If a person were looking for a fairly quick restoration project… er.. this could be it if you’re a tv reality show producer and have three days to restore this 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL back to like-new condition! No really, I’ve seen it on tv, they really do full restorations in three days. (crickets) This possible parts car, or I think it’s a car, can be found here on eBay with a buy it now price of $9,500. I say, with a buy it now price of $9,500. Hello? Guys? It’s located in the beautiful capital city of California: Sacramento. Some sneaky Barn Finds reader sent in this tip anonymously with just a smiley face; well-played, whoever you are!
Other than not showing an engine photo or an interior photo, or some decent overall exterior photos, there is literally nothing that I love more in a car listing than to see a vehicle strapped to a trailer. Most of us are like, “Good grief, man, can’t you even take it off of the trailer to take a few photos?! COME ON!” But, for this car, once it’s on the trailer that’s where it’s staying unless they have a front-end loader to hoist it off.
Hey, speaking of that, here is that scenario in action. Nothing says a Hagerty #1 $142,000 Concours condition 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL like a burnt out, rusted, smashed pancake of a former car lying on its top! Sweet. $9,500? The Hagerty value of a #1 Concours car scares me but these cars have been rising in value like crazy. It didn’t seem that long ago when a really nice 280SL could be had for $20,000. I’m going to go out on a limb and speculate that there is no way that this car can or will be restored. Ever. Even if a person had $100,000 to spend on the restoration there would be nothing but 14 bolts and maybe a bumper bracket left to work with so it wouldn’t be the original car anyway. But, just in case, here are the all-important numbers on the VIN.
The rims? No. Is there anything usable on this former hulk of a car? Of course, there is, but could any of you imagine this car sitting beside a restoration shop and seeing the team picking off parts to bring inside to use on another 280SL in the process of being restored? And, what is this stuff melted into several globs under the transmission? A former owner’s cufflinks? I’m guessing that it may be the aluminum hood or one of the aluminum door skins maybe? Here is the engine, or what’s left of it. This would have been Mercedes’ 2.8L M130 inline-six with 170 hp, a silky-smooth fantastic engine normally. Now, not so much. Is there even $950 worth of value here let alone $9,500? I ask that seriously knowing the value of this car in restored condition.
Better get a parts list together if you want it by the weekend
Oooh look everyone another drug endused seller wanting top Dorra for scrap
Satin clear coat it and hang it on your wall.
Exactly what I was thinking !!
One for the Mercedes Museum alright.
Conceptual art is what it is. Just add a couple of extra zeros to the price and you’d have a sale to one of the more discerning galleries!
How are we supposed to see the condition of it if it’s upside down?
You think this is upside down?
Wait ’til you see the next owner!
All the metal once burned to that degree is useless That pile of useless scrap is DONE !
Oh come on, Frank. That’ll buff out.
It’s not April first yet.
Patina?
No, Pagoda!
Looks like someone got a jump on April Fools Day!
I hope you’re right! I actually forgot it’s almost April already.
By waiting until the ‘process’ is complete, one could sell 1 ton of this iron oxide for about $700-$800. Patience.
Current price for scrap steel here in Michigan is $150 a metric ton. Think this thing weighs more than 2200 lbs?
If this is this kind of garbage that comes up I think I’m going to regret letting BarnFinds send me notifications….
I think I saw a 12mm sway bar bolt that’s good.Really, $9,500? I’m thinking $9,500 to pick this up.
Throw the tow vehicle, trailer & moped in with the deal & it might be worth $9500.00
People argue all day long if asset values are inflated or there is some weird credit bubble distortion or something. But you need look no further than people selling (and others buying!) trash like this that once resembled a collectible to know something’s not right.
I think the seller got the price by halving Hagerty’s #1 valuation all the way down to #5.
#1 $142,000
#2 $ 71,000
#3 $ 35,500
#4 $ 17,750
#5 $ 8,875 + $625 towing charges = $9,500
Ran when sparked.
I agree Don V. I haven’t seen alot of “barn finds” with interesting stories to go along with them. Alot of desperate photos of so called barn finds that was in a garage or backyard for a few years.
I see what you did there… Had to chuckle at the thought!
That thing was wrecked long before the fire.
wondering if he realized it’s upside down, hard to see the difference
As long as it has the correct spot welds and headlight dimples on the front fenders.
