Historics: delivery mileage SL55 and 12k mile CL55

[Dickster]

Yeah, I thought it was a very unpredictable auction, plenty of lots remain unsold but others went for good prices.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I believe that was the hammer price

Yep, Just watched the video.

£66k for the SL55
£27.7k for the CL55 - £24.75k hammer (13k miles on one owner)

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Sounds like a bargain compared with the hammer price on this in the same auction:

Ref 126 1991 Vauxhall Lotus Carlton JG

One for Mr Dazzler.

I’d love one of those, but I feel they’re not quite worth their money and haven’t been for a while. I remember seeing several broken, laid up and unloved at Irmscher UK. I should have had one then.

 

[SpikyMikey]

I’d love one of those, but I feel they’re not quite worth their money and haven’t been for a while. I remember seeing several broken, laid up and unloved at Irmscher UK. I should have had one then.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing Rob.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I’d love one of those, but I feel they’re not quite worth their money and haven’t been for a while. I remember seeing several broken, laid up and unloved at Irmscher UK. I should have had one then.

But their time is past.... Like the E34 M5, or the E24 M635, it was impressive when it was newer.

Today, not so much. "288 bhp: don't impress me much."

Their value now is in the rarity of the survivor, rather than in the way they behave.

 

[SpikyMikey]

But their time is past.... Like the E34 M5, or the E24 M635, it was impressive when it was newer.

Today, not so much. "288 bhp: don't impress me much."

Their value now is in the rarity of the survivor, rather than in the way they behave.


View attachment 149859

You're right of course, but every time I see a 'sharknose' for sale, I start engaging the man math calculator...."maybe........"

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

You're right of course, but every time I see a 'sharknose' for sale, I start engaging the man math calculator...."maybe........"

Drive one ASAP.

It’ll cure you. I had one “back in the day,” using it mainly in town. Dreadful. Great on motorways and at speed, but not for Chelsea and Kensington.

If you want one to cruise the countryside: perfect !

Cue “Walk in the Black Forest..”

 

[badgx]

Some really wonderful cars here

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

That CL55 was a crazy bargain.
Used "just enough" to not really need much fettling before using it normally
Hope it's gone to a loving user rather than an air conditioned "collection."

 

[SpikyMikey]

But their time is past.... Like the E34 M5, or the E24 M635, it was impressive when it was newer.

Today, not so much. "288 bhp: don't impress me much."

Their value now is in the rarity of the survivor, rather than in the way they behave.


View attachment 149859

Typical blØØdy Beemer; look at the way it's parked!

 

[pmcgsmurf]

I bid £25k on the SL55 which was my limit.

For over £60k I'd have wanted a full clean MOT on it, might sound a bit silly but I really don't think it is a £60k car, lots of other options for that kind of money.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I bid £25k on the SL55 which was my limit.
For over £60k I'd have wanted a full clean MOT on it, might sound a bit silly but I really don't think it is a £60k car, lots of other options for that kind of money.

I noticed that one. Hadn't failed an MoT but hadn't been put in for testing, unlike the CL55 which had just got a fresh "ticket."

 

[ALFAitalia]

But their time is past.... Like the E34 M5, or the E24 M635, it was impressive when it was newer.

Today, not so much. "288 bhp: don't impress me much."

Their value now is in the rarity of the survivor, rather than in the way they behave.

Lotus Carltons where 377 bhp....still a reasonable amount.....especially with only 1655kg to lug about. 0 to 60 in 5 dead is still pretty nippy too.

Drove one when they were new. Steering was not great even at the time compared to a 5 Series.....but it was quick and sounded great. Any colour you like.....as long as its dark green!

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Lotus Carltons where 377 bhp....still a reasonable amount.....especially with only 1655kg to lug about. 0 to 60 in 5 dead is still pretty nippy too.

Drove one when they were new. Steering was not great even at the time compared to a 5 Series.....but it was quick and sounded great. Any colour you like.....as long as its dark green!

Aye, great in their day, but their value now is their rarity and demand for those who fancied them at the time.

The younger crowd will be eying up decade old AMG’s and even VIN ordinaire MB V8’s

 

[benzboss]

Drive one ASAP.

It’ll cure you. I had one “back in the day,” using it mainly in town. Dreadful. Great on motorways and at speed, but not for Chelsea and Kensington.

