What to do with my Dad's W124?

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holtons

Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2018
Messages
35
Location
Cambridgeshire
Car
AMG C63
My Dad recently passed away and I'm trying to help my elderly Mum work out what to do with my Dad's pride and joy W124. It is a 1995 white E300D four door saloon with 58k genuine miles on the clock. They used it as a wedding car back in the day when they did wedding photography but it got used less and less until the point where my Dad was no longer fit to drive in 2016 since when it has been SORN'd. Dad cherished the car so much he refused to sell it despite hardly using it for the past decade. My Mum wants to respect Dad's wishes and has asked me to find someone who would care for the car, ideally someone with a passion for old Mercs. The interior looks excellent to me but the exterior would need some TLC. Any ideas or thoughts on what to do or who to approach?
 
Sorry to hear about your father, I wish you and your family the best.
 
Hi,

sorry for your loss. You could try and put it on eBay as somebody maybe interested to get it back to its former glory?

What sort of price would you be looking for just out of interest? How bad is the exterior?
 
Hi,

sorry for your loss. You could try and put it on eBay as somebody maybe interested to get it back to its former glory?

What sort of price would you be looking for just out of interest? How bad is the exterior?

I'll take some photos when I next go up to my Mum's (she is 130 miles up in Yorkshire). My dad really looked after it and was garaged for most of it's life. I know there is some rust starting to bubble through in a few places but the biggest issue is a ding on the nearside front wing and damaged indicator lens as a result of my Dad's last outing in the car.

My Mum is more concerned with finding a buyer who genuinely is keen to look after the car rather than what price we get for it. Hence why I have come here rather than ebay at this point.
 
This was the car I loved most as a child, my love for Mercedes came from this particular model. Nobody we knew had one though so i never got to sit in one!

If/when you decide to let her go, I'd love the opportunity to take a look with a view to buy.
 
Thanks for the reply. I’d potentially be interested myself in this. If you could send pics when you get a chance that’s be much appreciated. I’d love to give it some care and attention as my SEL is nearly finished.
 
Post a few pictures up- in particular the area of damage. Depending on overall condition of the car it may be worth repairing any damage and minor rust as prices on sound low mileage w124's are begining to firm up.
 
if it was me id keep it and work on it/ have work done on it when you can to return it to its former glory. no amount of cash can replace sentimental value in my eyes. id restore it and keep it safe then pass it down to my son if i was in your position (also if you have someone to pass it down to it helps)

chris
 
Hi,
Sorry to hear of your father's passing and I can totally understand that you'd want the car to go to an enthusiast... this forum is full of genuine enthusiasts that will genuinly buy it and rebuild/restore as needed...i personally wouldnt put it on EBay as you'll only get idiots who are trying to make a quick buck from it... a forum is your best place to get interest.... good luck :)
 
When my father died suddenly 20 years ago I felt I was just too busy to do anything with his prized 1930's BSA cars. So they went to other members of the BSA Front Drive club (of which he was chairman).
I now have a little more time on my hands, and in many ways regret that decision to let the cars go.
As a memento of a life, a car can be very evocative.
Try to think ahead a few years and see if you can find a way to keep and restore the car.:dk:
 
Hi and sorry to hear about your father
May I just say that no one will care or cherish your car more than yourself
I might not be something you like but the sentimental value alone it's a reason for you to keep and restore

I would gladly give it a home myself if it came to it but I would say keep it
 
What d w124 said.

There are genuine buyers all over, there are also people who like to make a fast buck. The issues with the bodywork are easily sorted, they all bubble in the wings and a good bodyshop would take care of that for a reasonable price.

All I know is that my parents' elderly neighbour in Cornwall had an immaculate very low mileage (27k) W124 estate which I offered to buy but he couldn't bear to part with. When he died six months later, his nephew sold it for £1500 to a "very nice specialist who would find it a good home", who promptly put it up for sale for about £8k. Charles Ironside no less. That car has now been bought and sold about 3 times, all at higher prices.

Recently I had two amateur dealers sniffing round my BMW M535i (they had been told it might be up for sale by the guy who changed the windscreen). It was very obvious that they thought I would have no clue as to its value, and when it then became clear to them I did, they disappeared.

The only person you can trust to cherish the car is you.
 
Very sorry for your loss.

When my father died, my mother had not been planning on keeping his beloved merc - but in the end could not bring herself to sell it.

She still gets comfort from the link between the car and him whether she drives it (which is not very often) or not, as she knew how much he enjoyed it.

I don't know how sentimental your mum is to objects connected with him but it may be early days to even know that. If you have it off the road by her property, it might be worth suggesting keeping it. As has been suggested above, Money is impersonal, but a cherished object has emotional value. Perhaps you could come an clean it every so often - you may be surprised by the fond memories evoked. I'm sure your old man would approve.

All the best
 
Condolences to you and your family.
With respect to, and understanding the comments others have made, may I beg to differ.
When my brother died he left behind his immaculate Chevrolet Camaro and his dismantled motorcycle (previously mine).
I seriously considered buying the Camaro and shipping it over, but on (a lot of) reflection decided that this wasn't the best idea - every ding, every spot of rust, every bit of wear would upset me. Eventually (unless kept pristine, and I didn't have the resource to do that) the car would like any other car become old, worn out, and would eventually need to be passed on.
Much as he was proud of it, I let it be sold, and the great memories of him and the times in the car helped me move on.
Great memories of driving along a New Jersey freeway with 'Missionary Man' on one of the rock stations full blast - great times.
My advice would be to sell it to someone who will care for it as much as your dad.
 
Its always a hard decision whether to get rid of a car that belonged to a loved one or not , but in the end its a personal decision. For some a cherished aide-memoir of happier times, for others always a painful reminder of loss. On that basis perhaps its best to detach oneself from the personal aspect and deal with it as you would with the sale of any other car. Hence my suggestion to repair the damage and paintwork and make sure its a " runner" to realise the cars true market value. As Charles has alluded to there are always vultures circling in situations like this so my main comment would be that any "real enthusiast" will offer you are fair price for the car and their credentials might be judged by any offer they make.
 
Went through something similar many years ago with my late father's Austin 1800, which he'd owned from new in 1973. Among the records was a diary where he hand-wrote every fuel fill-up, mileage etc. in fountain pen (I still have the Parker pen he used) as well as all the service invoices etc. I sold it to the secretary of the Land Crab Owners Club, who a while later sold it to a club member, ex AA man, who cherished it the way my father had, and could not believe the history documents that came with the car. I was and am happy that it went to a real enthusiast.
 
As so many have said. Sorry to read about your loss.

The general rule of thumb here is: Money has no conscience, friendships are ruined when cash or cars become involved. Often the very best intentions, go South when money on the table. Charles Morgan highlights that point very well in his reply to you.

With all that in mind and speaking as somebody who has restored and drives a 124 Estate and now lives in poverty ;^) I would suggest trying to keep her going yourself, if you have dry storage? IF not then I would I would sell her and try not to look at the resale price that the next owner gets.
 
Condolences.

Tough decision but given that its currently SORN and as you suggest money isn't the issue unless there is some other reason to dispose quickly I'd defer a decision for a few months, put some time between your loss and a decision and see how you feel when you're in a better position to take a more considered decision.

Do you have the time, facilities and skills to undertake restoration or the funds to contract the work out.
Do you want a 'hobby' car?
Do you have storage facilities?

Once back to its former glory what would you do with the car? Sunday drives, car shows....

On a financial note the 124's are old school so easier to work on parts supply is said to be OK and for nice examples values are on the rise so probability is it will be worth more in the years to come.
 

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