This car from the Mercedes doesn’t even drive, but are ready to buy almost $1 million

How to invest in clunkers and buy Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing for 815 thousand dollars

Last week we spoke about the prices for spare parts of a very interesting car. These parts are intended for the Bugatti Veyron and they are just too damn high: Declassified price list of repair parts for the model Bugatti Veyron (holding heart)

But in this extraordinary case, buyers at least you can understand, yet we are not very old hypercar which the greater part of his life of luxury in the garage of some billionaire. I go to him rarely, he rarely breaks down, and the body is no hint of rust or any other damage to the paintwork.

Another thing, when a sum comparable to the price of the Bugatti is sold outright clunkers – rusty, old, and not only that, the emergency and are not able to move independently. How is this possible? Who’s gonna pay more than 800 thousand dollars for a car? Collectors, when they find out that we are talking about Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing. For a lover of automarine having sufficient funds, all this originality creates an aura, too tempting to ignore.

It is this lot appeared on an American auction. It is 1956, with the 80-ies he forever stood in the garage, it’s red and rusty and give him $810.000. And yet, this classic coupe has not sold, only five more days… www.autoclassics.com

This is one of about 1,400 copies of the Gullwing built between 1954 and 1957. This particular Benz (chassis 198.040-6500286) was purchased by the foster father of the present owner in 1968, and then given to him sixteen years later. It’s a damn good gift, but for some reason the iconic “Mercedes” did not know the roads with the new owner. We suspect that he had in 1984 was in poor condition.

After less than 1,000 miles (1.600 km) in 1977, this 300 SL Gullwing not traveled outside of the garage for 34 years, as, indeed, did not start the engine. Yeah, its the ignition key is not rotated actually, since then, came to power with Ronald Reagan.

Well, for future buyers it’s for the best. First, it’s just an interesting story, and secondly, the car was able to avoid driving on salty winter roads and not standing under the harsh summer rays for more than four decades. That’s it for this willing to pay knowledgeable people. And let the sports car may not travel on their own, but his mechanics have been preserved in the original and in good condition.

The only thing that time still did not spare is the body, there clearly are rusty, chipped and traces of decomposition of the metal (within the margin of error for the vehicle from the middle of the last century) and a few mechanical parts, the replacement of which put on this red coupe.

Last year we tested the car, showed the loss of 10-22% on all cylinders. Further examination by specialists of a model 300SL Albrecht of Stages identified ailments in the fuel system that needs purging, and worn out coolant hoses. The fuel pump also needed cleaning and re-calibration.

Otherwise, almost complete set. The odometer amounted to 83.000 miles, under the hood is the original 3.0-liter inline six, combined with a four-speed manual transmission installed at the factory. The coupe is painted in the color “Feuerwehrrot” with black leather interior and is equipped with a Becker Mexico radio. There are also two stoves, tachometer and antiglare rear view mirror. The car has the original sales sheet, Mercedes-Benz and practical full set of tools.

The only thing missing rubber mats installed at the factory, and the recovery will take about a year, maybe more – it is necessary to completely disassemble the whole car and sort out each of her sites… But it is all trifles, the main thing in such projects to find the original. For such a pity not to give such a huge sum.