The widow of the original owner of a collection of Mercedes-Benz convertibles has seemingly set some very reasonable prices on three W124 cabriolets and one R129 drop top. This is an interesting collection to have, as these cars didn’t vary wildly from year to year. Not only that, there’s essentially a matching set of E320 cabriolets in the same color, only distinguishable by the facelift model seen on the left in this photo. The seller claims she knows little about the cars or their history, noting that they’ve been idled for several months following her husband’s death. Find the assortment of convertibles here on craigslist and located in Fountain Hills, Arizona.
The red 1995 E320 cabriolet is probably the most attractive car of the group, both in terms of collectability and appearance. No offense to those who prefer the subtler shades, but the signal red exterior is a rarity among typically conservative Mercedes color palettes, and especially so on a convertible model. The seller is looking for a mere $4,700 for the red model, which shows 125,000 miles on the clock. The later front end design was one of the few updates the long-lived W124 lineup saw in its many years in the company lineup, and the changes were largely limited to a more streamlined front end design. Bodywork looks tidy in the one picture provided of the red car.
Other W124 models up for grabs include a 1993 cabriolet with the older front end design, offered in white over gray with 121,000 miles, for $5,700, along with a second model from 1995 that in white over tan and showing 152,000 miles for $5,300. The oddball of the group, if you will, is the R129 – a 1994 SL500 model with 46,000 miles offered for $4,700 and also wearing white paintwork with a blue interior. The seller notes the SL500 is “back for sale,” possibly indicating there was a deal in the books before the buyer backed out. The R129 is a hard car to price, similar to its predecessor, the R107: to command top dollar, mileage has to be quite low or condition that places it among the best. The interior of this car looks to be in good shape, but it’s hard to tell whether it’s a best-of-the-best example.
This interior appears to be from the 1993 model, featuring a gray leather interior. The seller would be wise to better document the cars, as the center stack with its sometimes-vulnerable wood trim looks to be in excellent shape, which would likely indicate that the Mercedes has not spent months at a time parked in the sun with the top down. The same goes for the leather seats, which appear to be in good shape, along with the carpets. Sisal-style floor mats are a smart upgrade as well. Overall, the prices seem fair, but it’s hard to tell whether they are being sold for a low price because the seller has not gotten them running, and/or attempted to track down any maintenance paperwork. Local buyers will be in a better position to pounce if this W124 droptop collection proves worthy of rescuing.
For a classic brand collection by one owner, the mileages are high. So these seems to be cars well enjoyed.
If I was stateside, I would be grabbing any one of these at those prices.
Nothing like a good condition classic Mercedes for a daily driver.
who remember which years of these Benzes had the self destructing wiring harness? something to consider very seriously…thanks
Benzes like these with high miles are a “dime a dozen”, a cliche of course, but one can see them everywhere at prices like these. Very tempting based on price and condition, but with these miles, the first repair will easily match the purchase price, so good luck.
It’s amazing to me how low the prices fall on cars like these. It must be the cost of fixing them that drives the value down because any one of those cars is a lot of vehicle for not a lot of money.