1961 220 SEb/c - Thoughts?

[goldgunner]

My dad is just about ready to sell this totally restored MB:
1961 220 SE Coupe W111 Type
VIN 111022112020720
Rebuilt with new parts, Less than 2,000 miles:
> 250 Engine from SE Type M129I #129.980-2-013850
> Automatic Transmission
> Front and rear suspension
> Gas tank cleaned and sealed
> Air conditioning
> New Leather upholstery
> New Wool Headliner
> 13" Wheels

And, too numerous to detail all - new in rebuild: camshaft, pistons, timing chains, bearings valve guides, oil pump, water pump, drive shaft injector pump.

Most external trim, chrome, lenses etc are new, as is the paint job.

All in all, a most excellent example, rebuilt and restored by a master mechanic of very particular taste and high standards.

I'm going to help him market this beast, so any feedback at this point is most appreciated. Obviously, with the upgrades to the engines and some other components this is not a concourse type vehicle. It is a an extremely reliable and beautiful machine, which drives like a dream.

Please let me know what you afficiandos and experts think:
> Marketable Value?
> Desireability?
> Anything?

Some pics:

[mercmad]

Try putting it on eBay ,for say,7 days WITH NO RESERVE OR STARTING PRICE,on the sixth and a half day, the highest bid you receive will be the amount the market will pay.
if it pleases you and looks like what you think it is worth ,carry on the auction until it finishes and sell it.
If it fails to attract bids or the bids fail to reach what you consider to be true value ,Close the auction off and withdraw it.
It's the easiest way to determine the market level for any car today.

[goldgunner]

A somewhat reasonable idea to determine value...
however, as you probably know - something like 98% of bids, and certainly winning bids, on items with any significant value/interest are made in the last 3 minutes of an auction.

So, ending an auction as early as you describe won't reveal very much about potential 'final' bids that would be the highest; withdrawing/canceling an auction "at the last second" is more than a little scarey...

Any other ideas?

[NordStern]

Hi goldgunner.

Nice car. It has the right blend of shine and patine. In Europe these cars are worth a lot.

Your VIN is incorrect, 15 digits. I suspect there is a 2 too much, because I've not heard of a 111.022, so your VIN should start with 111021.

I think the guy who is willing to pay the best price, will most probably be put off when he learns that the original M127 has been swapped with a M129. I personally wouldn't mind, as long as it's done properly.

If you took the car to Mirbach, a famous veteran car dealer in Germany, they would ask you to park somewhere else as soon as they learned it has been messed with. The exeption would be if it was converted by some obscure German AMG'ish refitter firm.

I've been looking for old MB's in the US lately, a W113 would be just perfect. The dollar is favourable for us over here right now. I recently took home a 72 W107 350SL with a 450 engine. Unfortunately I couldn't keep it. Got it for 3000$ which I thought was cheap. It had some issues though. I will not use that agent again.

I heard one of your type mentioned at around 40 000$ in Atlanta, but I also encountered some fairly decent ones at around 10 000.

The market for these cars are polarizing quite much these days.

Good luck.


Regards

Geir

[goldgunner]

Geir - Thanks for the feedback!

You are, of course, correct - my typo on the VIN.
Actually is: VIN 111021-12-020720

Yes, although the engine change to the 250 may be difficult for some to accept, it is a very well performed engine rebuild and installation, resulting certainly in more available power.

It will be more than interesting to see what potential buyers in the U.S. think...

Thanks again,
Jim