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Contemplating the Cabriolets

gsxr said:
ROTFL! Yeah, in spring 1992 when the M103 had one foot in the grave and the M104 production was ramping up as the new, improved replacement inline-cyl engine... MB/AMG were going to mass produce the 3.2L M103. NOT! :ROFLMAO:

Is there any paperwork that corroborates the secret prototype claim? This sure looks like an MB employee purchase that was sent to AMG for some extra ponies (177hp stock, 230hp AMG).

Neat car, but rarity is not always synonymous with valuable...

:scratchchin:
Click to expand...
Right? Looks like the conversion done on 09/1992?

1686161619608.png

And by that time, R129 already was "300SL 24V" M104 fitted, at least for US market...
 
Duh_Vinci said:
Right? Looks like the conversion done on 09/1992?
And by that time, R129 already was 300SL 24V M104 fitted, at least for US market...
Click to expand...
Exactly. This appears to be a legit AMG build, but the story about "secret prototype" seems to be a lot of wishful thinking with some magic mushrooms sprinkled on top. I'd also like to know if the car was really delivered from the factory with a radio delete... also seems like a stretch.

:scratchchin:
 
gsxr said:
Exactly. This appears to be a legit AMG build, but the story about secret prototype seems to be a lot of wishful thinking with some magic mushrooms sprinkled on top. Id also like to know if the car was really delivered from the factory with a radio delete... also seems like a stretch.

:scratchchin:
Click to expand...
Yeah... see, to me this is the problem with AMG's poor record keeping... it leaves people free to create "AMG lore" about what they may or may not have been doing. I'm going to go out on a limb and say AMG were more interested with what they could do with the M119 for the R129 than anything else for that chassis (6.0L M119 anyone), though conceivably there were some left over M103 from the W201 cars that could be mated to manual transmissions used for R129 cars, and would definitely be sold for the right price (this being AMG).

Incidentally, I see zero M103 R129 cars in "AMG 45" but both pre- and post- facelift R129 6.0L M119 cars. I also see zero M103 cars from AMG after the W201 chassis ('91/'92). However at the same time, and since '89, you could get the both the M103 (3.2L) and M104 (3.4L) in an AMG W/S/C 124 chassis. Only the M104 was available in the A124 convertible (never a M103). Of course, there was no R129 chassis then.

So I conclude this was a left over M103 drivetrain from '89 that was simply sold for the right price. "Secret Prototype"? No, though it may have been marketed to the customer as such to justify the "right price."

maw

EDIT... having driven R129 cars with M104 w/manual transmission, M119 5.0, and M120 6.0 engines, there's no way I'm interested in a M103 with an automatic in that car. Too heavy, and not "the AMG way" says my own homespun lore. The best M103 performance in a 124 chassis for 0-100km/h was 7.0s says AMG.
 
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The M104 with the 5 speed dog leg is a lot of fun. The motor in my 300SL (CIS-E) would red line at 7000RPM which made it quite a bit of a different drive to the SL500.
One a side note, there are two A124's local to me for around $5000k each. If only I had more space.
 
alabbasi said:
The M104 with the 5 speed dog leg is a lot of fun.
Click to expand...
Agreed. Fun. But compared to a .6 behind a M119 or a M120, both of which are more readily available and *perhaps* more investment worthy, ... well ... I'll say as others have, "there's no replacement for displacement"... but that's all irrelevant.

A .3 behind a M103, for HWA, likely doesn't exist. Maybe for AMG Japan, but never for HWA is my bet.

maw
 
I think this a well cared for car and fairly priced (based on where 2dr W124 cars are going to in terms of pricing)

1687556067055.png

Seller's Description​

1995 Mercedes E320 CabrioletVin# WDBEA66E1SC277085 98,647 miles Two keys includedNew:New top New engine wiring harnessNew water pump New valve cover gasket New head gasket Spark plugs changed less than 10k miles Front/rear rotors and pads like new New headlamp switch Fresh oil change 17 inch genuine Mercedes wheels Trunk latch new Top will operate Top will retract and properly enclose in the truck with help, hydraulics are working. But the top seems to be out of sync! No leaks in the vacuum system as the system creates consistent pressure. Rear trunk seems to be out of sync. Top will operate if the rear trunk is held back from making contact with the top. All latches work on top been taking top down semi-manually Ac very cold Everything works in interior Radio knob is finicky Good tires Smooth ride All service records Carfax included Seat warmers work Asking 8,900 firm

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Duh_Vinci said:
You sold that one, didn't you?
Click to expand...
Yes, I sold the 5 speed car. I still have a 92 (CIS-E) 300SL in the same color that I need to sell, my 98 SL500 which I love and an SL320 parts car. I'd be happy to trade both 6 cylinder cars for a cosmetically rough but mechanically sound 93-95 SL500.

mikeym said:
Can you share more details? Feel free to message me. Thx
Click to expand...
Unfortunately both have been sold and the listings removed since then.
 
