Things I saw today.

"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
12/04/2016 at 01:48 • Filed to: Car spotting

380SL for sale in Astoria OR for 14k. I’ll go NP

Seen somewhere else in Oregon. In it’s natural habitat, a trailer.

DISCUSSION (23)

RallyWrench > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
12/04/2016 at 01:53

That 380 had better be the nicest one on the planet for $14k, you can get decent 560s for that.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
12/04/2016 at 01:54

I gotta say CP. it’s a convertible and not a coupe right? I don’t understand the market on these cars. 380SLs seem to go for anywhere from 5k-25k in great condition. am I missing something about these cars entirely? an engine? a trim package?

RallyWrench > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes
12/04/2016 at 01:57

You’re not missing anything, R107s don’t do anything well as far as I’m concerned. The 560s were quick for their day, and they are good engines, but that’s about it.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
12/04/2016 at 01:57

You can still find primo examples of 460SLs (or whatever... those hardtop V8 Mercs whatever they’re called) here in the PNW for $4-7k... They are amazing but I certainly would not pay anywhere near 14 G’s for one.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > RallyWrench
12/04/2016 at 02:00

My GF really wanted one for a period of time so I have looked into them a bit. I really like their overall shape, especially in person (they have that signature German beefiness that just doesn’t translate to photos well), but the little things get me. the bumpers are awful, the star on the grill is gaudy, and the market is confusing. like I said, the nice examples can go from anywhere around 5k, to 25k. maybe somebody has some insight as to why that is?

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > RallyWrench
12/04/2016 at 02:02

That was the only pic I took, but it could be a contender.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
12/04/2016 at 02:05

But slow is cool >_>

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
12/04/2016 at 02:06

THIS IS NO TIME FOR RCR REFERENCES

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes
12/04/2016 at 02:07

It’s a coupe. If it was a convertible they’d only get to drive it one week of the year.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes
12/04/2016 at 02:08

It’s a coupe. If it was a convertible they’d only get to drive it one week of the year.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
12/04/2016 at 02:08

I was kind of calling you out lol. Mr. Tercel Uber alles

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
12/04/2016 at 02:10

That’s just the hardtop cover for the convertible. Only coupes are the SLCs.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes
12/04/2016 at 02:11

I stand corrected. It’s a hardtop for a convertible.

*See sm70 Duesenberg’s post.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
12/04/2016 at 02:11

If that is that case, I certainly will not make— and haven’t made — any claims that the Tercel is an underappreciated pinnacle of enthusiasm. It’s just what I like.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
12/04/2016 at 02:12

I thought the coupe was the slc though? also this has an extra body line (gap between body and top) that I didn’t think the coupe had. I’m no expert on these though.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
12/04/2016 at 02:15

Okay, I figured as much, though like I said, I only know (as far as the body style goes, I’ve worked on a couple old Mercedes v8s and they seem great) what I’ve learned from CL ads about these.

RallyWrench > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes
12/04/2016 at 02:29

The market is weird on the face of it, but this is why: There are no nice ones for 5k, those are all beaters which will consume their value in repairs, I assure you. And the people asking $25k had better have low mile 560s, they’re appreciating but that makes everyone with a beat 380 or 200k mile 560 that needs everything (unbeknownst to them, because they only care if it’s shiny) think it’s worth $15k.

The Euro models with small bumpers and real headlamps look much better, I admit, but I’ve never warmed to their look. How could I when they’re bookended by the Pagoda and R129? For their size they’re heavy and the interior is cramped, they don’t handle well, the chassis flexes, the engines, though good, take some K-Jet knowledge to keep running well and leak oil regularly, the HVAC is bullshit, the doors are so heavy that they sag at the hinges at this age, seemingly every single one of them has clapped out suspension... And just hope you never need to do the heads on a 560, the alloy blocks take 8 hours of drilling, tapping, and Heli-Coiling all 32 head bolt holes, it’s a pain in the ass. I unashamedly love damn near every older Mercedes, and these are the notable exception. I don’t see the appeal, at all.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > RallyWrench
12/04/2016 at 02:44

A very fair answer. As someone who was previously a part of the Mercedes community, I can definitely confirm that there are a lot of older men out there that think their Mercedes is worth more than twice what it is.

