How much should I offer for a 300 Adenauer??

[berntd]

Hello,

I stumpled across a Mercedes 300 Adenauer. For sale it is :-)
It is in my opinion in a quite good condition.
It looks like almost (maybe not) roginal greenish paint, not too glossy but good.
! slight visible rust bubble on 1 door.
Front right mudguard had accident damage but has since been detented and primered, ready fo painting.l
Right front light is broken. Reflector present but no glass.
Right front bumper was deformed with a rip but has been welded with crome still ok but blue welding coulur visible.
3 hubcaps missing.
All round chrome seems orignal and just looks old but not rusted and not bad. Not that super gloss of new chrome

Inside = beuatiful, with that fantastic old mercedes smell!
Engine / gearbos unknown but all present.


it is standing outside, now exposed and rusting.
Overall, suprisingly ok. Much nicer than those overrestored ones.

What can one offer for such a beast?

Best regards
Bernt

[John Green]

This one is more interesting. BIG job to get one of these back on the road, but what a car once you have finished the job....

Any pictures?? The value in this car is based on which of the expensive bits are missing/damaged.

[berntd]

Hi John

Dang, I can never see a cursor when I type in this forum. Very annopying to try and type right...

No pics.
Parts broken / missing:
Inside, none.
Mechanical, not sure, guy reckons engine is good with cylidmer head done jsut some weeks ago. Dunno.

Hubcaps missing ,
Front right bumper has weld and glass may need new chrome. Maybe not.
Right side light spot or fog or other light (on A-pillar) next to door is missing.
Broken glass on right hedlampo.
Broken indicator or park light on top of right mudguard

Rest of car is actually pretty good and needs nothing else cosmetically.
No damp smell insid ewood good, upholstery good, complete interior. Really really nice. I nearly fell over when I saw it.
Can't see it costing much more than mentioned above for parts and, maybe mechanical and brakes etc.

I thought 8k but I am no expert on the Adenauer and might be dreaming again.
It is right hand drive too. It is in a wrecking yard at the moment.


Regards
Bermt

[Mercmad]

For a while, unrestored Adi's fetched $20,000 Plus. Parts are seriously expensive for trim although engine parts are quite reasonable. If you can get one which runs for $8000 it's a good buy. Because they have full chassis don't worry too much about rust if you can afford to repair it. budget for around $40,000 to get one to a respectable standard .

[stumpjumper]

Here's one restored to a respectable standard.

http://weboldtimer.com/index.php?option ... 27&lang=en

Only $631,400...

[tips]

Thanks stump jumper I am a fan of the 300 and that link is gold

[Ivanerrol]

Here's one restored to a respectable standard.

http://weboldtimer.com/index.php?option ... 27&lang=en

Only $631,400...

The ashtray is a work of art . Modern cars are eliminating them.

[berntd]

Hello,
Nice!
Personally, I prefer my cars to be original as far as possible. I like them to look and represent the age they are, complete with some flaws and wear.

That Adenauer I mentioned is a 300b form 1955. It does not need a full restoration as it is actually very nice. It needs a right front light, a right front bumper half and an indicator. Also a bit of panelbeating and paint on the right front. That's mostly it apart from a brake overhaul etc.

I won't get it for 8k though :-(

Best regards
Bernt

[Aegean]

To replace the hub caps with new (meaning you will need to buy 4) will set you back around $2,200. List is around $550 each if I recall correctly. Right front light ? Headlight, indicator light ? Depending on which one, the cost will either be reasonable or excessive. Brake cylinders and master cylinder can be stainless steel sleeved (new price prohibitive), brake hoses from Argentina at a reasonable cost, brake booster (Bendix Treadle Vac) should be replaced with a more efficient unit , or if you want to keep original, can be rebuilt by the company in SA, but don't expect modern day results. You also need to check that the one way valve is working and the remote vacuum tank holds air.

Does this happen to be the car that was restored by Sleeping Beauties ? If so, there is a plaque to that effect on the floor on the front passenger side. If it is the same car, there are a lot of things on that car that are incorrect so it depends on how pedantic you are. As for price, I would think up to $12,000 is a reasonable figure. If you want to restore it, budget on $50,000 minimum, without any substantial mechanical repairs. Been there, done that.

[Aegean]

The ashtray is a work of art

It may be a work of art, but was a faulty design. With the return spring only on one side, and not so careful owners, it distorted the frame with the result that the arms (made of pot metal) broke. Replacement requires removal of the ashtray and heater bowden levers/cables and several hundred dollars for a replacement arm, which are still made of the same material. Fortunately, some enterprising person in Germany is now making them from chrome plated brass.

