Rare SL60, but why so cheap?

[rajinder_1]

Why on earth would anyone ditch a panny roof?........malodourous rheums doth emanate methinks.....

It was proabably on the car when it had its accident

Raj

 

[IanA2]

It was proabably on the car when it had its accident

Raj

Quite.

 

[glojo]

If it was light blue with a light interior then I would be seriously tempted even though it would just sit in my garage

regards
John

 

[rajinder_1]

If it was light blue with a light interior then I would be seriously tempted even though it would just sit in my garage

regards
John

well cars like this are made t o be admired rather than driven.

But the occasional thrashing will do it no harm

Raj

 

[Mudster]

On the positive side, the seller has immaculate feedback, which for someone who sells vehicles is quite unusual.

This car is very tempting.

 

[Mark300SL]

Just spoken to the guy and hes pretty straight to be fair - he is currently in Wales and I have arranged to see the car, hopefully tonight.

The Story
The car was owned by someone up the west end - he hit a bollard with it square on doing some front end damage and destroying the bumper. Driver then did a runner.
The car was recovered to a yard where it sat for a few months, eventually the finance company that owned it got in touch because they couldnt find the driver either. The yard bought the car from the finance company and they then repaired with a new bumper and some ancilliary parts. He broke the rear light to get access to the boot and ordered keys from Mercedes. The front bumper is apparently the correct AMG item ordered from Mercedes but they didnt order the lights as they were very expensive ?

This was a couple of years ago and he now has a late V12 SL and has decided to sell this one. Apparently there is no HPI interest in the car but no-one can tell me why it has an early rear panel on a 1997 car!



Mark

 

[janner]

HPi it before you drive miles to see it.

edit..
Where did the AMG exhaust come from? It's not on the original options list.
Too much about this car doesn't ring true.

 

[Mark300SL]

16.7 miles from my house and its a nice evening SL is outside the office today - and its roof down weather

I can take a different route home from work if I get the address in time, and it will be even easier. Car is at the house of the registered owner.

 

[stats007]

It's had three owners so more than likely had a rear-end shunt as well. They don't come from the factory with the old infra-red sensors as you know! That would indicate that it has been repaired on the cheap - an MB Bodyshop wouldn't have fitted an incorrect part.

 

[glojo]

16.7 miles from my house and its a nice evening SL is outside the office today - and its roof down weather

I can take a different route home from work if I get the address in time, and it will be even easier. Car is at the house of the registered owner.

I am NOT envious, I am not jealous, I have enough cars in our driveway!!

have I convinced myself?

Oh and I can't drive and would not be able to sit in it.

You jammy dodger

Good luck and I know you don't really want it

I wonder if the previous owner still has the pano roof?

Regards
John the very envious

 

[IanA2]

It's had three owners so more than likely had a rear-end shunt as well. They don't come from the factory with the old infra-red sensors as you know! That would indicate that it has been repaired on the cheap - an MB Bodyshop wouldn't have fitted an incorrect part.

Infra-red sensors?...where are they?

 

[IanA2]

Just spoken to the guy and hes pretty straight to be fair - he is currently in Wales and I have arranged to see the car, hopefully tonight.

The Story
The car was owned by someone up the west end - he hit a bollard with it square on doing some front end damage and destroying the bumper.

Mark

Must have been a fair old bollard to take out the roof too.....

 

[janner]

Even with its dubious history it's got to be a good buy at that price.
This gives you some idea of why all the trim bits are missing from the front bumper.

 

[IanA2]

well cars like this are made t o be admired rather than driven.

Raj

Speak for yourself ....mine gets a lot of use.....

 

[Mark300SL]

They don't come from the factory with the old infra-red sensors as you know! That would indicate that it has been repaired on the cheap - an MB Bodyshop wouldn't have fitted an incorrect part.

I'm more worried that the shell was written off either in its early life or when it hit the bollard, and an early shell was used to bring it back to life. As this car proves HPI clear just means its not recorded
At least I know mine was repaired using all new Mercedes weld in panels - only the passengers door was second hand, however I also had to modify a rear panel to suit the "wrong" age of car. The only reason to use the wrong rear panel is if it also needed the boot lock - otherwise you would just weld up the whole surely ?


TBH I think I will probably be capable of seeing the car for what it is - and not what I want it to be


However - its time to go home and I still dont have an address............

 

[Mark300SL]

Must have been a fair old bollard to take out the roof too.....

I reckon it got hit at night with the soft top on

They get the car with a soft top, buy a hard top from Ebay and paint it at the same time as the bumper
Only purists would know it originally came with a glass roof.

Infra-red sensors?...where are they?

Underneath the boot lock - the little black square is the early IR locking system - which was discontinued for the facelift in 1995 - so the rear panel is pre 1995


Mark

 

[Mark300SL]

I have just got back from viewing this one - my heart says I want it and my head says walk away!

As predicted, the car came without a roof and he sourced one from Ebay already in Silver. Present owner has had it for about 2 years without any problems and he likes merc v8s - he also has an S55, SL55 and an 5.0 E class estate!

No AMG stickers on the slam panel, filler cracks in the metalwork above the O/S headlight.
Screen chassis number isnt perfect - but I cant put my finger on it, body chassis number is in the right place and looks ok - but it also looks very very easy to swap in an SL, and the mastic on that plate is again very good but also sort of rings an alarm bell.
According to the owner, the car was hit on the N/S front corner and that is why one of the 18" alloys is a replica.
Drivers mirror was broken and it currently has a stick on replacement

I need to know where the AMG engine plate is on an M119 engine and then confirm it actually is an SL60 engine

It is as per the spec sheet except

This car has cruise - the VIN spec doesnt mention it
The car doesnt have rear seats - yet the spec says it does


I am in 2 minds - there may be a perfectly good explaination for the early locking system but I cant find it.
1. The locking system has a perfectly reasonable explaination and I have just walked away from a very cheap SL60
2. It is more likely the car was reshelled into a S/H shell earlier in its life.
3. The car is a ringer with an SL60 identity

The rest of the car could be made nice quite easily, but until I know its actually an SL60 engine under the bonnet its just an expensive SL500 with a few problems




Make of it whatever you will - my heart still says yes but my head is saying leave well alone!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Blimey. If it checks out with an AMG engine, it would be relatively easy to forgivie the imperfections, repairs, and replica wheel at that price.

I recall Talbir's Hammer - we ummed and ahhed about it - and it turned out to be the bargain of the century.

Worth a little more legwork, as this may be the second bargain of the century!!

 

[janner]

Sounds like a badly damaged SL60 that wasn't recorded and someone's bought/stolen an early SL and swapped all the bits including the chassis number.

 

[glojo]

Make of it whatever you will - my heart still says yes but my head is saying leave well alone!

If someone had asked you to give this car the once over;

What would your advice be!

regards
John