Talk about a tight fit! This initial shot of a 1967 Mercedes 230 SL reveals pretty tight quarters but this Benz looks like it’s in right nice shape. There’s little, to almost no detail via the listing, and only a few pictures too so we’ll have to extrapolate from what little is evident. This two-seater is located in Chino, California and is available, here on craigslist for $44,000. Thanks to Rex M for this tip!
The seller states that this Mercedes has been garage kept since 1983 and it’s a non-runner. What’s not clear is whether it has been sitting as a garage find, as so to speak for all of that time or whether a garage has been used for storage since 1983 only. Based on its California blue tag, I’d suggest the former, meaning it has been parked for 38 years. And if that’s the case, then this Benz has been either carefully covered or recently cleaned. What can be spied looks very sound with its strong finish, straight body, and bright chrome. The headlights look like European units that were, at one time, banned in the U.S. but I can’t tell with certainty. There is one included image of the underside and nothing appears to be amiss, other than the fact that this is a valuable car, with a $44K price and there are only two exterior images included in the listing!
The spinning but not starting engine is a 148 HP, 2.3 liter, in-line six-cylinder unit. The motor appears to be complete and original but it looks like it has experienced more than its reported 50K recorded miles. Curiously, the listing claims that this 230 SL is equipped with an automatic transmission but the gear shifter, and more importantly, the image of a clutch pedal would make one think otherwise and suggest that a four-speed manual transmission is in place.
The interior’s condition belies that of the exterior, the what looks like red leather upholstery is very dry and faded-appearing with seams that are starting to separate. It shows evidence of having a lot of outside California sun exposure and perhaps that’s the case from an earlier time, prior to its long garage slumber. Beyond that observation, the informative and business-like instrument panel shows well and looks to be complete.
“Nicely speaking“. What does that mean? It’s in the listing, maybe it means the seller is only interested in engaging in nice speech. Whatever the case, a craigslist ad, with few pictures, and fewer words, at this price point seems like a hard way to go sales-wise. And that’s unfortunate because this Mercedes 230 SL looks like it has a lot going for it. The seller does claim, “Lots of potential” but it seems as if the potential is realized, save for some needed interior improvements. So tell me, how does this listing hit you in this day of cyber-only listings, would it entice you to inquire further, or just assume that something’s up and pass?
This owner is in one of the same FB user groups that I belong to. Looks like a fairly nice example, and he told me that he is receiving offers above the asking(not sure if that is accurate or not). Having owned one of these, one thing is certain: The car is mis-titled for it’s year, as MB moved the spare from vertically mounted driver’s side(like this one), to horizontally mounted passenger side around the middle of ‘65. It would help potential buyers to see the VIN on the cowl, to see when the production dates would fall. I would be willing to bet that this car is late 64/early 65 production. He told me that the earlier models will bring more bucks. If true, it wouldn’t be from me, especially on this model.
They are beautiful cars but there is a lot of money to spend to bring this car up to snuff. Definitely needs interior work with the seats and door panels and depending on how long it’s been in storage the mechanical fuel injection will need going through as well as other systems.
It has been my observation that the later cars bring the bigger dollars: 1968-70ish, because they have the 280 motor…. but this one does look very clean. I tend to believe that his IS getting offers higher than his asking price, though… these seldom come available in un-restored condition.
I’ve owned/worked on and restored various examples of the 230/240/280 Sports Light cars, I’ve even owned a 280SL 4-passenger “California” without a folding top.
While the 230 is underpowered compared to the later cars, It’s still a fun car to drive. If this car is truly a rust free southern California car, that alone is worth at least $15k above the typical asking price. I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes back to Germany, as most early Pagoda roof cars rusted out in Europe and were eventually scrapped, or sent to the USA & parted out.
Wow, decent example at the right price. Nice for cruising in the evenings after dining out.
Definitely a European edition car-see the trim strip under the rear license plate, which was euro-only. I agree with the above comment about the earlier year-the spare mounted vertically in this fashion was phased out as of September of 1964.