[berntd]

To replace the hub caps with new (meaning you will need to buy 4) will set you back around $2,200. List is around $550 each if I recall correctly. Right front light ? Headlight, indicator light ? Depending on which one, the cost will either be reasonable or excessive. Brake cylinders and master cylinder can be stainless steel sleeved (new price prohibitive), brake hoses from Argentina at a reasonable cost, brake booster (Bendix Treadle Vac) should be replaced with a more efficient unit , or if you want to keep original, can be rebuilt by the company in SA, but don't expect modern day results. You also need to check that the one way valve is working and the remote vacuum tank holds air.

Does this happen to be the car that was restored by Sleeping Beauties ? If so, there is a plaque to that effect on the floor on the front passenger side. If it is the same car, there are a lot of things on that car that are incorrect so it depends on how pedantic you are. As for price, I would think up to $12,000 is a reasonable figure. If you want to restore it, budget on $50,000 minimum, without any substantial mechanical repairs. Been there, done that.

Hello,

Hmm, it does have 4 hubcaps so I am saved there :-):-)

I cannot say at the moment if and who restored it but it is nice enough all round. It is some old fashioned greenish colour. Interioir is also greenish.

No joke, I believe you fully at what everything will cost for this vehicle and that is why I have not gone full hog yet and blindly bought it.

The guy who owns it said one can get the bumper half for 500EURO from germany but I bet he making that up.
A bumper half for my previouos 230SL was already heaps more than that.

This will probably not go anywhere in the end because the guy seems to want way too much for it at the moment.

Best regards
Bernt

[John Green]

I got mine out of storage to take it to "Wheels 2011" on the weekend. These are a truely awesome car to drive (but a pain to park)

DSCN0103-1.jpg

[berntd]

Hi John,

I see yours has horns on the front bumper and also a chrome plate on the front lower edge of the rear mudguard?

Regards
Bernt

[stumpjumper]

I was wondering about the Hungarian restoration - specifically the crimped ends of the black hoses. I suppose those fittings were available in the 1950s.

[John Green]

Hi John, I see yours has horns on the front bumper and also a chrome plate on the front lower edge of the rear mudguard?

Regards
Bernt

I thought they all did? (300b's that is)

[berntd]

Hmm....

The one I am looking at does not. It has the bumper of the 300 and also not chrome plates.
The ID plate definately states 300b though and 186.011 1955.

It is right hand drive though and I do know that mercedes did build some cars of normal german spec for export.
Of course, this could also just be plain wrong on this car.

Dunno.

Regards
Bernt

[420 SE]

Hi John, I see yours has horns on the front bumper and also a chrome plate on the front lower edge of the rear mudguard?

Regards
Bernt

I thought they all did? (300b's that is)

or is that one of the things which distinguished the 'd's from the others?

[John Green]

Hmm....

The one I am looking at does not. It has the bumper of the 300 and also not chrome plates.
Bernt

Well i think it is time for a picture, so we can work it out.. I have seen many cars over the years where hard to restore (read expensive) non estential parts were missed out. The Bumper overriders are a prime example.

[berntd]

Hi John

I would love to send pics but can't oblige at the moment because I can't keep going back there too often- if you know what I mean ;-)

Regards
Bernt

[Aegean]

Time for a photo of mine. This is also a 1955 300b. If the car you are looking at is the one I think it is, I have some photos of it somewhere. I will try and find them.

[berntd]

Oh man

These really are nice!!
The more you guys are sending those great pics of this great looking car, the more I want one

Yes please, if you do find those pics, that would be of great interest.


Best regards
Bernt

[Dweezil]

Aegean,

would you mind telling us the colour code on your b?

Ta

Dweezil

[John Green]

Aegean,

would you mind telling us the colour code on your b?

Ta

Dweezil

Looks like DB670, light ivory to me??

[Dweezil]

Looks like DB670, light ivory to me??

Yeah, me too, but I just want to check. Looks really good and I might just stick with it for my eventual 108 respray rather than going something more exotic (and expensive). Aegean?

Dweezil

[Aegean]

Colour is 620. Original cvolour was 157 Grey Beige, however I saw this colour on a 300 cabrio at Techno Classica and it looked fantastic. I have a roundie in 157, so one was enough !

[berntd]

Hello,

Ok, I made a realistic offer for the Adi yesterday.
Didn't go down too well with lots of kicking and screaming about how he paid so much more for it etc etc

I priced the damaged parts from germany at around $6k so I think my offer is pretty fair.

Anyway, he did take my number at least.
I am not hopeful but hey, you can never know.

Regards
Bernt

[Mercmad]

here is a parts car...
http://dallas.craigslist.org/mdf/cto/2293798176.html

[Aegean]

I assume you have seen the 300b currently on eBay ?

[berntd]

I assume you have seen the 300b currently on eBay ?

Hello

Seen it. Thanks. Can't figure out if that is retored or original.
Looks too new to be original?

Looking at that one, I definitely made the right offer on the other one.

Best regards
Bernt

[Aegean]

It certainly looks like new paint and the interior also looks a little suspect for an original.