1983 Mercedes-Benz 500SEC

Description

The correct VIN isWDB12604412004129 although EBAY doesn't recognize it because this is a NON-USA market car. I used a VIN from one of my other cars just to get it to allow me to list it. WDB12604412004129 will show up on Auto-Check, but didn't show up on CarFax. I will add a photo of the VIN plate on the door jamb.
Absolutely MINT 1983 Mercedes-Benz 500SEC gray market German model. This car as far as I am told has been in USA since new and was owned by a local business man all his life who kept the car stored in his airport hangar. He died a few years back and his kids got the car, but basically didn't drive it. From 2002 until now only around 4k has been put on the car based on Auto Check and DMV records showing 108k in 2002 and 112k currently. It just turned 112k while I was driving on a recent weekend, I love driving this car!!
Dark grey color, original color, was repainted in August 1999 and looks 100% immaculate, no exaggeration, the car is like new. Front bumper, in the center on top has a small amount of damage from a garage door, see photos. Has rear trunk rubber spoiler in excellent condition with zero cracks or chips, AMG badge and I was told by the original owners it is an AMG and came that way but over the years, the front AMG bumper and side skirts were removed. I'm not sure how you can verify AMG cars of the era, but the car is very fast, surprisingly fast for such an old car, and others have said it appears to be lowered which could be AMG or just the Euro model spec suspension, I'm just not sure. Either way, it's fast, looks great and handles well.
Interior has no rips or tears other than the piping on drivers seat where you tend to hit with your butt getting in and out, and the front arm rest is splitting about 1" long near the front seam on the side. The headliner is in tact with no rips or tears, but original owner was a smoker and the headliner has slight discoloration and is starting to sag, however the car doesn't smell like smoke at all, presumably because it hasn't been smoked in for a decade or so. I don't smoke and can't stand the smell, the interior just smells like Mercedes to me.
The car comes equipped with 16" vintage BBS mesh wheels which have been repainted in the past year and look amazing on this car. Brand new tires as well so the car is sure-footed and rides like a dream. Cruising through the LA South Bay and Hollywood with all the windows down in this b-pillar-less Grand Coupe gets you plenty of thumbs up and comments / compliments.
Original Becker Mexico stereo works but keep in mind a 34 year old stereo with little bitty 4" speakers in only 4 locations is definitely not winning any sound contests... cassette works good, AM/FM is not crystal clear. Stereo and Climate Control are in German, the CC is easy enough to figure out, but I managed to print out the original owners manual for the stereo which helped tremendously because I had no idea what was what without it.
Since I've owned the car besides occasional drives and keeping it covered, I've repaired or replaced the following:
All beltsMotor mountsSpark plugs and cablesIgnition cap and rotorDrivers upper control arm / ball jointRear parking brake shoes and hardware (all brakes pads have tons of life left)Air filterHood padRear center console with ash-traySanded center console wood and repaired / fabricated a bracket to hold center console in place (broken tabs)
This car has a clean Arizona title, I have begun the registration process in California, but although this car spent the first part (majority) of it's life as a So Cal car, you have to go through the entire importation process all over because since 2002 it was registered at the original owners vacation house in AZ. In order to make this car legal to register in CA you must go through a company like G&K Automotive Conversion in Santa Ana to perform all the current CA requirements to smog system, EGR system, etc. This takes 2-3 months and will cost around $7000 which I have decided that, although these cars are going up in value like their convertible cousins (I personally think the SEC is way more attractive than the SL), it is simply too much to invest on my end. I've enjoyed driving it, and want a Mercedes aficionado who knows and appreciates these cars to be the next care-taker.
Check with local state laws regarding gray market imports, in most states, if a car is over 20 years old there is no issue, but good old CA is probably the strictest in the nation regarding importing vehicles from other countries and the smog stuff. It's got to be 1966 or older to be exempt, ridiculous. This car DOES have the Federal stamped plate on the B-pillar so in most other states you can simply take it to your local DMV and get it registered with no issues at all.
Willing to help arrange shipping at buyers expense, I will pick you up at the airport or train station if you want to fly / train in and drive it home and of course local pick up is welcome. Shipping across country will cost you around $1000-1200 with reputable companies.