[300TurboDylan]

1940 Mercedes 320 - How many were built, and how many still exist? Is there some online resource for production numbers for all makes and models? Thank You

 

[Govert70227]

This MB site gives information:

http://et.mercedes-benz-clubs.com/mediawiki/index.php/Hauptseite

More specific for the 320 model:

Kategorie:Typen 320 ? Mercedes-Benz Classic Wiki - Online-Lexikon rund um Mercedes-Benz Oldtimer

 

[300TurboDylan]

still not the right info. different body style than the one depicted. This is the car I need production numbers for..

AutoTrader Classics Vehicle Search - 1940 Mercedes-Benz 320

 

[flyboyike]

Contact MB Classic Center.

 

[Govert70227]

still not the right info. different body style than the one depicted. This is the car I need production numbers for..

AutoTrader Classics Vehicle Search - 1940 Mercedes-Benz 320

That is a 320 with a Wendler coachwork. I saw one, or perhaps the only one, at the Techno Classica 2011:

From what I understood it was a one-off, but I'm not sure.

It is a W142-IV, based on the Cabriolet D chassis.

 

[flyboyike]

Not a terribly pretty design, if you ask me. Sort of like a stretched cross between a mid-forties Ford Coupe, an early Saab 96 and maybe some kind of a Borgward.

 

[300TurboDylan]

I have an opportunity to purchase this exact model barring the coachwork, not sure about that, but it is a 1940 mercedes 320 cabrio with red original paint, in needs to be restored condition. I need more info on the car before purchasing it. Im pretty sure only like 250 were built, and I think alot of those got destroyed in the war. just a hunch. Thank you everyone for helping me with this!

 

[300TurboDylan]

Im thinking its the holy grail of barn finds. Ive seen some porche bodys w/chassis alone go for 75k on bringatrailer.com. I need to go back over there and examine the condition a bit better.

 

[Govert70227]

I have an opportunity to purchase this exact model barring the coachwork, not sure about that, but it is a 1940 mercedes 320 cabrio with red original paint, in needs to be restored condition. I need more info on the car before purchasing it. Im pretty sure only like 250 were built, and I think alot of those got destroyed in the war. just a hunch. Thank you everyone for helping me with this!

In those days you could buy a chassis from Mercedes-Benz and let somebody else build you the coachwork (still possible today, mainly used for funeral cars and ambulances). You could also buy one of the standard factory produced coachworks.

This page Mercedes-Benz 320 Wendler Cabriolet (in German) has information about the Wendler version. It was made in 1950. It was a gift for primaballerina Lilia Zeisner. It is thought that there were two made, but only one is known to be in existence.

 

[300TurboDylan]

The old man who owns the one I'm referring to told me the story behind the car. He said it was originally purchased in december 1939 in germany by a german civilian. An American soldier purchased the car from the original owner in '43 and had it shipped to Albaquerque NM. After the war the soldier took out the original 6cyl eng and dropped an american V8 in it, along with doing some minimal body customization (rear fenders) Apparently there was a big racing scene out there after the war. The old man purchased the car in the early 50's and put the original motor back into it. I found the production numbers once online, and it was like 250 or 150, but havn't been able to find that site since.

 

[GGR]

Unless that German civilian was out of Germany when he sold the car (In Italy may be?) I doubt he sold it in '43 as US troups entered Germany later than that. And I doubt it was "sold". These were crazy times and soldiers of both sides just took what they needed, or what they liked. More civilized trades came back after the end of the war.

 

[Govert70227]

Yours must be a "normal" W142, not the one with the Wendler coachwork. I would guess too that the purchase by the GI was done in 1945, after the war had ended. It could have been a regular purchase, but with the Germans being very poor at that time and perhaps with little use for the car because of the shortage of gas, it would have sold for little money.

MB gives 5097 production total for the W142 model range (see link above) and 1764 for the W142 340WK. On this page:

Oldtimer gallery. Cars. Table of Mercedes-Benz production.

there is a breakdown for the different models and years. If you add the number for W142 and W142-II you have the 5097 again and it lists 1764 for the 320 Kuebelsitzer. So there are similarities but also some discrepencies between the MB info and the autogallery page.

 

[300TurboDylan]

That is the site i was referring to that i couldnt find again, thank you! You guys really are helpful! Well, now all I need to know is what is it worth? It is in 3-4 out of 10 condition with no rust. Its been in storage since the 50's with the top down, and there was some customization to the rear fenders. Whats it worth in its current condition? I don't have the money for the restore but was thinking that a restoration shop would consider making a deal, due to the potential finished value of the car, to restore it and sell it at full value turning over a profit for both of us. Would this car be museum worthy at that point?

 

[Govert70227]

It would indeed be museum-worthy, certainly if it has the rare 3.4 liter engine.

Price I do not know, a restored one would be six figures I guess.

 

[kmukherjee]

320

Can you send a pic of the VIN Tag? There is a gentleman in NJ with a '42 320 cabrio and it has been verified by Mercedes HQ as a government purchase. Curious to see if this car has the same VIN tag markings.

 

[kmukherjee]

BTW

This car in particular was purchased from eBay. You could search for the old listing to value the car you are interested in.

 

[300TurboDylan]

the only thing i can find on ebay is that listing i posted already for $550,000. I can go back over there and get some pics. where might i find that tag your referring to?

 

[flyboyike]

It would indeed be museum-worthy, certainly if it has the rare 3.4 liter engine.

Price I do not know, a restored one would be six figures I guess.

It bears mentioning that "museum-worthy" and "bigmoney-worthy" aren't necessarily the same thing. That's not to say the car in question isn't quite valuable, only to say that it's not a given, based solely on rarity.

 

[DirectLA]

Further... most quality restorations cost more than the eventual value of the finished vehicle so if this is new territory for you, tread lightly. Owners who restore cars tend to do so for their own appreciation, not to turn a profit. If the car is worth a million bucks, then sure, $150,000-200,000 may not be a bad investment for the restoration (costs add up quick on older cars with hard-to-locate/impossible-to-find trim pieces). The shop you hope to approach will have a more solid idea of the value hopefully, but keep in mind too that when dealing with high end restorations, you want to use one of the shops who specialize in Mercedes-Benz, otherwise the details may not be 100% correct and your car will not attract the top level buyers.

Either way, this is a very exciting thread and I hope you can buy the car and do something wonderful with it. Please share pics once you are comfortable doing so.

 

[300TurboDylan]

Thank You for the insight! I've considered a few restoration shops already that do indeed specialize in Mercedes but I'm getting ahead of myself here. Still trying to come up with the money to offer the man. No price has been discussed. He has a late 20's Rolls-Royce 20 HP in 9 out of 10 condition sitting next to the car that he wants around $30,000 for in its current condition. Also a great investment if you were to ask me. This barn is FULL of HTF classics like a 50's or 60's Austin Healey, a late 20's Hudson, Packard late 30's I think. I was really just looking at the Benz. I purchased a 64' 190d from him that day so I'm in good graces with the guy. I think I can get it soon, with a lil help from friends. Investors? lol

Thanks