TCSFrankfurt bid $8,750
TCSFrankfurt said:
Dear Abraham: My friend just advised that he’s out of town. Thanks for being prepared to have him come by! Best regards, Thomas
Dear Abraham: Thank you for your transparent and honest responses! It is highly appreciated and gives me confidence in possibly bidding on this 560SL. Since the auction is closing tomorrow, I just wanted to quickly check back on my previous message: 1. Inspection: Would it be possible for my friend from Glendale to drop by briefly to look at the car on my behalf? If you or your cousin could accommodate a quick short-notice visit today or tomorrow morning, please let me know how he can best contact you to arrange it. 2. Paint Meter: Were you able to track down that paint meter from your friend? If you could share a few quick readings (especially from the hood, trunk, and sides), that would be the absolute icing on the cake for my final bidding strategy. Thanks again for being such a great and helpful seller throughout this auction! Best regards, Thomas
Hi Abraham: Apologies for piecemealing my questions, but a close friend of mine who owns a 450SL just went through the listing with me and brought up a few classic R107 points that I wanted to double-check with you to be absolutely certain. Could you please shed some light on these final details? 1. Paintwork: Since the car is described as highly original, can you confirm if the paint is 100% factory original, or has it seen any repaints or touch-ups over the years? 2. Corrosion: You mentioned there is "no major rust." To be precise, are the typical R107 critical areas—like the jack points, floor pans, and lower body panels—entirely rust-free? 3. Features & Electrics: Are the central locking, power windows, and especially the cruise control currently in good, fully operational condition? 4. Air Conditioning: I noticed it was serviced recently. Is the A/C still running on the old R12 refrigerant, or has it already been converted to R134a? (This is quite important for me regarding import regulations). Thank you again for your patience and for helping me get the full picture of this beautiful SL! Best regards, Thomas
Hi Abraham: One further practical question: The listing mentions an Arizona title, while the car is currently located in Rancho Cucamonga. Could you please confirm whether the Arizona registration is still current and whether your cousin resides in Arizona? Would this be considered a California or an Arizona sale? These questions are quite relevant from a tax point of view (e.g. CA raises an 11% use tax, AZ does not), and I would like to clarify the applicable registration and tax requirements before bidding. Many thanks for your help. Best regards, Thomas
Hi Abraham: Thank you very much for your detailed response. One further question: Is the car currently in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, as indicated in the listing? I have a longtime close friend living 45 minutes away who may be able to come and look at it on my behalf before the auction ends. Would a visit be possible? I’m not yet sure whether he can make it on such short notice, but I wanted to confirm the location and check that a visit would be welcome before asking him. Best regards, Thomas
Hello Abraham: Having reviewed the listing, CARFAX report, and photographs, I have a few questions about the service records and the car’s condition. The VIN photographs, manufacturer’s label, and warranty registration card appear consistent with the advertised vehicle. However, I noticed a few discrepancies in the service documents: 1. The Lakeview Mercedes-Benz invoice dated October 12, 1995 appears to refer to a 1984 vehicle, with the color described as “RED/251,” a delivery date of October 29, 1983, and a different VIN ending in 001466. Could this document have been included inadvertently? 2. The G Tech Imports invoice dated September 29, 2023 appears to contain a zero instead of “D” in the VIN and describes the engine as a 4.5-liter V8. Could you confirm whether these are administrative errors and that the invoice relates to this car? A complete, legible copy of both invoice pages would also be appreciated. 3. The German Car Service document from March 2025 has no VIN entered. Could you confirm that it relates to this car? Following the A/C hose replacement described there, has the system required any further repairs or refrigerant? Regarding the earlier maintenance history, do you have any additional service book entries, workshop invoices, or other records covering the gaps in CARFAX between first registration and 2000, between 2000 and 2006, and between 2013 and 2022? I appreciate that maintenance may have been performed without appearing on CARFAX. Given the relatively low mileage, it would also be helpful to know whether the car spent any extended periods in storage or otherwise off the road. If so, could you provide some background on the storage conditions, maintenance during those periods, and any work performed before returning it to use? Could you also comment on any unusual or persistent odors in the cabin or trunk, particularly gasoline, exhaust fumes, mustiness, or cigarette smoke? I am especially interested in whether there is any fuel smell after the car has been parked with the windows closed or while driving. I also saw your comment about arranging to remove the hardtop. Please could you add photos with the soft top both raised and fully lowered, including close-ups of the fabric and rear windows? Finally, could you also provide clear photos of the current Arizona title, front and back, or a copy of the current electronic title record, with the VIN and any title-brand or lien information visible? The owner’s name, address, and signature may of course be redacted from any publicly posted images. Please also confirm that the title is unbranded, there are no outstanding liens, and, as you are representing your cousin, that the title is in your cousin’s name and they will be available to sign the necessary transfer documents. With the auction ending in just three days, I would appreciate your clarification and the additional photos as soon as possible, allowing sufficient time to review everything before it closes. Many thanks for your help. Kind regards, Thomas
Get the best of The MB Market directly in your inbox every day. Subscribe for a curated list of our top market listings and articles!
