Aloha Carlos,

Is the car still available? If so, may I look at any more pictures that you might have? Appreciate it.

Thanks,
Ray

Here is a photo that shows the elegance of this restoration.

So Ray did you get the pics? what do you think? Are you the Ray that used to own a shop in Las Cruces NM and moved to Hawaii?

Hi Carlos,

No, I'm just Ray from Hawaii.

I got the pictures and the car is beautiful, but there were two things that stopped me. First, I prefer leather seats. (nothing wrong with fabric, but that's just me) And second, shipping from Texas to Hawaii gets up pretty near $2000. Ouch! I ended up getting a 1979 450 SLC with 102,000 miles from the original owner, an 84 year old woman from Honolulu.

Appreciate your help and good luck on finding a new home for the car.

Aloha,
Ray

1980 300SD 196,000 miles
1979 450SLC 102,000 miles

Cloth Seats= Grey Market?

...aren't grey market cars in lesser demand here in USA? ...and more difficult to get serviced and parts?

how would one get a fair market value on a grey market car?

The Mercedes is NOT A GREY MARKET car; repeat NOT GREY MARKET. Mercedes Benz allowed special order cars to have either leather, leatherette, or cloth seats. This car was ordered as a fully optioned US car by an Air Force Colonel stationed in Germany, who then brough the car to South Texas, so because of Texas summer heat it is understandable he may have preferred cloth interior. The Mercedes has all full factory emissions equipment, US bumpers; etc. Having restored an euro 6.9 I can tell you that there is no parts differences or difficulty in servicing between euro/us cars except engine emissions equipment, more power via cam timing and us bumpers. All other parts are the same 116 parts accross the board since the 116 chassis was the same for 6 cyl. 4.5 V8 and 6.9 V8 (6.9 euros hava added advantage of more hydraulic suspension adjustability than US 6.9); even the glass is US safety glass. I am of the opinion that there is truth to the assertion that the tale of great differences in parts and diffculty in servicing between euro/us cars was put out by Mercedes Benz NA to quash the sales of grey markets. Finally, I've studied parts microfiches of euros v. us and even the parts are the same with the same numbering system except for an euro code in some emissions parts.

Further update: To a cash buyer will throw in an original signed litho from Artist Manuel Acosta; President Bush & Mrs., Laura Bush selected a painting by artist Manuel Acosta to hang on the White House; see website:
www.zianet.com/relo-lan/Acosta.html

Further update: To a cash buyer will throw in an original signed litho from Artist Manuel Acosta; President Bush & Mrs., Laura Bush selected a painting by artist Manuel Acosta to hang on the White House; see website:
www.zianet.com/relo-lan/Acosta.html

Carlos,

To make the US 6.9s have the "higher level" adjustment like the Euros do, simply remove the sleeve which is at the connection of the cable to the control disc on top of the main valve. I did this on my US-spec 6.9 and although I hardly ever use the higher position, it is nice sometimes to keep you from bottoming out.

Aaron:
Thanks for the tip; didn't know that one. Having restored a 6.9 I can pass on to you that you can also adjust ride height by moving the adjusting lever at the leveling valves(front & rear) up a notch will leave the car sitting higher at normal; lower a notch to make it sit lower at normal.

Hope all you guys looking at the Manuel Acosta original signature lithos can get one of the few remaining for Christmas; better investment than the stock market since the very few Acosta's paintings in the market have appreciated significantly since being placed at the White House by Mr. and Mrs. Bush

Christmas Litho special discount of $200.00 off the listed price to Mercedes owners only on the few reamining original signature Manuel Acosta Lithos; great appreciating gift for Christmas and join the White House Bush family in the appreciation of this great artist's works of art. See website above to view Acosta Lithos.

Someone must be looking at the Acosta web page besides the beautiful Mercedes for sale. If you need or want a web page made let me know

Happy New Year to all viewers. Let's get a sale !

ttt

The beautifully restored 450 sel blue beauty has to find a new home so price reduced to $3,800. Someone is getting one hell of a bargain.

Carlos- can you e-mail me pics at fulgence.dulay@uboc.com and also a list of items replaced/ restored in the restoration?

tks-fad

ttt