica because the 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Roadster was an elegant and stylish vehicle. Its swooping lines capture the imagination, and they are shown to great effect on this car. It is finished in a deep Red Metallic, which shines beautifully. There are some small flaws in the paint, but they are hard to spot in the photos. The worst is a small spot on the top of the passenger door, but this could be addressed easily by a good paint shop without spending a fortune. The Beige top is in good condition, with only some minor clouding of the rear window. The centers have been removed from two of the faux-wire 15″x7″ wheels, but these are present in the trunk. Replicas can have the potential to be cheap and tacky, and it takes an eye for detail to separate those reasonable cars from those that are exceptional. This Mercedes falls into the latter category, and the exterior trim best demonstrates this. On most of these vehicles, this is either chrome steel or, in extreme cases, coated plastic. This Roadster is a high-end build, which explains why almost all of that sparkling trim is actually polished stainless steel. The exception is the beltline and fender moldings, which were handmade and chromed. There are no issues with this, and the new wide whitewall tires add the perfect finishing touch to the vehicle.

Lifting the Roadster’s hood reveals a 305ci Chevrolet V8 engine, which is backed by an automatic transmission. All of the suspension and axle components are courtesy of Chevrolet, while the vehicle also features power front disc brakes. That is one of the great attractions of this Replica because maintenance will cost no more than for an average car in the Chevrolet range. It’s worth noting that the current owner purchased the vehicle from the owner/builder in 1994, and he hasn’t worn it out over the past 27-years. The odometer shows a mere 3,100 miles, with all of these accumulated in town. The Roadster has never seen a highway in its life. Apart from new tires, the owner treated the car to an extensive service in July of 2020. It runs and would seem to be ready for a spot of top-down cruising.

The interior presents nicely, and while there are a few minor jobs for the buyer to attend to, these will consume more time than money. The switches for the power windows and the glove box lock have been removed, and these will need to be reinstalled. It looks like there might be some minor wrinkling of the dash pad on the driver’s side, but I believe that this could be pulled into shape with little effort. The interior is trimmed in cream, and while the upholstery has the appearance of leather, it is actually vinyl. It is nicely finished, and there are no signs of any damage. The dash fascia is in excellent condition and sports a cluster of vintage-look VDO gauges. The Roadster is also equipped with an AM/FM radio cassette. If top-down cruising isn’t your thing, then flicking on the air conditioning should help to keep things cool on a warm day.

We see our share of cloned muscle cars here at Barn Finds, but this 1935 Mercedes-Benz Roadster Replica is something different. It might not be the real deal, but then again, it will not cost its buyer anywhere near the sort of money that the genuine item would. That’s where cars like this fit into the equation. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have a spare $1,500,000 sitting in my wallet waiting for a 1935 Mercedes 500K Roadster to hit the market. This car offers the beautiful appearance of the original for a tiny fraction of the price, and that has to make it a classic that is worth a closer look.

Comments

  1. Avatar Freddy

    Better than most replicas or ‘kit cars’. Seems nicely done but for that money I think I would rather have a ‘real’ car, even if it was much less flashy. Ford Ranch Wagon, anyone? In my experience, if you get a classic car, it seems to hold its value as long as you don’t get too upside down restoring it. But it seems like a lot replicas are overpriced for what they are. And I always assume the worse about the engineering and workmanship involved in creating them. What would you pay for a 1994 Chevy?

    Like 2
  2. Avatar Al

    The fiber-glass is a little too ripply on the back-end below the spare(s).
    Was the mold over-used or poorly built? I don’t know if the 305 chev v8 is the engine of choice or not.
    I am curious as to who built or manfactured the convertable top. Based on my experience the top may come from a reputable replicator or it may actually be junk. 3100 miles in 27 years tells me it may be a junk top.

    I’ve sort have been looking at one and the price is $64,000, which I think is a dream price set by the seller. That one has a chev 350 V8 in it.

    That being said, I still really like this style and the look.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Freddy

      My two cents: for the price difference, I think you could buy this one and like a dozen Chevy 350’s

      Like 5
  3. Avatar Steve Clinton

    Like the Clenet and Excalibur, these copycat cars do nothing for me.

    Like 6
    • Avatar Fred W

      This one, unlike those, strongly resembles the real thing (except for dash and underhood). I would love to have it. If I could afford a real 1935 500K, I would be afraid to to leave the garage with it.

      Like 4
  4. Avatar IkeyHeyman

    I’ve never understood the allure of replicas, or clones for that matter. If you can’t afford the real thing, why bother?

    Like 3
    • Avatar DETROIT LAND YACHT

      There are companies out there that make excellent replicas. A lot of them make better replicas than the originals. (imo) Builders who replicate (and improve) Cobras…Mustangs…GT40s…Duesenbergs…Auburns…have plenty of orders even in this day & age.

