How to Sell a Classic Mercedes-Benz
by Gary Anderson
That time eventually comes to every classic-car enthusiast: It’s time to sell. Here are 10 tips gleaned through the years from many people in the car hobby, all aimed at achieving maximum value from the marketplace.
Decide to sell. Whether the car is an old family heirloom that you just can’t keep, a car you’ve worked on and enjoyed for years but now don’t have the time to use or maintain, or just one more vehicle that you meant to get around to one of these days that’s taking up space in the garage; it can be difficult to decide to sell, but that’s the first step.
Get it running and safe. If your car can’t start and run on its own and isn’t safe or reliable to drive on the highway, you won’t be able to sell it for anything other than a parts car, which means it may be worth as little as one-tenth its market value as a running car. So, it’s worth spending the money it will take to change the fluids, replace the battery, adjust the valves and fuel system, and do a brake job.
Detail it – like crazy. Start with the engine compartment; this is the first area a smart buyer checks. Likewise, get it up on a lift or jacks and clean the chassis and suspension. Then move to the exterior with careful washing, clay treatment and polish. Finally, clean every inch of the interior and trunk. If you’re not prepared to do this yourself, spend the few hundred dollars a good detailing service will charge; it’s an investment that will pay you back.
Collect paperwork and accessories. Anyone looking for a car to add to their collection will want to have as much of the original paperwork as possible, not to mention service records dating as far back as possible. In addition, the spare tire and wheel, original service tools and tire-changing tools, storage bags, hardtop stand or storage pulleys add to the value of the car.
Take photographs. Because more buyers are likely to be evaluating the car from a distance, give them as much information as possible in your photographs. Take a good set of exterior and interior beauty shots in a nice setting without any distracting objects in the background, and then go over the entire car, with extra attention on the engine compartment, interior details, trunk and contents. Closeups of all details, including the flaws as well, are essential. Between 75 and 100 pictures isn’t too many – if they’re not sharp and bright, then retake them.
Write a detailed description. To accompany the pictures, a good description is essential. Skip the adjectives. List the mileage, color, age, and specifications and the ownership history of the car, any significant work done by mileage and year, and your reason for selling. Then describe its condition in detail, listing any flaws or issues that would affect its value. Finally, boil all of this down to 50-100 words for the short ad lead.
Decide on a price. Be logical and unemotional in your decision on the price you want. All that matters to buyers is the actual sales price in the market place of comparable cars in the same condition as yours. Good sources for current sales values include Hagerty Valuation Tool, Kelly Blue Book, Sports Car Market and recent sales prices reported in The Star magazine.
Pick a venue for the sale. Stick to places that people who buy these cars are going to look. Your own section newsletter, the www.MBCA.org marketplace, The Star listings and www.Bringatrailer.com are the best places to sell most classic cars. Craigslist and eBay will be more trouble than they’re worth, and these days the auction houses won’t consider cars selling for under $100,000.
Be aware of scams. Scammers are prevalent, no matter where you sell your car. The most common is – sight unseen – to offer a cashier’s check for more than the value of the car, instructing you to deposit the check and pay the shipper. Simply refuse to sell unless you know the buyer, or they inspect it in person before making an offer.
The purchase. When you do get a legitimate offer to buy the car from someone who has inspected it and even had a prepurchase inspection done at their expense, be sure you’re paid in cash or by a bank transfer from the buyer’s account to yours. Then make sure that the money is in your account and available to you unconditionally before you sign over the title and give the buyer the keys.