Car of the week

[c107]

Lot 201: 93 SL600.

Not sure how you own an SL600 with all the NLA parts. My mechanic tried multiple used Mas air sensors from overseas just to get one running as all this stuff is now NLA and there is no aftermarket. Even the brakes are unique to this model and W140 600 and now NLA. Nice condition though. Range 45-55k

Lot 201 - 1993 Mercedes Benz SL600 Convertible

Lot 201 - 1993 Mercedes Benz SL600 Convertible - Estimate 45000-55000 AUD

auctions.shannons.com.au

Lot 224 280SE W126 85.

I don't know what i am missing here as this honkers W126 is listed with a huge estimate of 20-25k. That is 420 money on a model (280SE) that generally struggles to crack 5 figure prices, even on aussie delivered examples. They make a big deal of the mileage, but the first service in Australia is 1991 at a supposed 10,000km doesn't mean the mileage is accurate. And while the car is nice, I've seen nicer ones with much bigger mileages on them. It should go quite well as the honkers engine won't have the ADR stuff on it that so hobbled the australian W126 280SE, and make the gearing too tall.

Lot 224 - 1985 Mercedes Benz 280SE Sedan

Lot 224 - 1985 Mercedes Benz 280SE Sedan - Estimate 20000-25000 AUD

auctions.shannons.com.au

Lot 170 R113 280SL.

Guide 140-170k. This one has been for sale for a while at a higher price. I've seen it at club events and it looks nice from a visual inspection. The Shannons inspectors were not very kind to it though. Looking at the photos you can see rust underneath.

Lot 232 - 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Convertible

Lot 232 - 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Convertible - Estimate 140000-170000 AUD

auctions.shannons.com.au

 

[BenzBoy]

At this stage you have to ask yourself if a Shadow or a Spirit might be better buying as the parts are available from dedicated suppliers. I have just helped with the re-commissioning of a 1973 Shadow and brake hoses, calipers and water pump were available off the shelf.
Regards,
Brian

 

[Michel]

Something different:

1968 Jaguar E Type Series: 2 Coupe, 4.2 I6, 6-Speed Manual
Extras: Air Conditioning, Power windows, Leather interior, AUX / USB, Floor mats, bucket seats, boot liner, rear tires Cooper Cobra P295/50R15.

https://www.lloydsonline.com.au/LotDetails.aspx?stype=0&stypeid=0&cid=410&smode=0&lid=4211348&pgn=1&pgs=100

 

[c107]

Something different:

1968 Jaguar E Type Series: 2 Coupe, 4.2 I6, 6-Speed Manual
Extras: Air Conditioning, Power windows, Leather interior, AUX / USB, Floor mats, bucket seats, boot liner, rear tires Cooper Cobra P295/50R15.

https://www.lloydsonline.com.au/LotDetails.aspx?stype=0&stypeid=0&cid=410&smode=0&lid=4211348&pgn=1&pgs=100

When I saw this at the Lloyds auction, I thought it must be a kit car and didn't even click the link.

Now seeing the photos here, it is based on a Series 2 E-Type. And the more valuable coupe (than the 2+2). I'm not sure why you would choose an E-Type coupe to modify - I guess it was probably done 15 years or so ago when prices took a dip and the series 2 wasn't worth a great deal - but its just such an odd thing.

It seems quite well done in terms of execution, but I don't get why it was ever done and its certainly not an improvement over the original car.

 

[c107]

Some of the cars coming to Lloyds:



