Seriously?

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Very strange on the link Alan, i tried it 2 or 3 times to make sure i hadn't clicked the wrong thing. As you say, works fine now.

I noticed that Merc for sale as well, i believe that's the penultimate Holy Grail for Merc 190 fans with the 2.6 straight 6 engine, gives the 190E the engine it should have had at launch.
I understand the real Holy Grail is the Cosworth version, 4-pot with a Cosworth developed DOHC head, can't remember if it's a 2.3 or 2.5 but offers a big boost in performance over the standard 1.8 or 2.0 fitted to the lower spec 190E models.

Looking at his feedback he seems to have been dormant for the past 6 months so i'd be hesitant to label him a dealer, more of a dabbler that sees something every once in a while he thinks he can make money on, buys it and sells it on.

The bitcoin link remains a mystery Dave, I can't shed any light on that.

You are probably right about the dabbler - both cars seem to have the same circumstances though, so it is likely that came from one estate. I don't know much about MBs, but I recall a Cosworth staring in an episode of Wheeler Dealers so I expect you are right on the money.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

The bitcoin link remains a mystery Dave, I can't shed any light on that.

You are probably right about the dabbler - both cars seem to have the same circumstances though, so it is likely that came from one estate. I don't know much about MBs, but I recall a Cosworth staring in an episode of Wheeler Dealers so I expect you are right on the money.

No idea on the Bitcon thing myself Alan, your link certainly didn't contain anything so a total mystery!

I came to the same conclusion, both cars from one estate and i'm not well up on Mercs either except i know from the early 90s (just after that one was made) things went downhill in general with German tinworm being given away with each new car.

Either way "Mercedes" is German slang for "Money-Pit" so i'll be keeping well away!

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

No idea on the Bitcon thing myself Alan, your link certainly didn't contain anything so a total mystery!

I came to the same conclusion, both cars from one estate and i'm not well up on Mercs either except i know from the early 90s (just after that one was made) things went downhill in general with German tinworm being given away with each new car.

Either way "Mercedes" is German slang for "Money-Pit" so i'll be keeping well away!

That MB sold for £1300, which I suppose is about right for a car with no MoT and no key that opens the doors. I suppose that is still outside on banger derby money, but I doubt that car is worth the cost of renovating. The car is in that no-man's-land of being a bit too old to run as a daily driver but a bit too young to be close to becoming an historic car. I'm not sure that MB 190s were particularly memorable cars, but it would be nice to think someone was going to keep this one running for another year or two.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

That MB sold for £1300, which I suppose is about right for a car with no MoT and no key that opens the doors. I suppose that is still outside on banger derby money, but I doubt that car is worth the cost of renovating. The car is in that no-man's-land of being a bit too old to run as a daily driver but a bit too young to be close to becoming an historic car. I'm not sure that MB 190s were particularly memorable cars, but it would be nice to think someone was going to keep this one running for another year or two.

I suspect Mercedes fans would probably disagree with both of us then Alan, i don't think the 190 was a particularly memorable car either. If someone asked me to describe a 190 i'd probably say something along the lines of "Mercs version of a base model Cortina/Sierra/Cavalier of the time".
I'd probably argue that it is a classic but only in the eyes of those who actually know and like them though.

Seems like a fair price, even if bought as a breaker. For some reason the secondhand parts are still expensive, about 25 years back i knew someone that had a Merc of a similar era, then only about 10-15 years old and they bought various secondhand bits from an independent Merc specialist who also broke them and even then headlamps were ~£80 each!

Probably near three times that now for a secondhand headlamp (think it was a mid 80s 300E) for a 15 year old Merc of any description and i dread to think of the main stealer price!

Hopefully though as it looks to be in reasonable condition, whoever has bought it will revive it and use it.

[Othen]

I have just noticed this car: been standing outside for 15 year, difficult to move, rusty, lots of things won't work... but sort of genuine in that the same chap owned it for 30 years. I wonder why he parked it up 15 years ago - but that is probably another story:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-244...UAAOSwDlFgCgZR

... I'll keep an eye on it and report back with the sale price - my guess is £600.

:-)

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

I have just noticed this car: been standing outside for 15 year, difficult to move, rusty, lots of things won't work... but sort of genuine in that the same chap owned it for 30 years. I wonder why he parked it up 15 years ago - but that is probably another story:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-244...UAAOSwDlFgCgZR

... I'll keep an eye on it and report back with the sale price - my guess is £600.

:-)

I think he parked it up because the floors were full Alan!

It will need serious recommissioning but looks to be a fairly honest example, i'd rather pay money for that than the other brown one!

[loki_the_glt]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

I suspect Mercedes fans would probably disagree with both of us then Alan, i don't think the 190 was a particularly memorable car either. If someone asked me to describe a 190 i'd probably say something along the lines of "Mercs version of a base model Cortina/Sierra/Cavalier of the time".
I'd probably argue that it is a classic but only in the eyes of those who actually know and like them though.

My better half's father had a 1984 190E bought new as a retirement present - he traded in his company-supplied Vauxhall Cavalier GLS Coupe against it.

It was the base model but better appointed in some ways than the Ghia/GL Sierra/Cavalier and impressively quiet; my father took it for its MoT once and tried to start the engine when it was already running, so quiet and vibration-free was it. It had some nice details such as the toothed brackets for the PAS and alternator and some cheap-skate ones, like an electric mirror on the passenger side but a manual one on the driver's. The 2.6 was undeniably more desirable, especially if you removed the badges, while the Cosworth was a true hot saloon. Sadly, parts prices were beyond eye-watering; an exhaust cost £400 + VAT in the mid 1990s from the dealers as against £60 at trade from his former employers; who knew a set of Merceds-Benz plythene bags could cost so much?

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by loki_the_glt

It had some nice details such as the toothed brackets for the PAS and alternator and some cheap-skate ones, like an electric mirror on the passenger side but a manual one on the driver's.

I've seen that done on several cars, seems to be a European idea. Saves the driver having to reach over to adjust the passenger door mirror but undeniably a cost-saving thing if the drivers mirror is manual. Some companies tried it here but were firmly told by customers they wanted the other electric mirror fitted free of charge as it should have come from the factory with both as electric.

In my Rover spares stash, i have a pair of European spec door mirros, the left hand mirror is manual remote, the right hand one is electric. First time i've seen a manual mirror for an 800 and will probably be the last, in the UK they were either manual (povo-spec only) or electric and always heated. Originally set to heat with the HRW, that was soon changed to ignition fed so they mirrors were heated regardless.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

There's a few big red flags waving on that one Alan! First it's very low mileage. Second it was originally registered in the London area (think they mention Harpenden in Hertfordshire so London borders) and it's lived in Scotland and now Wales. Doubtless other places in between as well.
Normally low mileage cars stay relatively local to where they were registered.

Third big flag is it appears to have undergone a major restoration but is being sold as original. Given their propensity for rust in the late 70s i wonder how much is original metal.

There are probably a few more that i haven't found yet but i'd approach with caution.

I noticed that orange 244DL didn’t seem to find a buyer at £11k - I thought that was rather too much (even for a nice car).

Alan

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

I noticed that orange 244DL didn’t seem to find a buyer at £11k - I thought that was rather too much (even for a nice car).

Alan

About 3 times too much, even for a nice one at the moment!