If you hadn’t noticed, the R107 market is one of the better-stocked ponds in the collector segment. As we’ve discussed before, the bottom end is pretty cheap and the upper end sees some fairly strong prices. The safest bet is the late-model, V8-powered cars like this 560SL project. While this one is pretty rough cosmetically, it’s said to start right up and run and drive. It’s also sitting on some desirable Ronal wheels that are a very period-correct choice. Find the 560SL here on Barn Finds Classifieds in Santee, California for $5,500.
When you see those old-school California plates, you know a car has been in a car-friendly climate for some time. The 560SL is a great option for either an entry-level classic or a turnkey classic driver that you’ll pay real money for but will have very manageable maintenance costs over the long term. Getting into one of these in the project-grade form will require a fair amount of expense whether you’re doing the work yourself or not, as you’ll still be forking over some cash for parts. The good news is, that a healthily-running R107 will likely hold its value quite well and the 560 is the model to get if you are going to restore one.
The interior is pretty bad, however, which makes me wonder just how many days/years this 560SL spent with its roof peeled back. I actually just had some front seats redone in an 80-series Land Cruiser with a very affordable kit from a vendor called L-Seat, and I wonder if they couldn’t help out here. It wouldn’t be the same grade of leather Mercedes used from the factory, but it would transform the cockpit for a reasonable investment. The seller doesn’t tell us if any of the interior electronics are functional, but I would assume there’s some troubleshooting to do in the cabin beyond the leather.
With a torquey V8 under the hood, the later production SL is more than capable of getting out of its own way. There are also so many of these languishing as parts cars that even with the high cost of new parts, you can find decent used components all day long. The seller has listed this R107 for a fair price considering it’s a runner with some needs, and hopefully, the California location means no rust is lurking underneath. Throw in the rare alloy wheels and you’ve got a great basis for a project that will pay you back.
I bet there is rust lurking in the floors based on the condition of the upholstery. Problem with the SL is everything is obscenely expensive. Especially interior bits. This is a parts car. The cost to bring this back exceeds the value after repairs. These are also complex and difficult to work on. The HVAC is so complex and vacuum pods are not only hard to replace some are NLA. Price is not out of reason if mileage can be substantiated. Maybe a wrecked donor car would be the best way to restore to keep this on the road.
I don’t think so. As Alpha said, you can buy a darn-near-perfect one for less than this would cost you to restore. At best, this is a $1k parts car.
It’s a runner with some needs…Best line of the day!
What it needs is a glovebox stuffed with hundred dollar bills.
I recently sold a near mint ’88 300 SE for less than this (I know, apples to oranges)
BUT, someone will buy it, and either have a blast driving the wheels off it, parting the “good” stuff, and scrapping the shell. OR (highly doubtful) it’ll be restored.
The prime example of a money pit.
….and ‘vented seats’. Many engine parts missing.
My estimate to bring it back to pristine condition is about 55’000€
with labour and parts. A European sold model with this mileage
goes for around 20’000€
So, ‘nay’.
I met a guy who had an older Merc sedan, said it was the car that cost the CEO his job because it was so over-engineered and expensive to make that MB lost money on each one.
He also said there’s no car more expensive than a cheap old Mercedes.
No. No. No. You can get a decent model for not a lot more. These cars are too plentiful to be restoring this particular example.
Anyone foolish enough to spend the ungodly sum required to bring the car back from the brink of ruin would be a fool. Given the sheer number of 107s the factory built, it would be far wiser to find one in good shape, and wouldn’t cost that much more. I worked for MB when this car was made and you had to sell them at dealer cost as the buyers after 18 yrs of production were not lining up to buy them. This car would be better parted out.
I had a pristine one the same 68,000 mi. I had to change out a dash light bulb and couldn’t find a way to do it. Not in the. Manual. The dealer told me they have to disconnect the airbag, turn indicator and take off the steering wheel to get at it. With part (bulb) and labor… $375.00. Thinking of other things that would go bad, I sold it while everything worked.
What the hell happened to this car?