      Like 4
  5. Avatar EPO3

    I remember I was in eighth grade my dad brought a Excalibur home from the dealership he worked at he asked me if I wanted to take it for a drive I SAID NO Just kidding. We went to this deserted road and put me in the driver seat.It was a thrill of a life time that lasted until I got a 1967 GTX 440 six pack or it could have been my H2 TRIPLE. By the way my dad sold that Excalibur to Jerry Garcia yea Jerry Garcia

    Like 5
  6. Avatar Robert G Cleveland

    This was a replica that was made as a kit by Classic Industries. They went under before I got the whole kit and somebody made grills for some of them. It was a lot of fun to put together. I actually flew to buy the kit, and then came back here to find the Camaro car from which we used the front stub frame, drive train, wiring harness, gauges, and some other stuff.

    Like 3
  7. Avatar Pebblebeachjudge

    Would anyone buy and wear a replica Rolex?

    Like 3
    • Avatar Stan Marks

      Hey , what’s wrong with replicas??? LOL!!!!

      Like 1
    • Avatar David Member

      Thousands of people wear fake Rolex watches, including many who have no idea they aren’t real. This car looks like one I saw sitting in a muddy unpaved parking lot in Santa Fe a couple of years ago. It looked cool even muddy. I’d say take off the pretend Mercedes stuff and enjoy it for what it is, kind of a cartoon car especially with the headlights looking different ways. Like my non car guy kid said “Cool car, dad, is it supposed to look like a Mercedes or something?”

      Like 2
      • Avatar Stan Marks

        I realize there are those here, who make a big deal, if the car isn’t exactly numbers matching, etc….Or it’s the wrong this, or the wrong that. How about owning a car for the pure enjoyment of cruising down the road? That includes a replica, like this.
        IMHO…..

        Like 5
    • Avatar Solosolo Member

      Yep, me. I wear a copy that my Rolex agent can’t tell is a copy unless he opens it up, and leave the original in the safe where it makes money for my Grandson, eventually!

      Like 3
      • Avatar Stan Marks

        Last 20some years, it’s hard to tell the difference.
        When the knock-offs first came out, the 2nd hand was an analog. You could tell it wasn’t the real thing.
        They came out with watches that had the sweeping 2nd hand. You couldn’t tell the difference.
        Next time you’re in NYC, street peddlers are on the corners, selling watches, handbags, etc…

        Like 2
    • Avatar MLM

      Yes.

      Like 2
  8. Avatar Terry J

    I saw a real MB version once at White Post Restorations in Virginia circa mid 80s. It was a famous restored car called “The Million Dollar Mercedes”. When brought to the shop, it was missing part of the rear body and was in need of total restoration. The shop owner sent his technicians AND their families to the MB plant in Germany to study the original blueprints and parts information. I’d guess that incredible car is still around somewhere but I’m also certain that a $ million wouldn’t buy it today. Terry J

    Like 1
    • Avatar Bill McCoskey Member

      Terry,

      I remember that car’s restoration well. Since I knew Billy Thompson, and he knew I had lived in Germany and was in touch with the “Oldtimer auto” people there, Billy asked me to find a pair of the correct taillights. Those were some of the most expensive lights I’ve ever sourced, but the car’s owner paid the price. I didn’t find out until much later, but the taillights came out of the DDR [east Germany], and were brought out in pieces, being declared as old Opel lights.

      Like 4
  9. Avatar Tort Member

    A glass five window 32 Ford coupe or Cobra replica okay because I couldn’t afford the real thing in either case but this one and early Volkswagen powered early MG’s , does nothing for me.

    Like 1
  10. Avatar Stan Marks

    Hey, what’s wrong with a replica Rolex? It tell time, too.

    Like 6
    • Avatar Solosolo Member

      Mine does, although it loses about one minute per day, whereas the original loses about one and a half minutes per day!

      Like 3
  11. Avatar DavidL Member

    I like this though it doesn’t look quite old enough for me. Not sure what it is but a bit too much flash and not enough elegance. Another problem is the style has been spoiled by the modern wannabe’s; the Excalibur’s, Tiffany’s, and other neo-classics. At this one seems to strive to be ‘authentic’.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar TCOPPS Member

    I’d much rather have this than the real thing. Wouldn’t be afraid to park it, drive it, work on it myself. Plus I’m sure it’s a much smoother ride than the ‘real’ thing. And I could still afford my house.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Stan Marks

      You are 100% correct, TCOPPS.
      Cars are for enjoyment.

      Like 3
  13. Avatar Stan Marks

    Hey, what’s wrong with a replica? They tell time, too.
    Of course, we don’t know for how long. LOL!!

    Like 1
    • Avatar Solosolo Member

      Mine has been telling me the time for over 20 years now.

      Like 0
  14. Avatar Pebblebeachjudge

    There is a very valid discussion. To each, his own. There is nothing wrong with inflatable women dolls, crab sticks, Spanish bottled French wine, And catfish romance on the internet. Holograms are as good as real also. Anyone can be a king for a day and also a fool for life. Anything goes!

    Like 0
  15. Avatar Kenn

    I agree with Ikey. If I can’t marry a super model, why marry at all? Can’t afford a McMansion, so why buy a house? Lear jet is beyond my ability to afford, so why buy a smaller airplane? I could go on, but assume the point has been made.

    Like 1
  16. Avatar Eric B

    The brightwork on this car really makes it look like a high end build. I would love to see it in person to see if it looks as good as the photos. If I was in the market, I would have to go see this one. Beautiful.

    Like 0

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