Bogeyman said:
Originally Smoke/Beige car. Sent to an outfit in Costa Mesa for a complete redo - that can't be cheap.
Sold for $173K at Scottsdale in January.
Click to expand...
Why would a dealer in Canada pay nearly $200k USD and then try to flip it on BaHaT less than six months later? :yayo:

Neat car, but for that much $$$, it needs more power than tri-Y's will provide. $200k should include the Carobu engine treatment (380hp from 5.8L SOHC with custom mods).

:jono:
 
This is an awesome looking car Love the exterior look 100% and the red interior except I think the red dash and A pillars are a bit much. Maybe if it was the 1990s when the Tuners were building outrageous cars a $176K was an appropriate price for this car but it’s still just a 107. The Costa Mesa company probably had a bundle of money tied up in it but I still can’t imagine it going for that kind of bucks in today’s market.

lol
 
If anybody’s interested, there’s a RennTech modified 2014 Twin Turbo E63 with a claimed 790HP / 895 lb-ft of torque on BaT. It looks fairly plain in White/Black but must be a real bomb. I’d post it here if I could figure out how to do it from my I-Phone 13

bringatrailer.com

No Reserve: RENNtech-Modified 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 S AMG 4MATIC Sedan

Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: RENNtech-Modified 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 S AMG 4MATIC Sedan at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #112,384.
bringatrailer.com bringatrailer.com

1687881134623.png
 
Last edited:
maw1124 said:
bringatrailer.com

No Reserve: 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500 40th Anniversary

Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500 40th Anniversary at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #112,481.
bringatrailer.com bringatrailer.com

M119 + 722.6 + Color = :spend:

maw
Click to expand...
I know Dean is a stand up dude, but the comments section needs to take a chill pill. We get it already. He's awesome.
 
This one will be interesting...

1998 Mercedes-Benz SL60 AMG For Sale | The MB Market

Bid for your chance to own this 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL60 AMG only on The MB Market. Finished in Brilliant Silver Metallic (744) over Black Leather (261) and powered by a 6.0-liter M119 V8, this R129 comes with AMG body styling, a pano roof, two-piece AMG wheels and partial service history.
thembmarket.com thembmarket.com

... as will this one...

1997 Mercedes-Benz SL70 AMG For Sale | The MB Market

Bid for your chance to own this 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL70 AMG only on The MB Market. Finished in Brilliant Silver Metallic (744) over Black Multi-Tone Leather (561) and powered by a 7.0-liter AMG V12, this R129 is number 77 of 150 and comes with the original literature and keys.
thembmarket.com thembmarket.com

I've always loved the leather rear jump seats on these -- a must have in my book. The front seats on the SL60 must be really rough for Ryan&Co to simply not show them at all. Nice pieces, if you don't mind storing the glass tops.

maw
 
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Discussion threads on each of the 3 Abu Dhabi / MBM listings can be found here:

www.500eboard.co

Off-Topic Discussions

For miscellaneous Mercedes-Benz & automotive discussions that don't fit into other forum categories.
www.500eboard.co www.500eboard.co
 
Was Emerald Green rare on the R129? Because it wasn't rare on facelift 124's...

1998 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Sport​

Rare Brilliant Emerald Green Metallic Paint, Custom 3-Piece Wheels, Extensive Maintenance, SL1 & SL2 Packages​


1998 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Sport For Sale | The MB Market

Bid for your chance to own this 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL500 on The MB Market. Finished in Brilliant Emerald Green Metallic (269) over Beige (265) leather, this roadster is powered by a 5.0L M119 V8 paired with a five-speed automatic transmission and shows 169k miles since new.
thembmarket.com thembmarket.com

Not sure how comfortable I am with custom Frankenstein wheels and super-stretched tires though. How wide does a wheel need to be to have 285 stretched? Eleven inches?

