Merc Conversion Advice
Discussion
I know il get all the "why would you" posts but here goes.
I really like the looks of the SL65 black wide arch cars and although i dont have the 200k to buy one, the look can be achieved for 15k, which is a realistic proposition.
Now my dilemma is whether to go for a SL 500 or a SL55 as a base car.
The 55s are making 15k ish and a 500 can be had for 8. Both go reasonably well.
Now with the 55 and the kit id have a car that looked great and gave me 90% of the performance, with the 500 it would be more like 70%.
Would i be taking value away from a possible classic by modding the 55?
I would would be trading in my 911 997 C4S to do this.
Cheers in advance guys
I really like the looks of the SL65 black wide arch cars and although i dont have the 200k to buy one, the look can be achieved for 15k, which is a realistic proposition.
Now my dilemma is whether to go for a SL 500 or a SL55 as a base car.
The 55s are making 15k ish and a 500 can be had for 8. Both go reasonably well.
Now with the 55 and the kit id have a car that looked great and gave me 90% of the performance, with the 500 it would be more like 70%.
Would i be taking value away from a possible classic by modding the 55?
I would would be trading in my 911 997 C4S to do this.
Cheers in advance guys
I think if you do this you'll have to write off any classic value you'd hoped the car would have.. Take a look at say a Renault 5 GTT (or any other classic really), is it the ones with the mad bodykits or the completely standard car that people want to buy?
If you really like the look of it and don't care about values then buy one that's already been done, there are plenty out there (albeit at often silly prices)
If you really like the look of it and don't care about values then buy one that's already been done, there are plenty out there (albeit at often silly prices)
I'd ignore the naysayers, if this is the car you dream of, and would intend to keep for a long time; there would almost certainly be a market for selling on anyway.
BUT: as others have said- I would try to do it properly, with metal work mods to the bodywork (arches); make sure the quality and fit of the bumpers is as good as possible.
And I'd do it to a 55 AMG so the performance matches the looks; or (if it gets anywhere close to budget) get the 600 with the V12, some tubular manifolds/exhaust will make it sound like a Zonda
Then post your build thread in Readers Cars...
BUT: as others have said- I would try to do it properly, with metal work mods to the bodywork (arches); make sure the quality and fit of the bumpers is as good as possible.
And I'd do it to a 55 AMG so the performance matches the looks; or (if it gets anywhere close to budget) get the 600 with the V12, some tubular manifolds/exhaust will make it sound like a Zonda
Then post your build thread in Readers Cars...
The sort 'in your face ' looks of the original car are backed up by proper performance and proper sized discs etc. No matter how much you spend on it the copies just don't look right. I saw one (a copy) at an independent in Horndean a year or so back that looked like it had a fortune spent on it but the rear discs were weedy looking and gave it away.
My advice buy the best 55 you can and just enjoy it. It's a bit like people who put AMG or M badges on their cars regardless of how much you spend?waste it will always be a copy.
My advice buy the best 55 you can and just enjoy it. It's a bit like people who put AMG or M badges on their cars regardless of how much you spend?waste it will always be a copy.
One of the TV programmes did this in the last few months (USA show on Discovery UK I think). But they bought a very cheap accident damaged SL55 as the kit included actual replacement panels rather than just 'stick on' bits.
Could be a more cost effective way of doing it, and you're not 'ruining' an original good condition car.
sinbaddio said:
One of the TV programmes did this in the last few months (USA show on Discovery UK I think). But they bought a very cheap accident damaged SL55 as the kit included actual replacement panels rather than just 'stick on' bits.
Could be a more cost effective way of doing it, and you're not 'ruining' an original good condition car.
The Orange one ?Could be a more cost effective way of doing it, and you're not 'ruining' an original good condition car.
Junkyard Empire, it looked a bit crap in Orange, needed to be an OEM sort of colour to look any way authentic and not a dogs dinner.
J4CKO said:
sinbaddio said:
One of the TV programmes did this in the last few months (USA show on Discovery UK I think). But they bought a very cheap accident damaged SL55 as the kit included actual replacement panels rather than just 'stick on' bits.
Could be a more cost effective way of doing it, and you're not 'ruining' an original good condition car.
The Orange one ?Could be a more cost effective way of doing it, and you're not 'ruining' an original good condition car.
Junkyard Empire, it looked a bit crap in Orange, needed to be an OEM sort of colour to look any way authentic and not a dogs dinner.
I've seen a couple of SL65 reps at shows, one of them was based on a 350 which I couldn't stand primarily because of the BLACK EDITION badges everywhere, but I've seen a 55 and 500 with the wide kit, some concave wheels and stoppers to match the looks which didn't have replica badges and thus were 'just' a tarted up (in a good way) cooking model.
