Gooding and Company Auction Amelia Island 2019 – Mercedes Preview and Price Predictions

Gooding and Company Auction Amelia Island 2019

Gooding and Company will hold their 1 day Amelia Island sale on Friday, March 8, 2019 at Raquet Park, Omni Amelia Island Plantation. There are 91 cars in the Gooding and Co. catalog this year, seven of which are Mercedes-Benz models. To give you an idea of how big a Porsche sale Amelia Island has become, 33 of the cars being offered are Porsches, including a tractor and a handful of race cars including some serious, weapons grade stuff like a 935 and 962.

Full auction information including location, admission and bidder info, etc. is at the very bottom of this article. You can click this link to visit Gooding and Company’s online auction catalog.

Mercedes Market Price Predictions – We started predicting sale prices of cars at auction a couple of years ago, because it’s what we do with car friends and clients while standing around these auctions anyway. Unfortunately, we’re not on site in Amelia Island this year, so we’re relying on the fairly limited information in the auction catalog for these predictions and there is no way to actually inspect these cars in person to judge condition or go over whatever history or service paperwork may be present with them, but I’ll do my best to sort of wing it here, hopefully having some fun along the way. After the sale, we’ll look back at our predictions vs. actual sale prices and see how we did.

Lot 006 – 1991 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC

Estimate: $80,000 – $100,000
Without Reserve
VIN: WDBCA45E5MA565963

Blackberry Pearl Metallic (also referred to as Bornite)
Odometer: 7,515
Cream Beige leather
Books, manuals, tools
Aftermarket radio (original comes with)
One owner until the early 2000s, a couple more since

This car appears to be an as new example that has been well cared for. Looking at the auction catalog photos there seems to be very, very little to fault. Bornite Metallic is a rather polarizing color, but I think it looks great, especially on this ‘oh so 80s’ coupe (even if it is a 1991 model).

Perhaps a better place to have a look at this car, if you’re not at Amelia Island this week, is on Bring a Trailer, where it sold last October for $55,000. The BaT description mentions evidence of paintwork on a rear quarterpanel, but it does have a clean Carfax.

1991 models, being the last year, often demand a bit of a premium from collectors. This is as nice a 560 SEC as I’ve seen in a long time and in an interesting color. This would be a great example for a collection of ‘never-going-to-drive-them’ Mercedes. Top examples of top of the line Mercedes from the 80s are more in demand than ever, but there are a LOT of speculators trading them, hoping they can move it on to a younger collector for more money than they paid. Price Prediction: $66,000.

Lot 009 – 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet

Gooding-Amelia-Island-2019-Mercedes-280SE-3.5

Estimate: $275,000 – $350,000

Chassis: 111.027.12.002577

White w/ green leather and soft top

Column shift auto. trans.

Odometer: 68,640, claimed original with docs

2 owners from new

Mostly original paint

Books, manuals, tools

Original leather shows cracks, general patina commensurate with age and miles. Documented ownership and mileage with service records. Engine bay work by Jim Cosgrove at Oldtimer Restoration in October 2018. A largely original 3.5 cab that doesn’t seem to have any ‘stories’.

When I saw this car in the Gooding and Co. catalog the Virginia plates looked familiar. I looked at this car and spoke with the couple showing it at the AACA Hershey Meet in the Fall of last year. What struck me about it was the color combination. Ive seen white / green on SLs, but never on a W111 convertible. The original leather looked just right, as did the paint. AACA folks like ‘story boards’ so I’ve included the photo I took of the board in front of this car (below). It was driven from Virginia in a convoy of three classic Mercedes, all being shown at the Hershey meet.

Gooding-Amelia-Island-2019-Mercedes-280SE-3.5-Hershey-1

At the AACA meet, Hershey, PA, Fall 2018 (photo: Dave Tobin).

Once W111 convertible prices really started taking off in about 2012 – 2013, many of these cars have been passed around various owner / speculators, many have been ‘refurbished’ and ‘restored’ to varying levels of quality. Great originals with known, documented histories should be appreciated by the market. This is a unique example that should tick all the boxes for its next savvy owner. Price Prediction: $340,000.

1992 Mercedes-Benz 500 E

Gooding-Amelia-Island-2019-Mercedes-500E-W124

Estimate: $70,000 – $90,000
Without Reserve

VIN: WDBEA36E8NB701595

Black Pearl Metallic w/ grey leather
Odometer: 31,172
Same owner first 25 years
Original window sticker, records, books

500 E models have started showing up at high profile auctions recently, presumably to appeal to a younger demographic. Despite that thought, I know two collectors, one over 60, the other over 70, who have acquired 500 Es recently. Black Pearl Metallic is a common color for the 500 E, both 500 Es I’ve sold in the past year or so were this same color combination.

They’re usable sleepers while being ‘young classics’ at the same time. I’ll spare you the history lesson, we all know about their heritage. Later ‘facelift’ models from 1994 and 1995 are more desirable from a strict collectibility standpoint, but any lowish mile 500 E should be desirable. Price Prediction: $63,800.

1955 Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet A

Gooding-Amelia-Island-2019-Mercedes-220-Cabriolet-A

Estimate: $140,000 – $180,000

Without Reserve

Chassis: 220.187.12.5500031

Wiessgrau (158) w/ blue leather
Odometer: 79,995, claimed original
Factory luggage, books, manuals
Unrestored condition

An honestly presented, original appearing California car with worn interior and soft top and grimy engine bay. This is a pre-war design that Mercedes continued to build post-war with their new 6 cylinder engine.

The 220 cabriolet is a better driver than the 4 cylinder 170 models, but they’re not serious performers with drum brakes all the way around and little horsepower from their 6 cylinder engines. Never the less, they’re elegant, and the 220 cab A is the most desirable of the W187 series. It would be a shame to see the next owner of this car restore it, and probably color change it. Price Prediction: $121,000.

1970 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3

Gooding-Amelia-Island-2019-Mercedes-300SEL-6.3

Estimate: $100,000 – $120,000

Without Reserve

VIN: WDB10901812003870

Tunis Beige Metallic (462) w/ tan leather
Odometer: 26,300 claimed original
Tools, books, manuals

Little specific history with this car. Auction catalog states “believed the car remained in the dry Nevada desert for more than 30 years”. Apparently it spent some time in Germany before being repatriated to the U.S. in 2014. Repainted at some point with ‘selective interior work’. Some cracking and crazing visible in catalog photos as well as some dry rubber bits. Head rests and door trim appears to be Cognac in color, maybe seats were recovered in a plain tan leather? They do show wear and patina, don’t mistake them for originals.

I just sold a 1971 6.3 this week, so I feel I’m up on the market at this moment. 6.3s are complicated cars with their M100 engine under the hood and air suspension. They are hard to sell and trade in a thin market. Buyers are discerning and generally paranoid about past service history. My best advice, find a car that has recent service history with tens of thousands of dollars in receipts so you don’t have to spend the same money. I think this car will struggle to find the low estimate. Price Prediction: $60,000 (and I think that’s even too much).

1989 Mercedes-Benz 560 SL

Gooding-Amelia-Island-2019-Mercedes-R109-560SL

Estimate: $45,000 – $55,000
Without Reserve

VIN: WDBBA48D1KA101449

White w/ dark blue leather
Dark blue soft top w/ hard top
Odometer: 22,015
Tool Kit

A fairly typical color combination for a 560 SL, but handsome never the less. Little interior wear apparent in catalog photos, condition seems about right for a 22,000 mile car. Good to see it retains its original radio. No mention of books or manuals or service history. If a seller of a low mile 560 SL ever says ‘We don’t have any service records, it’s never really needed anything’ budget $5,000+ for your first service visit. Even low mile examples should have a good sized service folder.

Believe it or not, 20,000ish mile 560 SL aren’t that rare, they come up for sale regularly. Collector’s favor the ‘last year’ 1989 models over even the ’88s, which are identical, so an ’89 is probably the best year to take to a high profile auction, to one in Florida, even better. It’s very tough to guess the price of this car without seeing it in person. The paint finish on some 22,000 cars is better than others, depending upon how they were cared for or stored. Price Prediction: $44,000.

1986 Mercedes-Benz 420 SEL

Gooding-Amelia-Island-2019-Mercedes-W126-420SEL

Estimate: $40,000 – $50,000
Without Reserve

VIN: WDBCA35D3GA218427

Dark Blue w/ Palomino leather
Two owners
Odometer: 18,607
Books, manuals, tool kit

Another time capsule ‘Youngtimer’ Mercedes-Benz, as they say in Europe, appearing at a high profile auction. From the catalog photos, I can’t tell if this car is some kind of metallic blue or not. It would helpful if they actually stated the specific color and color code as it appears under the hood, on the data tag on the front cross member. I would guess it’s some kind of metallic. The catalog says “originally delivered in a Dark Blue finish over Palomino interior, the same as it wears now.” So, does that mean it’s original paint? I can’t tell.

The photo of the rear trunk badge shows some pretty serious orange peel in the paint, but that may just be a reflection. Again, it’s tough to know without seeing the car in person. The interior appears like new, wood looks good. I would expect a 1986 model to bring less money than a later example, only because collectors seem finicky that way. I think there are more low mile 560 SLs out there than W126 sedans from the same period and we’ve seen their values rise over the past year or so. A recent comp on Bring a Trailer, this 1988 420 SEL, that was sold by a Desert Stars Section MBCA member I met in Scottsdale a couple years ago while speaking at the MBCA’s annual dinner during auction week, got $33,000+ from its new owner just a month ago, his car had about 29,000 miles on its odometer. This car should bring more based on mileage, but is this the right venue for it? Price Prediction: $36,000.

Location:

Racquet Park, Omni Amelia Island Plantation
6800 First Coast Hwy
Amelia Island, FL 32034
(1 mile south of Amelia Island Parkway)

Viewing:

Thursday, March 7

9:00am – 6:00pm

Friday, March 8

9:00am – 4:00pm

Auction:

Friday, March 8

11:00am

Admittance:

Admittance – $30, admits one to all events
Catalogue – $75, admits two to all events
Cash or credit card only.
Children under 12 free.

Bidder Registration:

$200 includes a catalogue, admission for two to the viewing and auction with two reserved seats, subject to availability.

Buyer’s Premium:

For a final bid price of $250,000 and below, 12% of the final bid price; and for a final bid price of above $250,000, 12% on the first $250,000 and 10% on the remainder of the final bid price.

On-Site Contact Information:

Telephone: 310.899.1960

Fax: 310.526.6594

Email: info@goodingco.com

All Photos here, courtesy the auction company (unless otherwise noted).

Gooding and Company Auction Amelia Island 2019 – Mercedes Preview and Price Predictions