So...what's it worth then?

[trampintransit]

Hello to everybody. Apologies I'm here briefly because I'd like help on behalf of a friend.
My friend Lynn has a '81 380SLC which has been fallow for much of the last decade or so. It's been in a dry garage ( in which also lives my Alvis ) and she has decided it's time for it to go. It's got a pretty nice registration worth we think several thousands and she wants to put that on retention ( fair enough ) BUT....the car itself can go. I'm a bit out of my depth here, I've rarely come across a car model that seems to have such variation in values when i look at the ads.
Downside..it needs a repaint, it's gone all bubbly, BUT it's 'dry' bubbles....no pooping and out comes water?? The underneath as far as I can see so far is solid as a tank!! no rotten sills / arches pillars...anything!!! Just this bubbly paint. It's only got 36000 odd on the clock and the motor fires up faster than anything I think I've ever heard!!!! and is wonderfully quiet. The interior is lovely and used black leather but no damage. It's got that kind of 'barnfind' quality to it....unmolested and original. I've got a folder of pics....is there anybody who'd like to get the link to a folder of pics and advise what to do....do I ebay it for her?.....classic car website? dealer?
BTW..it's taxed and MOT'd!

 

[DITTRICH]

Upload the photographs to the net and post links.
Then the advice will mean something.

 

[Scott_F]

A pre-facelift C107 that's been "fallow" for a long time wouldn't usually be worth a great deal. The critical thing here would seem to be a service history to back up that very low-mileage. If your friend can provide that then it will give the car a real usp when compared to all the other old SLC's out there requiring a lot of work.

 

[jaymanek]

SLC's arent all that popular or valuable... one thats been sat for some time, albeit with low miles, will be worth 3K at best I would have thought...

I hope it doesnt get broken for parts... they share some common parts with the SL and obviously there is a massive demand for parts for the SL.

 

[trampintransit]

Dont worry...it wont get broken...no way. It's a really nice car and the condition of the interior does suggest the mileage is for real........she's had it since '92 and I believe her when she says it only really got used as a summer Sunday car. ( there's always been plenty of cars in this family ) The shame is that is probably history in that massive bloody house of hers but she cant find it ... but I'd be happy if I were buying it that the mileage is for real. I'm going to hassle her again to look for more history..old MOT's n stuff...but i doubt it.......funnily enough three grand was kinda what i thought, but is it not the case that the 380 is in someways not more desirable than a 450. Forgive me, I'm not a German metal man so don't really know these cars!!! But...I'm a classic man and am keen to see this car go to an enthusiast where it'll be looked after and kept dry....NOT just left out on the street to rot and decay.

here are some pics.....

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/c7dza9pqnc7c6vm/DAWW84FeYr

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Without the history the mileage means little, which ultimately affects the value on something like this.

 

[horgantrevor]

Looks a nice car

Very strange bubbling on booth door

But as said above not worth as much as you may think especially as it needs new paint

The new owner is going to factor that in when buying

Good luck with sale

Sent from my iPhone using MBClub UK

 

[Scott_F]

It's a really nice car and the condition of the interior does suggest the mileage is for real.......

You'll need more than that I'm afraid.

 

[grober]

Looks as if it would merit an entire body respray which I assume its had at least once before since I can't see any baked factory finish degrading like that. Interior looks well kept but if you really want to sell the car you need several photographs of both sides of the entire length of the car not ones where its peeping rather coyly out of its garage. If you are really serious about getting the best price for the car----- perhaps even more than you are thinking of asking------ then do a bit of research on the corrosion weak spots of these cars and then in particular take detailed photographs of these and the underside of the car. If?? its sound in these areas you will definitely get interested buyers if not it has to priced as a restoration project or for spares

 

[BTB 500]

As mentioned the SLC isn't a very popular model, and you would need some documentation to support the mileage as M-B interiors generally wear pretty well (not easy to tell from the pics, but the seats & wheel don't actually look that pristine).

107s also frequently suffer from hidden rot, so given that there's some visible rust (in addition to the bubbles on the paintwork) I suspect it may not be as solid as you think.

In terms of selling, I imagine eBay would be the best bet. Good luck

 

[bolide]

The paint has microblisters so it's been painted before and moisture is now coming out through the paint. The interior is damp & mildewed. With no documents I think it's a £1000 car

Nick Froome

 

[trampintransit]

I cant stand ebay...too many nutters. The reason for the 'poking coyly out of the garage' look was 'cos the grass was so wet I thought I might never get it back in if the rear wheels came off the concrete!!! I don't think there is likely to be any more history...shame. I'm sure the bubbling is the result of an inexpert full respray at some point...it had new rear wings put on in '97 as part of about £6.5k spent on servicing and other sundry parts and brightwork a new front wing, inner wings, fuel pipes, body seals, paint etc etc etc. Then in the same year there has been another £1300 spent at the main dealer on brakes, heater blowers , aircon etc etc. The main dealer invoice shows the mileage as 29,187 at that time! Then another £2,5k spent in 2010 on upholstery, battery, seals, brakes etc. Unfortunately that main dealer invoice showing 29,187mles in '97 is the best Ive found. I'll try to get it on my tall stands and get some pics of the underside but a perfunctory run along the sills and obvious rust traps returns the sound of solid metal.......I'll do some more reading but I think £3k is sounding more and more likely?

 

[trampintransit]

The interior isnt damp......I know what a damp interior smells like....I've seen plenty! There is paperwork lying in the car that's been there for about a year I think..I know what damp paper feels like....and this isn't damp. The receipts from '97 would reinforce what we do know of the mileage and show that plenty of money has been thrown at it.....if only she could find the sodding MOT's!!!! Still....one way or the other it's gotta go and I sure don't fancy ebay!!!

 

[grober]

Documentation of " money spent" is certainly going to help any potential sale. My suggestion of extra photographs is to help sell the car. With cars of this age---- you have to work hard at selling it --- the more buyers know --- the more likely they are to actually come and look at it?

 

[mct_cars]

These things have to be top notch to fetch money. From the photos I can see:-

- The car has been painted (very thickly, hence the reaction in the paint I would think)
- the seats suggest 138k not 38k - that's a lot of wear!
- the steering wheel I doubt is original as it's plastic off a lesser model
- the sunroof has been leaking
- the laminate on the interior dash strips is lifting (gone milky underneath)
- the paint looks very good on the slam panel, but the original stickers are missing
- the various bits of rust will undoubtably mean there is rust elsewhere
- the oil presure is either outstandingly good or there's something wrong with the guage. Also I don't think it should idle at 1k rpm when at full temp?
- Lots of wear to the corner of the brake pedal.
- The front bumper rubber has quite a few nicks.
- Rear Lower valance is either very dirty or very rusty, and the chrome centre ofd the bumper looks tarnished (or painted?)
- Carpet is missing from centre console

... and that's just from a few pics. Sorry to say, but I think it is worth more for parts - shame really. Might be worth saving if you can find the history. Probably #£2-3k in that case.

Is it still the case that to transfer the plate it has to be MOT'd?

 

[Scott_F]

The paint has microblisters so it's been painted before and moisture is now coming out through the paint. The interior is damp & mildewed. With no documents I think it's a £1000 car

With tax, an MOT and a V8 engine that seems to be in fine fettle it has to be worth considerably more than £1000. Plenty of people will pay more than twice that for an old cruiser that they can use as a daily smoker.

 

[SilverSaloon]

I think your best bet is to get it out, clean it up best you can and stick it on ebay.

i think it will fetch around £2k on ebay