What is a clean 78 450sel w/ 40K worth?

[andmoon]

Friend's parents car I know since 78. Garaged every nite since new...Not started in a year. Interior like new. Exterior as good as 28 year old car gets.

[michaeld]

If 40k is the actual mileage, be sure to mention that you have the documentation to prove it (e.g. complete service history); otherwise people will assume 140,000 (or more) and will distrust you right off the bat. The Kelly Blu Book (and other similar price guides) routinely price cars at significantly more than the market will actually pay.

Also, this is NOT a car to sell on eBay, as it will simply NOT command a high price. Mark my words: if you put a reasonable reserve on the car, you will very fail to meet it.

If it is a provable 40k car in the condition you describe, I would think you could command somewhere around $5,000 (but note: that's just a guess).

[Tristar1959]

If that's its true mileage, and you can work a good deal with them - KEEP IT!
It's argueably (sp?) one of the finer riding road cruisers of all time, and if you let it go, you'll kick yourself forever. Beg, borrow, steal, grovel, whine, - but get hold of and keep that jewel! For about a year's payments on a new full-sized Hyundai or Kia, you'll have a car they'll never build anywhere ever again...

Jealous in Virginia,

Stan

[belowme]

As Was The Earlier Comment, The Price Will Be Lower On E-bay. Luckily For Me I Just Bought My 1978 450 Sl For $3500.00. Its A Great Forum To Buy But Not To Sell.

[Jim B.]

Follow the correct procedures (others here will know) about trying to fire up a motor not run in a year. You shouldnt just turn the key and hope for the best.

I agree, this will bring the best price for the car, selling it, after it is running again, via a Mercedes enthusiast's site, where the buyers are savvy and appreciate an example like this. Describe it thoroughly and honestly, sometimes when writing an ad the cars are underdescribed

Good luck. These-apart from the rust problems, are VERY good cars, the W116 was crafted on the ESV (Experimental safety vehicle) so it is a very large and safe car, a wonderful cruiser.

[michaeld]

Amen to the last on all points. It's probably a bad idea to try to start a car with year old gas.

I'm no authority, but I DO own a 77 450SEL that I bought on ebay for $801.51. It was a one-owner, medical doctor's car with 124,000 mi and a complete service history. It's a nice looking, nice running car that I STOLE on ebay.

Get the car running. Clean it up nice (wax, polish). Take all kinds of pictures of it inside and outside. Try to document the mileage as actual if possible through service records or other documents (insurance records, DMV registration, etc).

If the car seems to run well, and everything seems to work, it might be a good idea to take it to a mechanic for inspection. That will cost about $100, and would be a proof of the car's mechanical soundness for potential buyers.

Do NOT put it on ebay. Try to sell it on this forum, or w116.org, or mercedesforum, or benzworld. All at once would be good! Give as accurate and honest and thorough of a description of the car as you can. I would recommend you put in a link to a blog you create (there are free blog sites), and provide a bunch of pics on the blog.

I also agree with Tristar. Man, I would KEEP that baby! These cars, while gas pigs, are absolutely magnificent rides. I could be the scum of the earth everywhere else I go, but on the road I would still feel like a king in my 450SEL!

A low mileage mint condition 450SEL will sell for a lot more if an old Benz lover buys it.