"Custom 19” AMG Monoblock wheels are wrapped in Pirelli PZero tires showing measuring 235/35 up front and 285/30 in the rear. The wheels were originally 17" Aero 1 Monoblocks from a C43 AMG and were converted to a 3-piece design with a stepped lip up to 19". "

1688133409204.png 1688133122750.png 1688133228345.png ?hash=db13034f9882bfc377b9e0fd0177c869.png
 

Attachments

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    2.5 MB · Views: 9
gsxr said:
Was Emerald Green rare on the R129? Because it wasn't rare on facelift 124's...

1998 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Sport​

Rare Brilliant Emerald Green Metallic Paint, Custom 3-Piece Wheels, Extensive Maintenance, SL1 & SL2 Packages​


1998 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Sport For Sale | The MB Market

Bid for your chance to own this 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL500 on The MB Market. Finished in Brilliant Emerald Green Metallic (269) over Beige (265) leather, this roadster is powered by a 5.0L M119 V8 paired with a five-speed automatic transmission and shows 169k miles since new.
thembmarket.com thembmarket.com

Not sure how comfortable I am with custom Frankenstein wheels and super-stretched tires though. How wide does a wheel need to be to have 285 stretched? Eleven inches?

"Custom 19” AMG Monoblock wheels are wrapped in Pirelli PZero tires showing measuring 235/35 up front and 285/30 in the rear. The wheels were originally 17" Aero 1 Monoblocks from a C43 AMG and were converted to a 3-piece design with a stepped lip up to 19". "

View attachment 169902 View attachment 169899 View attachment 169900 View attachment 169903
Click to expand...
Some things I like about this car, some things I don't. Unique color for R129, that said, rust is already forming from improperly rolled fenders:

1688140835121.png
 
sheward said:
...Rubbing at the rears would make this a looker only.
Click to expand...
I've always liked tasteful modifications to cars (regardless of the make, and taste is definitely as individual as it gets), however, a functionality imo should not be compromised during this process. There is such thing as "too low" and that one is indeed too low for comfortable or worry free driving for my liking. If it was build to be a looker only, fine, but these cars are fun to drive, not just look...
 
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I agree. I think the later 129s were too high. I believe it was you that informed that MB did this for the US drivers that are attracted to parking curbs. Everything I drive has been lowered a bit. I'm also not a fan of 19-inch wheels. Even Porsche runs them on 911s these days. :(

As you said, personal preference. Others could dislike me running 18 inch wheels on a car that came with 16s. Who was it that said, "a man must know his limits"?
 
maw1124 said:
And RNM at +$40k... a lot of expectations being adjusted is what I see going on in this market.

maw
Click to expand...
"Disappointing finish"?? :facepalm:

Selling dealer seems to think they have a gold mine. In the current economy, $40k-something was likely all the money. Especially with not bothering to invest in Dryce™ treatment to make the underside look like 7kmi (although it did look pretty good, other than scrapes on the chassis reinforcement arms).

1688590474040.png
 
gsxr said:
Selling dealer seems to think they have a gold mine. In the current economy, $40k-something was likely all the money…
Click to expand...
All the money and then some, plus our money thrown in for good measure. I can’t even see the day when that car will be worth $40k, nor can I see why or how. The .036 is worth triple (at least double) what these cars are worth, in comparable condition IMO. It’s a ponderous Mercedes V6 with a heavy cabriolet top anchoring the rear. OK. What am I to do with that?

maw
 
Here is rare one... I think the price is a bit high, but it is a very rare car and low miles that seem to be well serviced and upgrades...

2001 Saab viggen​

$19,900
Listed a day ago in Warrenton, VA


1688593488824.png



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1688593220819.png


2001 Saab Viggen Convertible - I am the second owner, and the car has around 83K original miles and has been garage kept most of it's life. Located in VA.Excellent exterior, near perfect interior, and top is in great condition as well. New tires, synthetic oil changes every 1-3K miles, fully maintained since new. New hydraulic top cylinders, etc. Factory windscreen with leather pouch. Clean carfax, no wrecks, clear title in hand with service records. $10k of Upgrades in the last 5K miles.-Stage 3 ECU tune my Mike D. Saab Tuning-Taliaferro 3” downpipe mated to BSR full exhaust-Upgraded ETS Intercooler, open air intake-3.5 BAR fuel pressure regulator-New suspension - KONI dampers, Vogtland lowering springs-Taliaferro short-shifter, poly motor & trans mounts, Stage 3 clutch-Viggen “Rescue Kit” – front strut brace, steering rack clamp/brace, upgraded rear sway bar, 6-point subframe braceConsidering downsizing - only reason for possible sale.