And I thought Mopars B bodys were selling at insane numbers!! I guess MB stands for ” must buy “! Take whatever my be usable, odd bits and pieces, then let let the vines grow over it.
Unfortunately, I think the seller is serious. Look at his eBay history, he seems for find wrecks and fire damaged cars. This one is a step too far, a normal person would be embarrassed to offer up a car like this at any price.
Steve R
I’m pretty sure a quick acid dip would make it look a lot more presentable.
JDJONESDR Did you mean take a hit of acid, or dip in acid.
LOL
It’s gonna take a good deal more than one hit… on the plus side, you might see your new car melting…. all would be right. :)
Either would be an improvement!
And risk losing the greatest “patina” in auto world history?
This seller gets the award for having the dryest sense of humor when selling an upscale ‘Benz:
“Being the California car it does not have rust as you can see in the pictures.
Does not roll or steers, we can assist with forklift for loading on pick up location in California.”
If it was Preston Tucker’s Personal Tucker in that condition it would not be worth that!
A lot of money for an oversized paper weight
Wadda ya mean no engine photo? The very first photo of the car on its side clearly, maybe, possibly, perhaps shows the engine. Hey, a little WD-40 and it’ll turn.
Might need new tires to be a roller!!!!
Scotty, it’s still 4 more days until the First of April. I think you jumped the gun….
Wouldn’t it be better to fix the car that would be it’s parts car then to try to make something out of the rusty piece of what used to be a Mercedes Benz.
I only have one thing to say………..REALLY??
Worth every penny,maybe a tad more.
Non performance art!
This is a rare Mercedes “Burnz”.
If for no other reason, these hulks sure bring out the comedians. I’d have to think, the fire ruined any bit of good metal on this thing. Guess the insurance payout just wasn’t enough,,,
For sale, last used on the Flintstones show at Slate Rock quarry. Has been in Bamm Bamm’s storage ever since the end of the TV series.
Come on people. Let’s be good to nature and make it a fish reef. Where are the nature lovers that want us to help Mother Earth?
Better check the trunk for what’s left of Hoffa.
Must be a buy here pay here dealership…..
Upside-down on the trailer? Maybe that’s because it’s a potential flipper! I’m just sayin’ ….
barn finds…………..will post ANYTHING
Wrecked, burned AND crushed? 10K all day.
It states that the car is located in California.
Perhaps it was bought from Beverly Hills Car Club and the seller is having buyer’s remorse?
And all this happened the last time I parked it here
So glad he didn’t try to cover it up with primer . This way , it’s an honest original condition Benz ……
I live in the city where this is. I have always loved the MB 280 SL’s, even had a picture of one on my wall as a teen in the 80’s (along with many other & very different cars!). I can’t imagine you could pull $9500 worth of parts off this thing with fire damage and everything else. Gotta be an April Fools joke !!
I like that there’s a tab for “vehicle history report”. You know, so I can know what’s wrong with it…
Ran when parked (hey, someone had to say it).
When we saw the rusted out Cuda a couple of weeks back, I got to wondering
what the worst car ever shown on here looked like. I no longer wonder. At 9500
I immediately thought “Another great Barrett-Jackson buy”.
Get it crushed into a cube, give it a spray of semigloss clear coat or have it powder coated in Mercedes silver or gold, add a glass top to it and you now have a $9500 high end coffee table.
Just put a bid in for .99 cents. Let’s see if they accept…
Bit of a cut and polish…change the oil…no problems !
I agree with Don V ‘s comment, there seems to be more junk / crap vehicles that this site gravitates too daily. Why this piece of burnt out scrap is shown on this site is beyond me.
Oh come on Don and Jimmy. Lighten up guys! This one was just for fun and as evidenced by the other comments, you were the only two who didn’t get the joke.
Be very careful of this one Guys. There appears to be some water damage as well
That’s it, I’m not buying it, I was so close, but water damage is too much for me!
Could it be that he thought he was saving this car from the crusher not realizing that the car needed to be taken from the lot before it was put into the machine. Maybe some German rust will help our soil?
