230/250/280SL

After reading the the latest issue of CMM, specifically about the 230/250/280SL's I found myself searching for driver type examples. This is a car I've always lusted after, and I think it would be nice cruiser on weekends. However, I think the article was rather optomistic about finding a nice driver without rust for $20k or less. A quick search of the ussual sites quickly had me wondering where all those affordable drivers are. After searching and finding at least 50 cars I found of few under 20K and they all needed work. Maybe I don't where to look, but the majority of cars I found were in the 35K on up price range.

It seems to be one of the side effects of living out West - I noticed that over on the GRM board, cars seem to be a lot less expensive in the Southeast than out here. It might well be the same with classic cars.

settle for a really nice 230/250/280SE instead?

BoxheadTim wrote: It seems to be one of the side effects of living out West - I noticed that over on the GRM board, cars seem to be a lot less expensive in the Southeast than out here. It might well be the same with classic cars.

My search took me coast to coast. It didn't seem to matter where they were located.

Two things... I passed on a decent looking 280 SL two months ago for less than $30,000.

And, considering the cost of a classic car, especially when it comes to rust repair, everyone should be looking nationwide, not just in their own back yard. Cars are more expensive where the money is, like in the Northeast and in California. Travel and pick up a car, or spend a grand or two and have it shipped. This is way cheaper and more fun than buying the wrong car close to you.

I'm not affraid to look anywhere for the right car. I've even paid to bring a car over from England because it was the right car, and even with the transportation costs was still well bought. The only issue I have with buying long distance is not having the time to look at it in person. So the search will continue methodically, until the right one surfaces.

You are going to have a difficult time finding a decent rust free driver for less than $25,000. Look in California and Arizona, the best cars are there and the largest inventory is also available there.

You can get a nice driver level rust free 230SL for 25k or so but that is the cheapest I have seen decent cars sell for.

Craigslist s your friend for finding one as is oursl.com and their classifieds.