If you want one to cruise the countryside: perfect !

Cue “Walk in the Black Forest..”

I have a 1989 Highline manual. It's a rare thing.
Like with every classic, it's a different experience, but a nostalgic one at that.
Such a lovely car, both to look at and drive, but like you say, in the right situations. Though I mustn't say it here

 

[benzboss]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing Rob.

Absolutely, was going through my old magazine heap a few weeks ago cleaning my loft.

2009 MB Enthusiast... E500 LTD 17k miles for about 22k if I recall correctly (saw a couple of preface lift 500es around 15-20 in the books).. Also saw an SL73 amg r129 at charles ironside way back in day for about 40k.... fetching silly now.

I'd love a nice 500e even now but it's finding the right one. clean, right history and etc... hard to do as they don't come round often in general here: pockets have to be deep!

If only we knew.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Absolutely, was going through my old magazine heap a few weeks ago cleaning my loft.
2009 MB Enthusiast... E500 LTD 17k miles for about 22k if I recall correctly (saw a couple of preface lift 500es around 15-20 in the books).. Also saw an SL73 amg r129 at charles ironside way back in day for about 40k.... fetching silly now.
I'd love a nice 500e even now but it's finding the right one. clean, right history and etc... hard to do as they don't come round often in general here: pockets have to be deep!
If only we knew.

Ah, but we did know.
It's misleading to think that our earlier gems would have lasted so well.
From (vague) memory, I sold my 1985 M635 for about £8k in 1994, with maybe 60k on the clock. Could be £40k now. But not mine. In the last 30 years it would have built up too many miles, needed too much servicing, storage and paint...
"History is told by the Survivors / Winners." Most of those old classics simply didn't survive the decades.

And... that £8k invested back in 1994 would be worth £140k now. It's a rare motor that could match that. net of costs, storage yada yada

 

[Will]

Ah, but we did know.
It's misleading to think that our earlier gems would have lasted so well.
From (vague) memory, I sold my 1985 M635 for about £8k in 1994, with maybe 60k on the clock. Could be £40k now. But not mine. In the last 30 years it would have built up too many miles, needed too much servicing, storage and paint...
"History is told by the Survivors / Winners." Most of those old classics simply didn't survive the decades.

And... that £8k invested back in 1994 would be worth £140k now. It's a rare motor that could match that. net of costs, storage yada yada

To be honest I can think of plenty of cars that have beaten other investment opportunities in terms of appreciation and in relatively short time frames too, with no real running costs in those periods

Even ‘barn finds’ fetch good money at times, it’s not all about immaculate restored examples

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

To be honest I can think of plenty of cars that have beaten other investment opportunities in terms of appreciation and in relatively short time frames too, with no real running costs in those periods
Even ‘barn finds’ fetch good money at times, it’s not all about immaculate restored examples

For example? And how are you pricing insurance, storage, servicing and maintenance?

I sold my 1998 E55 for about £10k in 2003 with about 50k miles on it. How much would that be worth now?

Invested that £8k would be worth about £60k now.

 

[Will]

For example? And how are you pricing insurance, storage, servicing and maintenance?

I sold my 1998 E55 for about £10k in 2003 with about 50k miles on it. How much would that be worth now?

Invested that £8k would be worth about £60k now.

View attachment 149922

The key is to buy low and sell high.

W210 E55s are not the best examples, but they bottomed out at about £3k/4k.

Same as W202 C43s.

I sold my immaculate 2001 CLK55 with about 70/80k miles in 2014 for £4500 - which was what it was worth back then.

You need to go a little older.

Air cooled 911s could be bought for low teens less than 15 years ago.

W124 E500/500Es could be had for £5-10k around the same time.

190E 2.3/2.5-16s - varied in price from a few hundred £££ upto around £5k back then.

I sold two cars in the last few years for ten times what they were bought for. They covered the purchase price of my 911 or probably 4.5 years depreciation on my GL63

There’s no real running costs if cars are stored off-road/out of use.

The last classic policy I had on one of my 16Vs was just over £100 PA IIRC, certainly less than £200 and that was fully comp motor insurance, not laid up cover.

That car gained £1000 a year in value and would probably still be doing so for a bit longer