Lot 430 - 190b: Looks like it has been retrimmed and isn't in too bad shape.
Lot 432 - 300SE Coupe: American import with the ugly american front indicators. LHD. Badly retrimmed inside with the wrong pattern. A bit tatty but not in terrible shape.
Lot 438 - 450SLC: rare signal red SLC. D-Jet. Front fogs have been replaced with cheap aftermarket units. Centre console has been swapped out or recovered in black which looks odd. Originally a left hand drive car not converted to factory specifications - hand brake lever missing for example. Colour change too. I would run away.
Lot 442: Very rare 350SEL. More rust than car. Looks beyond salvage
Lot 444: 450SLC listed as a 450SL. Ikoen gold. Somebody has tried to make it look a bit like a 500 with the body painted a different colour below the door trim and the rear spoiler. steering wheel is terrible. Looks like it may have a nice velour interior under those sheepskins. Very late car built in south africa
Lot 445: 280CE - striking colour. A bit tatty but not too bad.
Lot 446: 230E - signal red. Looks quite good and has some service history. Signal red looks great on the W123, especially with the colour matched hubcaps.
Lot 447 - 380SL: Nice colour. A bit tired/tatty in places.
Lot 448 - 380SEL: Listed as having full service history - but interior badly faded to 'pinkamino' Various panels different shades of green. Could be good mechanically, and still quite cheap.
Lot 450 - 500SEC Gen 2: Tatty import on gas.
Lot 452 - 420SEL - Looks like a nice car.


Out of all of that, the 230E and the 420SEL seem like the best cars.

 

[c107]

WGB is back for sale. A lot more than was being asked before. The description makes me think they are trying to imply its a genuine AMG vs modified by WGB. That is the only way to explain the illogical price.

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/1979-mercedes-benz-450sel-6-9-auto/OAG-AD-22000192?

 

[c107]

When I saw this at the Lloyds auction, I thought it must be a kit car and didn't even click the link.

Now seeing the photos here, it is based on a Series 2 E-Type. And the more valuable coupe (than the 2+2). I'm not sure why you would choose an E-Type coupe to modify - I guess it was probably done 15 years or so ago when prices took a dip and the series 2 wasn't worth a great deal - but its just such an odd thing.

It seems quite well done in terms of execution, but I don't get why it was ever done and its certainly not an improvement over the original car.

Was trying to place where I had seen those headlights and tail lights. Then I went for a walk and saw a Nissan 370Z by the side of the road. That is where they came from:

 

[Michel]

Was trying to place where I had seen those headlights and tail lights. Then I went for a walk and saw a Nissan 370Z by the side of the road. That is where they came from:

View attachment 25587
View attachment 25588

A lot of work adapting them to the E-type!

 

[c107]

A lot of work adapting them to the E-type!

especially as in doing so they have not only spent copious amounts of money, but significantly devalued the car in the process.

 

[c107]

Lloyds bidding results:

 

[Michel]

Lloyds bidding results:

View attachment 25604

Wow…
Values seem to have plummeted from last year!

 

[Michel]

Something different:

1968 Jaguar E Type Series: 2 Coupe, 4.2 I6, 6-Speed Manual
Extras: Air Conditioning, Power windows, Leather interior, AUX / USB, Floor mats, bucket seats, boot liner, rear tires Cooper Cobra P295/50R15.

https://www.lloydsonline.com.au/LotDetails.aspx?stype=0&stypeid=0&cid=410&smode=0&lid=4211348&pgn=1&pgs=100

View attachment 25566View attachment 25567View attachment 25570View attachment 25568

It went for $44,000.
A very cheap price for an authentic E-type...
But this is highly (untastefully) modified

 

[Styria]

WGB is back for sale. A lot more than was being asked before. The description makes me think they are trying to imply its a genuine AMG vs modified by WGB. That is the only way to explain the illogical price.

View attachment 25580

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/1979-mercedes-benz-450sel-6-9-auto/OAG-AD-22000192?

View attachment 25581
View attachment 25582
View attachment 25583
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View attachment 25586

In my opinion, the car is not overpriced, especially having regard to the fact that one of our members probably paid more than this asking price for an ex "fully restored Lane Motors" car - apparently with all belts and whistles. It had been advertised for round about the $160K. figure, but the owner assured me that he purchased "at a good price". Not all that long ago he was unable to move the car out of his garage on account of a collapsed rear end. This FULLY restored came with a rear valve that looked decidedly second hand. I was able to get his car to raise by submitting repair procedures to him by way of "Whats App". Last I heard was the car had been driven back to the dealers in Melbourne for rectification of Hydraulic Suspension issues.

I am proud to relate that I sourced the black upholstery for Bill, and I suspect that I also supplied him with the AMG spoiler that I had manufactured, as per Gleaming Beauty and also Michel's Red Devil, plus probably ten others. Two spoilers went to a 6.9 owner in Brasil - I had to cut them in half due to postage difficulties. Bill's car has been "modified" to AMG specs, but those modifications were restricted to the "300 km/h" AMG copy Speedometer, plus the boot spoiler, AMG Pentas and a couple of minor small and desirable odds and ends.

Bill was a great "doer" and he even fitted the new seat covers himself which, in itself and by some measures, is quite a difficult task. Sorry Bill is no longer with us, but he has left an indelible foot print on our site. Regards Styria

 

[Oversize]

Lloyds bidding results:

View attachment 25604

Seems to me as a seller Lloyd’s aren’t the best option! Those prices are woeful....

 

[c107]

Seems to me as a seller Lloyd’s aren’t the best option! Those prices are woeful....

its across the board.
Market is really slow now. Last shannons auction most of the non reserve stuff did not sell.

Interest rate rises have really hit the collector car market that is below 150k hard.

 

[c107]

As much as I like Bills car, I think its real market value is half that asking price.

The cars the real collectors are willing to pay for are:

- Australian delivered
- Ultra low mileage (less than 100k on the clock)
- Documented service history since day dot with detailed invoices from the various mechanic shops it has been to
- documented history of something special about the car - e.g. who owned it, is it a real AMG.

As nice as it is, this car doesn't tick any of those boxes. I would personally have it above pretty much any other 6.9 in the country - but I don't think the market will agree.

There is a reason why I got my 560SEC for next to nothing. Its an import without extensive service history. I might prefer imports to Australian delivered but the market certainly does not.

 

[c107]

The Shannons auctions are wrapping up tomorrow night.
I think many sellers still have covid level expectations as a lot of the reserve auctions had high starting bids, so they are yet to have a bid.

A friend went to see the cars in Melbourne, he told me the 280S is better than it looks in the photos and the 6.9 is far worse.

 

[c107]

Well, the results are in for the shannons auction.

The results were pretty low. Two issues. Firstly the collector car market is very soft right. Softest since the GFC I would say.
Secondly, shannons main website was down for most of the main part of the bidding for the auction. The actual auction website is a separate website, but many people first navigate to the main site and hit the auctions tab, which didn't work.

My car sold, although I am not very happy with the price I got. Who knows if I would have done better had their main site not gone down? Hard to say. Needless to say I would think twice before listing a car with them again.

Lot 171 - 1973 280S W116 - $3500. SOLD
Lot 172 - 1971 350SL R107 - $6,800. SOLD
Lot 176 - 1965 220SE Saloon W111 - $32,500 - Reserve auction, but probably hit reserve.
Lot 179 - 1971 350SL - No bids, passed in.
Lot 182 - 250SL 113 - Passed in, well below range.
Lot 192 - 1990 300SE W126 - $9400. SOLD. This car was pristine.
Lot 195 - S320 W140 - SOLD $12,000
Lot 199 - 1994 320CE Cab - SOLD $42,500
Lot 201 - 1993 SL600 - $53,000 - likely sold.
Lot 221 - 1979 280SE W116 - SOLD $6,400
Lot 224 - 1985 280SE W126 - No bids, passed in.
Lot 228 - W116 6.9, $18,500 - SOLD
Lot 232 - 280SL Pagoda - Passed in, well below range.

 

[BenzBoy]

Similarly the antiques, fine arts and decorative arts auction prices have collapsed - except for specialized and rare items that have increased significantly in price. We are running a multi-speed economy at the moment and the Reserve Bank increases in interest rates have cut discretionary spending for many people - as was the intention in order to curb inflation. I predict prices will soften further this year for motor vehicles (excluding the rare and unique). Housing is the exception and I am very sorry for anyone trying now to enter the housing market.
Regards,
Brian

 

[Oversize]

Seems inconsistent since some sold for a decent price yet others were flat. Is this the sole way they do business now or is there in person auctions available??

On inflation I must admit I have no idea. I can’t see how someone buying a new TV might affect the price of energy or groceries! Perhaps I should start another post....