1688593314432.png

1688593345313.png


 
Duh_Vinci said:
Here is rare one... I think the price is a bit high, but it is a very rare car and low miles that seem to be well serviced and upgrades...

2001 Saab viggen​

$19,900
Listed a day ago in Warrenton, VA


View attachment 170322



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View attachment 170319


2001 Saab Viggen Convertible - I am the second owner, and the car has around 83K original miles and has been garage kept most of it's life. Located in VA.Excellent exterior, near perfect interior, and top is in great condition as well. New tires, synthetic oil changes every 1-3K miles, fully maintained since new. New hydraulic top cylinders, etc. Factory windscreen with leather pouch. Clean carfax, no wrecks, clear title in hand with service records. $10k of Upgrades in the last 5K miles.-Stage 3 ECU tune my Mike D. Saab Tuning-Taliaferro 3” downpipe mated to BSR full exhaust-Upgraded ETS Intercooler, open air intake-3.5 BAR fuel pressure regulator-New suspension - KONI dampers, Vogtland lowering springs-Taliaferro short-shifter, poly motor & trans mounts, Stage 3 clutch-Viggen “Rescue Kit” – front strut brace, steering rack clamp/brace, upgraded rear sway bar, 6-point subframe braceConsidering downsizing - only reason for possible sale.

View attachment 170320

View attachment 170321
Click to expand...
I missed out on an '88 "Springtime in Sweden" 900T 'vert this week.

That Viggen is definitely one of the nicer ones to come up. Probably $5K too much Ask. And a boring color. But I still might do some digging on it since it's local.


Plenty of bidders on that A124 maw posted. Everybody fell off at about the same range. Seller isn't going to do better, IMO.
 
ace10 said:
That Viggen is definitely one of the nicer ones to come up. Probably $5K too much Ask. And a boring color. But I still might do some digging on it since it's local.
Click to expand...
The color is definitely on the "simple" side, I would have love to see it in that "Lightning blue", but looks like 2001 Convertible were available in limited colors for US: Black, Steel Gray and Laser Red... (unless could have been custom ordered?) I would be ok with Red too.

1688600899181.png


a777fan said:
Ahh. The viggen. Not a saab guy, but always wanted one. The pinnacle of the saab hatchback evolution IMHO.
Click to expand...
Same here, driven a few, almost bough 9.3 Aero once, but always ended with something else. These Viggen packages though, definitely epic in their line up
 
That's a chunk of change for a GM Saab. I had a 92 Saab 900 convertible with a 5 speed when I first moved to the US. It was the only car that I could price similar to what one costs in the UK which is why I bought it. Would I buy another classic Saab? Only if it had a high pressure turbo and in that body style (designed before the GM takeover). Without the turbo, they're bloody dangerous.

Build quality cannot be compared to a BMW or Mercedes of the era. Anyone who thinks that probably also thinks that they're built from jets.

Now this Chrysler TC by Maserati is as rare as Chicken lips but I hear that you can make an old R129 look like one and save a bit of money.


1688614534243.jpeg
 
Last edited:
I thought we were talking about MB cabriolets, but I’ll play along.

www.pcarmarket.com

1991 Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet | PCARMARKET

Introduced in 1989, the 944 S2 was the final evolution of Porsche’s acclaimed water-cooled transaxle sports car and was the first of its kind to be offered in a Cabriolet version. This 1991 Porsche 944 S2 is one of less than 3k Cabriolets sold in the United States during the model’s three-year...
www.pcarmarket.com www.pcarmarket.com

maw
 
Duh_Vinci said:
The color is definitely on the "simple" side, I would have love to see it in that "Lightning blue", but looks like 2001 Convertible were available in limited colors for US: Black, Steel Gray and Laser Red... (unless could have been custom ordered?) I would be ok with Red too.

View attachment 170324
Click to expand...
There's nothing wrong with the Viggen in grey, its biggest challenge to overcome is simply the existence of Yellow and Blue. lol

Came across this sweet 9-3 last night. Chili Red is a great color for that body.


1688650541657.png

Probably about $5K too pricey, as well.
 
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I'm surprised that the W208 series CLK does not get a lot of love. I still think that it's a stunning design and with the 5.5 AMG motor, must be a blast to drive. I've driving the W209 CLK with the 4 cam V6 and that's also a great little car, although not as good looking IMO.
 
I'm surprised that the W208 series CLK does not get a lot of love. I still think that it's a stunning design and with the 5.5 AMG motor, must be a blast to drive. I've driving the W209 CLK with the 4 cam V6 and that's also a great little car, although not as good looking IMO.
 
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