My advice; do what you wish as it's your budget and concept - just don't go for the obvious poorly fitted plastic kits and wheels with stupid offsets or maaad dish - and for the love of god don't badge it up as something it isn't.
Think about it this way - you could add lots of Gemballa items to your 997, but it'll never be what it is even with the badges / stickers, unless you spend well over the odds on the best rep you can build. If you're happy to have a car that will, on resale, appeal to less individuals than it would have in standard form, go forth!
My advice; do what you wish as it's your budget and concept - just don't go for the obvious poorly fitted plastic kits and wheels with stupid offsets or maaad dish - and for the love of god don't badge it up as something it isn't.
Think about it this way - you could add lots of Gemballa items to your 997, but it'll never be what it is even with the badges / stickers, unless you spend well over the odds on the best rep you can build. If you're happy to have a car that will, on resale, appeal to less individuals than it would have in standard form, go forth!
Sovereign Car Sales near Winchester have two in stock, an orange car based on the 350, now priced at £16k, and a grey car based on the 500 priced at £19k.
They have both been for sale for 18 months or so, and at one stage were both around the £30k + mark.
You could save yourself some time and money and buy one of those possibly, but don't be in a hurry to resell. There isn''t a huge market for them if you are a discerning aficionado of the SL
They look naff.
They have both been for sale for 18 months or so, and at one stage were both around the £30k + mark.
You could save yourself some time and money and buy one of those possibly, but don't be in a hurry to resell. There isn''t a huge market for them if you are a discerning aficionado of the SL
They look naff.
Edited by Monkeylegend on Thursday 21st September 15:13
Monkeylegend said:
Sovereign Car Sales near Winchester have two in stock, an orange car based on the 350, now priced at £16k, and a grey car based on the 500 priced at £19k.
They have both been for sale for well 18 months or so, and at one stage were both around the £30k + mark.
You could save yourself some time and money and buy one of those possibly, but don't be in a hurry to resell. There isn''t a huge market for them if you are a discerning aficionado of the SL
They look naff.
That orange one is sat so high at the back it's making my teeth itch. And why offset the numberplate in such a way?!They have both been for sale for well 18 months or so, and at one stage were both around the £30k + mark.
You could save yourself some time and money and buy one of those possibly, but don't be in a hurry to resell. There isn''t a huge market for them if you are a discerning aficionado of the SL
They look naff.
The grey one is a much more appealing proposition but the V12 BITURBO badging makes me feel sad.
Resolutionary said:
Monkeylegend said:
Sovereign Car Sales near Winchester have two in stock, an orange car based on the 350, now priced at £16k, and a grey car based on the 500 priced at £19k.
They have both been for sale for well 18 months or so, and at one stage were both around the £30k + mark.
You could save yourself some time and money and buy one of those possibly, but don't be in a hurry to resell. There isn''t a huge market for them if you are a discerning aficionado of the SL
They look naff.
That orange one is sat so high at the back it's making my teeth itch. And why offset the numberplate in such a way?!They have both been for sale for well 18 months or so, and at one stage were both around the £30k + mark.
You could save yourself some time and money and buy one of those possibly, but don't be in a hurry to resell. There isn''t a huge market for them if you are a discerning aficionado of the SL
They look naff.
The grey one is a much more appealing proposition but the V12 BITURBO badging makes me feel sad.
sinbaddio said:
J4CKO said:
sinbaddio said:
One of the TV programmes did this in the last few months (USA show on Discovery UK I think). But they bought a very cheap accident damaged SL55 as the kit included actual replacement panels rather than just 'stick on' bits.
Could be a more cost effective way of doing it, and you're not 'ruining' an original good condition car.
The Orange one ?Could be a more cost effective way of doing it, and you're not 'ruining' an original good condition car.
Junkyard Empire, it looked a bit crap in Orange, needed to be an OEM sort of colour to look any way authentic and not a dogs dinner.
Resolutionary said:
Monkeylegend said:
Sovereign Car Sales near Winchester have two in stock, an orange car based on the 350, now priced at £16k, and a grey car based on the 500 priced at £19k.
They have both been for sale for well 18 months or so, and at one stage were both around the £30k + mark.
You could save yourself some time and money and buy one of those possibly, but don't be in a hurry to resell. There isn''t a huge market for them if you are a discerning aficionado of the SL
They look naff.
That orange one is sat so high at the back it's making my teeth itch. And why offset the numberplate in such a way?!They have both been for sale for well 18 months or so, and at one stage were both around the £30k + mark.
You could save yourself some time and money and buy one of those possibly, but don't be in a hurry to resell. There isn''t a huge market for them if you are a discerning aficionado of the SL
They look naff.
The grey one is a much more appealing proposition but the V12 BITURBO badging makes me feel sad.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff