Advice on ownership of 1965 230/280SL

[Anna]

Hi,
I'm looking for a bit of impartial advice and wondered if you anyone could assist, I have long admired the classic Mercedes vehicles and may have the opportunity to purchase a 1965 230SL, on a recent visit out on I stopped in a local car show room as I'd spied a similar one having some work done, needless to say it belonged to the owner and was one in his collection. Whilst he said that the cars were wonderful to own, they were very expensive to maintain, floors and seals rotted, and were expensive to restore with parts being hard to source, so you had to be lucky to get a good one - and they were not the sort of cars you could use for everyday or regular use - he advised that a better car to purchase would be a new 280sl aged about 1980ish.

I am trying to examine things logically, and whilst I would love to own the older car, I realise that if his advice is correct, the high costs to keep a car such as this on the road may make this impractical - I would be grateful if anyone can offer any unbiased and practical advice to make the best decision

 

[guydewdney]

the 1980's SL's rotted pretty well as well - especially the SLC (the fixed roof version)

seals etc are easy to get hold of - merc enthusiast mag lists iirc 'forest fine' who do all the seals / roofs etc

This was the last of the circular headlight SLs isnt it? not the stacked headlight 113 (long oval headlight)? edit - nope - this is a stacked headlight SL - R113 then...

one of these:-

rust above the headlight is a problem. (i assume its going to be the same as the w114 of similar vintage) rust in footwells (front right / left). rust on rear lower corner under bumper. rust in spare wheel well?

if you do get one - make sure its well undersealed / waxoiled.... engines are pretty bomb proof, but with anything this old, its going to require regular 'tuning' (points ign, carbs etc) Haynes do a manual for it (same as w114/5)

personally i dont like the newer 1980s (R107) - too 'edgy' looking for me. yet they are already becoming classics. the newer car will be more refined / more toys (stereo cassette player woo hoo! the 113 might have a mono radio...)

Can you weild a spanner / sign a cheque every month? Classic ownership isnt plain sailing - you might lessen it a bit by fitting an aftermarket 'modern' ignition unit (boyer brandson?) for a little more reliability..

 

[Anna]

Advice on owning a 1965 230/280SL

Thanks for the info, your pic shows the right car, personnally I'm not brilliant with a spanner, but I willing to have a go, done a few minor bits and pieces under fatherly superivison. Hope to look at the car this weekend, I shall try to get someone to look over it, to see if it's ok as I know exterior looks can be deceptive, but will definately scrutinise the areas you suggest. I'd be interested if anyone else has any experience of these classics.