I will also say (as another person who loves old mercedes) that these were never on my list until recently. seeing them more in person reminded me of their potential, aesthetics wise.

I will also, also say, that I like the r129 and always have. have you driven both? should I just cross these off my list entirely? (keeping in mind that I am a fairly good welder and love to fab up custom suspension, chassis bracing, etc.) an SL500/SL600 has been on my list a long time, and based on your post, I’m assuming it’s a better car in every way. (and not just on paper. I love 540i’s, and really want a 540i, but there’s just something intangible about my e24 that makes it impossible for me to justify getting rid of it for a 540 even though they are better in every way on paper.)

RallyWrench > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes
12/04/2016 at 03:17

I’ve driven and worked on more 129s than I can count, same as the 107. The R129 does everything better, I actually enjoy driving those, whereas I just totally hate driving R107s. It must be said that 129s are more of a pain in the ass to work on, particularly with regard to the top hydraulics and engine compartment access, everything is packaged tighter. The 129 can leak hydraulic fluid onto your knees from above the windshield, just think about that for a second. But the chassis simply blows the R107 out of the water, it’s not even close. You have to remember, the 107 entered production in 1972 so by the last ones in ‘89 it was just comprehensively outclassed dynamically.

The first R129 500SL’s M119 4-cam (the 500E engine) is an all-time great, I really like them and they don’t seem any less reliable than their predecessor M116, but they too leak oil. The later (‘99 or so up) M113 SOHC V8 is also a great engine, but doesn’t deliver power like the 119 does or feel as special. The V12 is a great engine, but damned hard to work on in the SL, and it literally has two of everything. They’re better by the numbers, of course, and luxuriously smooth, but I’d have the V8.

I don’t like convertibles as a general rule, but the 129 just feels like a nice coupe with the hardtop on. I’d never take it off. It’s worlds better than the 107 ever was. I have a fantasy of building a trackday R129 with a permanent hardtop, flares, a deep airdam, and big ducktail on the trunk, black with gold Volk TE37 wheels.

I understand that intangible feeling from the E24, I’m an old BMW nerd too. I’d pick a good 635 over a 540 as well, or over just about any other German car but a 911.

RallyWrench > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/04/2016 at 03:21

...which look like 1976 on wheels

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > RallyWrench
12/04/2016 at 03:28

This is why I love Oppo. I’ll be keeping this in mind, though my dream r129 would be silver on alloy colored amg monoblock IIs :p

Especially since we seem to agree on these things. I also don’t like convertibles at all, but if a nice convertible came with a hardtop I would live with it.

Like I said, the e24 just has that intangible driving feel, while my old Mercedes really didn’t . so I can definitely believe that the r129 is better than the older Mercedes coupes in every way.

You don’t happen to have pictures of that r107 that’s black with the fender flares on hand do you? I was looking to show someone that car the other day but my google-Foo failed me.

RallyWrench > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes
12/04/2016 at 03:49

Haha, same here. The depth of experience here is great.

I’ve never really enjoyed driving old Mercedes per se, at least as far as feel goes, but i respect and like the hell out of them as cars. I had a W123 280TE for a bit, it was cool but not as good to drive as my old E28s, for example.

I have no pictures of any hot SLs, I’m thinking of a 129 SL done up that way, have you seen pics of one? I did one in Gran Turismo like that, sort of...

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > RallyWrench
12/04/2016 at 04:16

Agreed. I had a w124 and while a nice, and really well-built car, the whole time I owned it I obsessed over BMWs and their handling-oriented performance. as I like to say, a BMW is a luxurious sports car, while the Mercedes is a sporty luxury car.

Unfortunately I have no good r129 pictures saved on my phone.