Mercedes-Benz 230s Universal/ Quest.-Sale

[havapana]

Hi,
We have a Mercedes-Benz 230s Universal and would like to ask some questions to an expert on this type of model.
We might be willing to sell it, but don't know the value.
This station wagon has been with our family since '68. It's not in good condition, but was working up to a few years ago that we checked.
Would you say Ebay woul be the best place to sell it? Who could advice us regarding the asking price?
Thanks a lot!
Mario & Mirie Mouynes

[300SDog]

There was one kicking around on ebay in Connecticut a few years ago, RHD model. The owner wanted about $3k for it but had not received any offers. From the pics it looked almost beyond repair. And then there were 2 others in horrible rusty condition in Pennsylvania that went as a package deal for somewhere around $1000. Finally there was one in perfect original condition that sold for $12,500 in Washington state, probly one of the best examples in existance.

The Heckflosse/Nederlands website in our vintage links folder will provide info on the Belgium built Universal. Roughly 2,000 Universal wagons in 200D, 220S and 230S configuration were built over 2 yr span. It's the ultimate special interest fintail. If it was me, I'd probly consider running an advertisement in the Mercedes Benz Club of America (MBCA) "Star" magazine for somewhere around $3.5k USD negotiable. But it's hard to say without knowing the condition of the car. Rust on fintails can be fatal. And if it's been sitting outside then the engine is probly toast. Working against you is the fact that restoration costs have gone through the roof.

[POS]

I saw one for sale here near Texas that was a '66 or '67 - it seemed to be in decent shape, but I never had the chance to look it over closely. Seller told me she sold it for $5000.

It'd be nice to post the location and mileage - pics would help a lot. I'd try to sell it on this MB site and other MB sites before ebaying. An enthusiast here would be interested - if it's close to Texas, I'd be interested.

[cth350]

the market for the wagons is strong because they are both scarce and well known.

The condition of the car will tell you if it's a 1,000$ parts car or a 5,000$ daily driver.

Ebay is a great place to sell a car in 10 days. But you run the risk of the buyer not paying or worse. Craig's list has no timelimits, but again, you have no great control over the quality of the buyer, not to mention that you don't necessarily have anywhere near as much exposure as ebay.

Simply advertising it here will get you benz-literate buyers and if the buyer has been posting more than a few times here, (s)he might actually be a trustworthy sort.

No matter where you go, you will need the following:
- Pictures, especially the the underside of the car, as that's where the expensive repairs would be.
- A chassis number (111.001... or 110.001... or 111.003..., etc).
- The coach builder's name and number from the tag on the door frame, presuming it's still there.
- An idea if it runs and can move under its own power.
- A location. A postal code and country will suffice.

Good luck with the car.

-CTH

[havapana]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the answers.

I need to take pictures, and check in which conditions it really is (mechanically), and I'll get back with that info asap. It has gotten pretty messed up by the exposure.

In the meantime, this is what I have in my file:

Chasis # 111.001-10-096091
Motor #180-941-10-020845 (or 021845)
Fabrication # B-34, SL

I'm really an ignorant in all these matters. It's just that this was our family car back when; that we knew there was something special about it, and I would like to sell it for a fair price to a someone that would bring it back to life with love and cares ($$$, ouch!).
It's sort of like selling Grandma....
Take care,
Mirie

[findude]

I used to have a 230S Universal, and have been in contact with many other owners, former owners, and would-be owners. These cars are very hard to value, and it really comes down the "willing seller" and "willing buyer" concepts that drive all market transactions.

My belief is that a Universal wagon is worth between 1.5 and 3 times the value of the equivalent sedan. Mind you, this is my OPINION, but it is an informed opinion. Your luck may vary significantly. Condition will be the primary factor in determining value.

A slightly rusted 230S sedan that runs OK and looks OK inside and out is worth less than two thousand dollars. The same car in #1 condition might sell for $10,000-$15,000. A sedan that is only useful for parts would probably sell for less than $200 which is about what it is worth delivered to the crusher at 7 cents a pound.

So, MY take on this is that if your Universal is a parts car it is worth less than $1,000, though it might be worth much more to someone who really needs a part. I have known owners who believe they have #1 cars (really, both the cases I know of were more like #2 or even #2- cars) that they would not sell for less than $45,000.

The presence and condition of the Universal-specific parts will rightly have a huge impact on the price. These parts include the rear doors, the tailgate and associated hardware, the roof, all the glass rear of the B-pillars, the headliner, the tail lights and all the interior pieces particular to the wagon, and the 15" wheels with the matching beauty rings (hub caps are easy to find). These parts are impossible to find.

However, you car may be worth more if you can include documentation of the cars entire history and if it has interesting options. I suggest you call Mercedes Classic and have them send you a copy of the "build sheet" for the car, unless you have the original order and receipt in your files. Your car is worth more if it has any of the rare options: third, rear facing seat in the cargo area, 60/40 split rear seat, factory sunroof, etc. In the US, some buyers prefer the W111 cars, like the 230S, with the Euro headlamps rather than the US version, dual stacked headlights with the bullet blinkers. The manual transmission is probably a plus for most buyers.

Again, my OPINION, is that the car is worth much more in Europe than in the USA. If you end up putting it on eBay, chances are it will go to a buyer in Germany, the Netherlands, or Belgium. I would not be surprised to see you get an additional 20% to 50% from a European buyer.

Good luck, please post photos and let us know what documentation you have available.

[300SDog]

Yes that's true about the overseas market putting a higher value on Vintage Classic MB's as potential daily drivers well maintained. Meanwhile if this is in fact the Conn. 230S in right-hand-drive, and if "pretty messed up by exposure" she means it's been stored outside 25+ yrs - then the car would find a better home if sold through UK England Ebay to somebody willing to shell out for shipping costs.

Otherwise putting emotion aside, RHD 230S wagon needing work..... hydraulics rusted solid? ....frozen/cracked piston rings? Scorched paint and holes in floorboards etc sounds like a white elephant on the USA market that's probly worth $2k tops. And half that value is probly in the rear corner tailight assemblies that are worth an easy $500 each to somebody who really needs em.

[cth350]

A perfect rear corner might go for that, as mercedes had all the spare stock destroyed in the late 60s. A used taillight for a wagon can be had for about 200$ last I tried to get one.

The bottom line, is there's a market for the car and pictures that accurately show the condition will help set a price.


Whoever gets it will only take it because they appreciate it for what it is, namely a somewhat rare, certainly obscure bit of mercedes history.

-CTH
PS. To see several other wagons, try http://www.heckflosse.nl/photo.htm

[Fintail Jim]

POS, I'm curious about the Universal you refer to. Last June I took pictures of a 1967 cream colored 230S Universal in southeast Houston. The VIN shown is 111.001-62-108033. The build tag also shows that the body was made by IMA of Belgium. The owner was trying to sell it but also had no idea what to ask for it. I found out later from Helmut Holder that someone in California had bought it. The new owner called Helmut because previous records indicated that he had worked on the car in the mid-nineties.

I have been trying to reach the former owner since October to inquire about the selling price but have had no success. I would really like to know what this car traded for. It was complete, barely ran and had considerable rust in some unfortunate areas.

It was imported from Germany when new by a professor at Rice University in Houston. The spotty records available indicate that he owned it for many years but, at some point, it wound up in a field with many other vintage automobiles owned by a local eccentric. According to the last owner this man gave her the car as partial payment for some title work she had done for him. After the car sat at the side of her garage (not in) for about five years she decided to sell it.

I definitely agree with most who have posted already: putting a value on the model is very difficult. It would be much easier if it were a regular W111 sedan since they are more widely available in every condition.