There’s a bit of funny math out there as it relates to project cars and trucks. What I mean by that is if a car’s value is high enough, you can justify taking on a monster of a project because assuming the end result is of a decent quality, your investment will still be below what the car is ultimately worth. However, it’s a fine line between restorable and too far gone – which side of the equation do you think this 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SL “Pagoda” falls on? Find it here on eBay with bids to $3,550 and the reserve unmet.
The Pagoda series, otherwise known by its internal chassis code of W113, is a highly sought-after item in circles of Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts. The proportions are fantastic and the styling is still quite handsome. I always felt these were much better-looking than the 190SL that is oftentimes referred to as a “baby 300SL”, and while values for practically any vintage Mercedes convertible are strong, the Pagodas tend offer better ROI, in my opinion. I don’t have a little black book of future values or anything like that; I just feel the W113 is a more usable classic than the 190SL, which is slowing aging out of relevance with next-generation collectors. However, let’s be real: this 250SL is in rough shape.
This is clearly a stalled restoration project, with the interior stripped down and left in tatters, and we’re left wondering if all the various switches, hardware, and trim pieces were bagged up and catalogued appropriately. The seller offers very little information about the history of the car or where and when he last turned a wrench on it; it’s safe to say it hasn’t been worked on in some time. When you find cars like this, it does make you wonder if the seller dug in just enough to realize there’s too much work to be done, and his internal calculator is telling him it’s time to cut his losses. Still, just over 5,000 250SLs were produced, so it’s not as if this is an easy car to find.
The 250SL represented a marked improvement in performance over the 230SL, with increased torque that made the drop-top Benz more usable on a daily basis. Horsepower remained unchanged at 150 b.h.p. but torque jumped to 159 lb-ft. In addition, Mercedes offered a manual transmission and a limited slip, which apparently had a low take rate given how few of those we’ve seen come up for grabs. This 250SL needs everything, not the least of which is a significant amount of bodywork, but the question for the next owner is whether to treat it as a parts carcass or attempt to restore it.
It’s already a parts car. Lot of parts gone, not many parts left.
I once had an absolute cherry ’67 230sl……had to go into the right front fender because of a sideswipe……it was a Euro SL with the big bucket headlights….well when the bucket came out the rust was unreal……and from the outside you couldn’t tell. So……..here you can…well…..you can see it.
The top is worth something though.
What a pile of Chevrolet, strip it and scrap the carcass
I think this can be fully restored for a modest sum of about $840,000 and 3 lifetimes, the first two working deligently 24 hours a day until they drop.
Otherwise convert it to an EV with autopilot.
A fully restored one just sold last week on bringatrailer for 243 THOUSAND dollars. All parts are still available.
Those responsible for allowing this to happen should be horsewhipped.
They may enjoy that too!!!
Must be real slim pickens in the produce section.
This could be the bargain of the century, if it still comes with the anchor chain to moor your yacht with.
many of the cars seen on barn finds are absolute junk, been to bone yards and seen better cars.
“Many” is a broad term…
Since I don’t know much about anything..
Does this car seem like it spent time under water? Maybe in the ocean? Thats a whole lot of rust.. like every surface. Just wondering.
This would cost a fortune to restore, I worked for MB for16 yrs in support, you’ll never get your investment back.
Jeff is simply being impartial and is not subjective to this German heap, and poses the Too Far Gone question….
Question was answered by realist about this German heap. You’re just putting lipstick on a pig. You’re just trying to polish a turd.
Can this be restored? Yes, of course.. pretty much anything can, with enough money and time. Would there be any meat left on the bone? Very probably not. I’ve seen a couple close to this condition get restored.
Now, if this was your dad’s/mom’s car and had serious sentimental value, ROI might not matter.
Based on the usually limited photos, there do appear to be some usable parts – however, as the bid is currently at $4250, not sure there are enough parts to equal that…
Really surprised this isn’t being sold by Pete Kumar or Alex Manos
Parts car. If you want a nice one, they are plentiful. Or if you want a better project, they are plentiful, too. By the time you restored this mess, you’d be miles underwater.
considering the number of missing parts and the Mercedes stratospheric cost of these parts, I would personnally sell the remaining parts and scrap it.
Just looking at the pictures here, Im already underwater.
I do believe it isn’t even worth scrapping. Just sweep it up, and put it in the garbage can. How unfortunate that such a beautiful car and wind up in that condition. Now it is just a pile of Ford
Brutal but true. Ford typically isn’t my first go to vehicle but I also don’t understand the grandiose vision of investing time or money in a sunken ship. I guess a bought lesson is a well learned one.
And a giant banana peel on the hood.
It’s worth about 150 dollars in scrap at a local junkyard. Period.
Actually, it’s worth at least $4600 to someone.. that’s what she sold for on Ebay.
Would any of us who posted here pay that? No… but market value is based on what people are paying. I don’t see this affected by any kind of outlier effect or even the red mist of chest thumping and alcohol, present very often at live auctions. That doesn’t generally take place in online auctions.
So, one could safely say that a rusted out, # 6 250 SL is worth about four grand.