Found 3 or 4 decent examples in Hemmings Motor News for 35-45 grand. Can’t imagine much useful stuff on this one for $9500. Those blobs of aluminum proudly displayed are most likely from the cylinder head and intake manifold. Got give this guy credit for being an optimist and student of P.T. Barnum.
Wouldn’t it be great to put some of those “reality” car builder shows in reality with this car? The producers would go broke on the financing and ratings. LOL
I love Benz’s, but this is ridiculous, a burnt out wreck. Sell it for parts.
This is scrap, and nothing more.
Is it a 1970 model? The car in the photos has a solid rear end. I thought a 1970 Mercedes would have had at least a swing arm rear. It might be a 1960 model but still mostly useless.
No, it definitely is a swing axle. Look closely at the picture with the gas tank in the foreground, the compensating spring (compensatieveer) is plainly visible.
California….. just sayin lol
I cannot believe that the seller thinks someone will buy that burned up POS.
Michael, you better believe it there are 2 offers on it ???, I was gonna put one in but I might end up getting it and then what ?? It’s a long way to Australia from the US and the shipping might be a tad on the high side plus the import duty on high value luxury Mercedes Benz cars is astronomical at present. I suppose if I took anything off that looked automotive I could ship it in as a piece of valuable art !!
Door fitment looks a bit off to me.
QUESTION……….is this pile of waste worth $9500 because a # 1 car is worth $142k or is the #1 car worth $142K because this pile of waste is worth $9500?
Think about it. Either way, this nonsense is exactly why the car hobby continues to climb out of the financial reach of the average Joe.
Finally, quality chassis photos
Again I say, just put it on a trailer and take it to any car show. People will flock to it and offer up the darndest commentary imaginable. In my home town, the police occasionally put badly-wrecked cars on busy street corner lots to encourage safe driving. Maybe the local fire department would sponsor this crispy critter!
At least you wouldn’t have to worry about someone scratching
the paint,or someone stealing it.
Looks like it will be easy to check the camshaft for wear.
Slow day at the office, guys ?
Really can no one spot a prank when they see one for crying out loud LOL.. And this posting has more comments than any other posting that I have ever seen. Too funny
I am considering the purchase of this rare car, my mechanic suggested I get the extended warranty because of the age of the car (he mensioned after looking at the photos that there “may” be some mechanical issues) however car fax came back clean!!
It refreshing to see a vintage car that hasn’t been all half a$$ dolled up just to make a quick sale!! This car appears to be in unmolested condition. Seller appears to be showing the photos of the cars flaws as well.
I feel There my be some meat left on the bone here to make a honest buck. What’s your thoughts?
Probably a casualty left over from the Napa fires, finally removed after the house burned, collapsed and crushed it. Sad to think this was someones pride and joy.
As some point it becomes ridiculous to try to sell something. I think this one has passed it, regardless if it were $500.00.
Is this car too old for a Carfax ? I’d have to see that first.
Scotty: that car show episode you pitched is not too absurd. I mean, think of all the horrible studio heavy metal the producers could cram into it, just to underscore the “drama” of bringing this car back to life.
And it could go on for decades.
Nothing wrong with this car, my mechanic say looks like it runs a bit hot is all.
May just have a slight overheating issue.
OMG he didn’t even bother to wash it. He could have gotten so much more for it if he had.
Now THAT’S patina. I love that it doesn’t have the ugly Americanized bumpers. My dilemma is, of course, restore or drive as-is.
I asked my ex wife if she’d never bother me again if I gave her a classic M.B….hope she agrees . . .
At least you didn’t put her in it….right before it got this way!
Looks like a flipper to me…
I am thinking seller is hoping to find that special buyer…..that stoled a similar car and will consider paying this stupid price in order to change vins and fence that stolen 70 Benz.
As art this has many potential uses. Mounted on a plinth, above a fireplace, on a shop wall, part of a garden. As a car its only use is to melt it down to make new KIA’s.
Personally I vote for mounting it on a plinth in the yard of a house at one of the race track country clubs.
Somewhere a stolen 280SL awaits a fresh lease on life. Note the VIN and see where it appears next.
I see where the problems started: the Jiffy Lube attendant didn’t replace the oil drain plug after the car’s last service. The fresh oil leaking from the engine created a slick, which caused a severe crash, which caused a horrific fire, which caused … See where I’m going with this? It’s all Jiffy Lube’s fault!