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Vehicle Description
All original chrome.
Most desireable teardrop turn signal lights. 1972-1973 model years only.
Top almost new. Comes with hardtop too.
Clean trunk, all metal underneath (no rot, no rust, no bondo! See next photo)
All metal floors (no rust, no rot, no bondo!)
Burled wood dash, excellent and rare!
Original seat covers (one panel has a tear; panel can be replaced).
Passenger seat is almost perfect.
Original dash—no cover, no cracks!
Door covers excellent, no buckling, little or no wear.
75% tread on tires.
BEAUTIFUL, CLASSIC 1973 MERCEDES BENZ 450SL CONVERTIBLE, EXCELLENT CONDITION, NO RUST, NO ROT, NO BONDO.
My Occasional Summer Driver For the Past Eight Years.
Classic car afficionados invariably point to the Mercedes Benz 450SL as one of the most beautiful cars ever made. And the early vintages, 1972-1973, are perhaps the most desirable, with the teardrop front turn signal lenses, which beautifully complement the sleek design.
If you are searching for a rust-free 107 chassis, you know how hard it is to find one. Even southern cars are prone to rot as moisture collects from rain on the carpets and is trapped between the bottom undercoating and the metal. Almost all of these cars have rust or rot on the floorboards and the trunk, or have been patched up with bondo. Not this one.
The floors and trunk on this car are rust and rot free, all metal.
This is one of the most dependable vintages—it's very easy to work on. Beware the single timing chain 380SL and the rear-suspension problem prone 560SL. Another bonus is, model year 1975 and earlier vehicles are smog-exempt. The 400 series are really bulletproof, the German-designed mechanicals just go and go, easy to own and maintain. The problem has always been the potential for undercarriage rust. This one has no rust, no rot, no bondo anywhere, neither underneath nor the rocker panels.
The car.
This particular automobile has been dry for at least 10 years, which means always garaged and almost never run in wet conditions (and carefully dried on those rare occasions when it encountered some.) I have put about 2,500 miles on it during the eight years and I have service records plus service records from the previous owner. The vehicle runs and shifts smoothly through all the gears. The car was carefully and professionally repainted by the previous owner and maintains a silky gloss. The soft top is almost new and there is no wear or scuffing. Fluids are clean with no leaks. The brakes work great, the exhaust is solid. This car was always professionally and lovingly maintained. No, it's not a show car (yet) but it would make a nice platform. This is what it needs to be perfect: I never got around to putting in new carpets, which would be nice but not necessary. The climate control unit is inop and has been bypassed so it can be turned on manually if one needs heat. The AC was disconnected by the previous owner so I don't know if it works (hey, it's a convertible, I never needed AC.) The seats covers are original and in good shape with some leather checking, and there is a small tear in one panel (see photo). The one little leather panel can be replaced by an upholstery shop; it's not necessary to replace the entire seat cover unless you want new ones. The windshield washer is inop as is the cruise control and clock (they almost never work on these cars anyway.) Electric windows work fine. The car has always passed inspection and was inspected until last February; I just didn't get it inspected or registered this year because I was going to sell the vehicle and registratioin/insurance is expensive here in New Hampshire. Please note: New Hampshire does not title cars older than 15 years. All states accept a New Hampshire registration and bill of sale for titling purposes.
If you would like a particular feature photographed and sent to you, just ask!
The extras.
Car comes with the hard top, of course, which I have not used since I drove it home eight years ago, and the frame, rope and pulley system that hangs it from a rafter in your garage. You get a custom car cover, the original Blaupunkt radio, which was removed by the previous owner (there's a cheap stereo AM/FM cassette in the car), the Haynes Automotive Repair Manual for MB-450 series automobiles and some odd parts.
How much is it worth?
Manheim Auction Report: $9,500+ for this car in fair to good condition.
NADA: $10,500 low retail; $16,300 average retail
Insurance appraisal 6 years ago: $12,500
It's up to you!
Reserve
There is a modest reserve under $5000 in case of eBay outages. Good luck and happy bidding! This is your chance to own one of the greatest automobiles ever made, and given the market lately you may get the bargain of a lifetime!!
Fine Print
Every effort has been made to accurately describe this vehicle. Hidden or unknown problems may be present and unseen as I am not a car dealer or a mechanic. This is a vintage or antique vehicle, it is not new. If you wish a new or almost new car, please don't bid. No guarantees or warranties are implied or expressed whatsoever. Pre-auction inspections are encouraged but absolutely NO post-auction OR post-bid inspections, according to eBay rules. An eBay bid is a binding legal contract. Please don't bid if you don't intend to pay for the item if you win the auction. This vehicle is being sold as is, where is, with no warranty expressed, written or implied. The seller shall not be responsible for the correct description, authenticity, genuineness, or possible defects herein as the seller is not an expert in automobiles or an automotive service professional. Any descriptions or representations are for identification purposes only and are not to be construed as a warranty of any type. As in any auction, it is the responsibility of the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the item, and to have satisfied himself or herself as to the condition and value and to bid based upon that judgment solely. Pick-up and delivery is the responsibility of the buyer. Should you wish to have the automobile transported, you will be responsible for engaging a shipper, (many are available through eBay Motors referral services and on the Web) and once the vehicle is loaded on the transporter, insurance becomes the responsibility of the buyer. We will cooperate in every way possible with the buyer and the shipper to efficiently transport this vehicle to its destination.
NEW EBAYERS AND EBAYERS WITH LESS THAN TEN FEEDBACKS MUST CONTACT ME AND CONVINCE ME THAT YOU ARE SERIOUS. I WILL NEED YOUR HOME PHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS.
We reserve the right to end the auction early as this automobile is also for sale locally.
A $500 deposit is due 24 hours after auction end. Payment in full is due within five (5) days, (seven (7) days for Europe) of auction end via PayPal, certified check or bank wire. Because even some certified checks can now be forged we reserve the right to validate the check with our bank (this might take a couple of days, better to pay with PayPal or bank wire if you can). European bidders MUST pay via PayPal or bank wire. Winner must pick up the vehicle within ten days of auction end unless alternate arrangements have been made with seller.
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