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Up for bid is a 1962 Mercedes-Benz 190SL. It has both the original hard top and soft top. This is a fully complete car with original parts. History of this car This car was bought by my aunt in 1963. My aunt was my favorite person ever. relative or otherwise. I will spare you most of the stories that I could tell that would prove this. but will say this. From the time she was born. and almost until she was a teenager. my aunt was told and had to endure others talk about how she probably wouldn’t live long due to a heart defect that she was born with. Constantly doted over by parents and doctors. she grew up determined to prove everyone wrong and do things for herself. She was the daughter of hard working farmers. who did well enough to send their kids off to college. She recounted a story to me many years later that when she finished her bachelor’s degree. she said “I finally showed everyone I wasn’t going to die. now it's time to show them how I’m going to live!” and promptly went to the car dealership. traded in her “boring. predictable car” and bought the car that I am auctioning today. Going by memory from stories my aunt told. if I remember right. this Mercedes was less than a year old when my aunt bought it. and was the car the owner of the dealerships wife drove. She apparently didn’t like the shifting. After purchasing her pride and joy. my aunt drove this car everywhere. year round. for many years. This has been a Michigan car its whole life. and my aunt drove it in winter as much as the summer. My aunt was very eccentric and unpredictable. but was always very particular when it came to servicing her vehicles. I almost think that auto mechanics were the only people she never questioned and let them do whatever they suggested. She took her car in for service for the smallest of things. I have every receipt that she kept on file for all the work done on the car. She had it rust-proofed multiple times from the year she bought it. She had it painted at least once. I also think she had the hard top painted red to match the car. and I’m pretty sure it was originally black. After about 10 years she bought another car for her daily driver and began driving the Mercedes less and less. Around 1975 she stored it in a garage on my grandmother’s farm where she grew up. When I was visiting from out of state in ‘83 or ‘84. she asked me to meet her at the farm to help her move her car. When I got there. she was yelling and stamping her feet. It was pretty rare that my aunt ever got that mad. so it was kind of fun to watch once I knew it wasn’t me she was mad at. Apparently. my grandmother (my aunt’s mother) had rented some space in the same garage where my aunt was storing her Mercedes. to some guy. The driver’s side door had door dings and chipped paint. and the rear fender had a big dent above the wheel and of course no one knew anything about it. So. she asked me to help her move it to the single stall garage that was on the same property. The car started right up. she whipped it out of the one garage and zipped into the other like a pro. It was the last time I ever saw that car driven or running. I moved to Michigan in 1987 and lived at the farm for a couple years while beginning my career. A couple of times I suggested to my aunt that if her car was just going to sit in a garage that maybe something should be done to store it properly. She was always very protective of her “baby”. but I was at least successful in getting her to let me cover it and put it up on blocks. After that she wouldn’t let anyone anywhere near it. Around 2007 while I was helping my aunt. she said to me “you always help me. but you never accept anything for it no matter how many times I offer. When I die. what thing of mine do you wish I would leave to you?” After a little awkward hemming and hawing. I finally said it “I want the Mercedes…. ” And just like my aunt. she said “Well now. you want my car? Well. we’ll just have to see about that…. ” When her will/trust was updated around a year later. she had it put in writing that the car would go to me. My aunt passed away just over two years ago. and about a year ago as I was going through many piles of papers and found a small note that said “Give Mercedes to Kyle – he wanted it” and I’m pretty sure she wrote it the day I mentioned it. She wrote down everything. In late summer of 2013 I rented a car hauler and moved the car to my house. As everybody can probably guess. I was pretty excited. Visions of my driving the car around town with a big smile on my face soon began to fade as reality settled in. My first order of business was to clean it up. As you can see from the extra photos I am including in a separate link. it cleaned up quite nicely. Then next came the fuel system. I figured I better remove the fuel tank and have it cleaned. I was able to remove the tank quite easily. but of course there were holes. After some research. I found a shop that professionally restores gas tanks (Gas Tank Renu - USA). After $500. 