No matter how well you may plan, taking on a project car inevitably reveals a major need: the benefit to having a second version of the same project car to pull parts from or otherwise hack up. The seller of this 1976 Mercedes-Benz 450SL here on eBay obviously realized this and is including a basketcase parts car of the same variety in the sale. The price for the pair is $4,900 and the cars are located in Sherman, Texas.
The seller claims the pair of Mercedes has been rescued from long-term, dry storage. This being Texas, I’m surprised not to see the hands of Gas Monkey Garage all over these. The more complete of the two cars shows signs of prep work undertaken for a paint job that never commenced. A factory hard top is a nice feature, along with OEM alloy wheels. The body appears fairly straight although the later model R107s suffered from those hideous U.S. bumpers.
The parts car is clearly just that, but still appears to have plenty of good body panels left to give. The seller notes that rust is minimal in both cars, with just some “…minor rust in the floor area,” but which car that is isn’t specified. With both of these being later examples of the venerable R107, they lack the gorgeous smaller chrome bumpers that came on the early cars, but those can swapped onto these big bumper models.
As both cars are listed as non-runners, I can only assume that means there is some conveyance under the hood to propel them to operating condition. Although equipped with so-called low-compression 4.5L V8 engines, these were still a step up from the smaller displacement 380SL. The price seems fair for bodies with lots of good metal to give, and if two complete drivetrains are part of the transaction, then building one solid example should be an easy project for the DIYer.
With so many 107’s available in great condition and reasonably priced, this non-running pair does not make a lot of sense. Like kittens, “free to good home” comes to mind with this offering.
So true Rodney. I’ve owned several Mercedes, great cars till they break, then you better sit down. This pair would take a lot to get up to speed. For the money you’d spend buy a newer 500SL. They are nice cars and I believe will be worth some dough some day.
It’s true. The 107 is a wonderful car, but runners are cheap, they are about at the bottom of the curve right now. To get this car up and going reasonably nicely, you will have a $15000 cost $5000 valued car. It’s not a great year, not s great model, purely average 450sl.
Yes, investment grade and just fun solid cars are the final year of the 107.
The 1989 560SL. Look for well cared for reasonable mileage cars with no “stories”. As with all SL’s, it tends to be the final year of a well loved and respected car that appreciates the fastest and the most. These cars are fully supported by M-B North America with parts and service. Many after market suppliers as well. The build quality on these is just amazing and right now they are totally affordable. If you have have ever lusted after one of these, this is the moment to fulfill your dream.
1000% spot on Rodney. I bought a 72 Mercedes coupe a few years back that was a non-runner for $3000. Big mistake. Across the street from my garage is an 85 year old German Mercedes mechanic…the best there is in these parts. $2,000 later I had a running Mercedes. And that was after him giving me a friendly break on the labor. If these are your thing, find one that’s running.
The 450SL preceded the 380, and 1976 is actually pretty early for a model that ran until 1989. I actually prefer the US bumpers on these, as they suit the beautiful horizontal lines better than the Euro chrome lips. The very early cars were 350 SL’s.
Silly me, I like that green T-Bird in the back.
Agreed!
Buy a 1991 500SL for around $15,000 and be happy. I like the lines of both, but the 500SL is really a screaming bargain considering its original price.
I’m always amazed that these cars could ever be left in a field or in storage or whatever. Haven’t people figured out that any convertible European car will eventually stop depreciating and start appreciating? The same thing happened with the Pagodas (W113). I’ve had a few of those and the ones for sale were either original (often original owner), fully restored, or cars that you had to run from.
No real bargain here…for sure. Someday we may recall how these were Craigslist fodder, but it’ll be a while.
Let’s just agree that the phrase “Cheap R107 Pair” is an oxymoron.