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL w/59k Miles
TCSFrankfurt said:
Dear Abraham: My friend just advised that he’s out of town. Thanks for being prepared to have him come by! Best regards, Thomas1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL w/59k Miles
TCSFrankfurt said:
Dear Abraham: Thank you for your transparent and honest responses! It is highly appreciated and gives me confidence in possibly bidding on this 560SL. Since the auction is closing tomorrow, I just wanted to quickly check back on my previous message: 1. Inspection: Would it be possible for my friend from Glendale to drop by briefly to look at the car on my behalf? If you or your cousin could accommodate a quick short-notice visit today or tomorrow morning, please let me know how he can best contact you to arrange it. 2. Paint Meter: Were you able to track down that paint meter from your friend? If you could share a few quick readings (especially from the hood, trunk, and sides), that would be the absolute icing on the cake for my final bidding strategy. Thanks again for being such a great and helpful seller throughout this auction! Best regards, Thomas1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL w/59k Miles
TCSFrankfurt said:
Hi Abraham: Apologies for piecemealing my questions, but a close friend of mine who owns a 450SL just went through the listing with me and brought up a few classic R107 points that I wanted to double-check with you to be absolutely certain. Could you please shed some light on these final details? 1. Paintwork: Since the car is described as highly original, can you confirm if the paint is 100% factory original, or has it seen any repaints or touch-ups over the years? 2. Corrosion: You mentioned there is "no major rust." To be precise, are the typical R107 critical areas—like the jack points, floor pans, and lower body panels—entirely rust-free? 3. Features & Electrics: Are the central locking, power windows, and especially the cruise control currently in good, fully operational condition? 4. Air Conditioning: I noticed it was serviced recently. Is the A/C still running on the old R12 refrigerant, or has it already been converted to R134a? (This is quite important for me regarding import regulations). Thank you again for your patience and for helping me get the full picture of this beautiful SL! Best regards, Thomas1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL w/59k Miles
TCSFrankfurt said:
Hi Abraham: One further practical question: The listing mentions an Arizona title, while the car is currently located in Rancho Cucamonga. Could you please confirm whether the Arizona registration is still current and whether your cousin resides in Arizona? Would this be considered a California or an Arizona sale? These questions are quite relevant from a tax point of view (e.g. CA raises an 11% use tax, AZ does not), and I would like to clarify the applicable registration and tax requirements before bidding. Many thanks for your help. Best regards, Thomas1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL w/59k Miles
TCSFrankfurt said:
Hi Abraham: Thank you very much for your detailed response. One further question: Is the car currently in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, as indicated in the listing? I have a longtime close friend living 45 minutes away who may be able to come and look at it on my behalf before the auction ends. Would a visit be possible? I’m not yet sure whether he can make it on such short notice, but I wanted to confirm the location and check that a visit would be welcome before asking him. Best regards, Thomas1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL w/59k Miles
TCSFrankfurt said:
Hello Abraham: Having reviewed the listing, CARFAX report, and photographs, I have a few questions about the service records and the car’s condition. The VIN photographs, manufacturer’s label, and warranty registration card appear consistent with the advertised vehicle. However, I noticed a few discrepancies in the service documents: 1. The Lakeview Mercedes-Benz invoice dated October 12, 1995 appears to refer to a 1984 vehicle, with the color described as “RED/251,” a delivery date of October 29, 1983, and a different VIN ending in 001466. Could this document have been included inadvertently? 2. The G Tech Imports invoice dated September 29, 2023 appears to contain a zero instead of “D” in the VIN and describes the engine as a 4.5-liter V8. Could you confirm whether these are administrative errors and that the invoice relates to this car? A complete, legible copy of both invoice pages would also be appreciated. 3. The German Car Service document from March 2025 has no VIN entered. Could you confirm that it relates to this car? Following the A/C hose replacement described there, has the system required any further repairs or refrigerant? Regarding the earlier maintenance history, do you have any additional service book entries, workshop invoices, or other records covering the gaps in CARFAX between first registration and 2000, between 2000 and 2006, and between 2013 and 2022? I appreciate that maintenance may have been performed without appearing on CARFAX. Given the relatively low mileage, it would also be helpful to know whether the car spent any extended periods in storage or otherwise off the road. If so, could you provide some background on the storage conditions, maintenance during those periods, and any work performed before returning it to use? Could you also comment on any unusual or persistent odors in the cabin or trunk, particularly gasoline, exhaust fumes, mustiness, or cigarette smoke? I am especially interested in whether there is any fuel smell after the car has been parked with the windows closed or while driving. I also saw your comment about arranging to remove the hardtop. Please could you add photos with the soft top both raised and fully lowered, including close-ups of the fabric and rear windows? Finally, could you also provide clear photos of the current Arizona title, front and back, or a copy of the current electronic title record, with the VIN and any title-brand or lien information visible? The owner’s name, address, and signature may of course be redacted from any publicly posted images. Please also confirm that the title is unbranded, there are no outstanding liens, and, as you are representing your cousin, that the title is in your cousin’s name and they will be available to sign the necessary transfer documents. With the auction ending in just three days, I would appreciate your clarification and the additional photos as soon as possible, allowing sufficient time to review everything before it closes. Many thanks for your help. Kind regards, Thomas