00. I continued with removing everything fuel related right up to the carburetors. During this time I also realized the entire brake system would need to be rebuilt. I removed the front drums and had them turned. but it was obvious I would need to probably install all new lines. have pads redone. booster rebuilt. etc etc. I installed a new battery. and everything worked. but the starter would not turn the engine. So. after more research it was determined that the engine was just “frozen” from sitting for so many years. It was now winter time. and decided to take a break from working on the car. This past spring and summer I had to focus on settling my aunt’s estate. so the car continued to sit. About 3 months ago I was reading a story about peoples favorite “barn find” stories. After reading the comments. one comment in particular stuck with me – “…yep. seen it often…old person has car stored for years. young relative says how cool it would be to fix up and drive that car again…old person dies and leaves car to relative who thought they would fix it. then it sits in his garage. never getting fixed. then comes along another young relative – boy. that would be cool to fix up and drive again…. rinse. repeat…” That comment woke me up. I am not the right person to own this car. It needs and deserves a full restoration which I have neither the proper time. nor the proper money to have it done. I’m pretty good with a wrench. but have no experience in full body off restorations. So. with a long and boring story now complete. I have decided to sell this great car. My plan is to help my daughter with college and buy the car of my dreams. I have been keeping a close eye on the value of these cars over the last couple of years and have a good idea what it will sell for based on sales of all similar cars over the last 3 months. Condition: This car is complete. It is. as far as I know. all original. My aunt had it serviced for the slightest thing so obviously some normal wear parts were replaced. It does not currently run. but it did when it was parked and stored around 30 years ago. Fenders are original as you can see the weld marks. As I mentioned. this car lived in Michigan and was driven in many winters. so there is surface rust underneath the car. and some rust through in a few areas. I have taken a lot of close up pictures of these areas. My aunt had this car rustproofed more than once. and while it didn’t stop the rust. I believe it helped quite a bit. LET ME BE VERY CLEAR! THIS CAR HAS RUST! MORE THAN THE ONES THAT COME FROM THE SOUTH! LOOK AT THE PHOTOS IN THE LINK PROVIDED! When I had the car jacked up. the floor board areas were obviously rotted (I think everyone knows these rot out in even the best of climates) but the frame looked good everywhere I could see. There is a dent in in the rear quarter above tire. Most of the chrome is in pretty good shape. Engine bay looks good and battery tray is solid. Original clock. solex carburetors. radio. tool kit. jack. manual. two complete sets of keys. original purchase agreement and every service receipt. Includes both hard top and soft top. Hard top is in excellent shape with only one small rust bubble (see picture). Liner inside top is intact with no tears but a little stained from condensation. Soft top unfortunately was stored in the attic of a garage for probably 50 years – mice got to it and chewed a few holes and plastic window is yellowed and distorted. Kind of sad because I don’t think it was ever used. Top material looks brand new – frame is like brand new. Interior (not counting front floor area) is in good shape. Seats are pretty good except one spot where a critter ate a hole through the leather (see picture) I have a copy of the Data Card and a clear fresh title All misc. Mercedes items I have will go with the car (see picture) Please click on the link below to view a lot of pictureshttp://s1383. photobucket. com/user/kyle49302/library/?view=recent&page=1 Vehicle is Sold AS IS SALE TERMS IMMEDIATE $2000. 00 NON REFUNDABLE WILL BE REQUIRED AT END OF AUCTION. Will accept wire transfer or official bank check within 48 hours. Balance due in same form within 7 days and before shipping. Seller will help load for shipment. Seller may be available to help with shipping upon request. BUYER PAYS FOR SHIPPING. Buyers with negative or zero ratings must email Seller prior to bidding. Prospective buyers are cautioned to conduct their own due diligence. including a physical inspection in person through a qualified third party inspector or appraiser prior to bidding. Buyer is responsible for any inspection charges and fees. Every effort has been made to accurately and fairly describe this vehicle to you. Seller has disclosed all information known about this vehicle for auction. Seller is not responsible for any typographical errors of any kind in the description of this advertised vehicle. This vehicle is being sold "as is". It is the responsibility of the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the vehicle. and to have satisfied himself or herself as to the condition and value and to bid based upon that judgment solely. No representations or warranties are made by seller. nor are any representations or warranties relied upon by bidders in making bids.
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