Australian 6.9 sales

[nathan]

1979 euro in victoria has popped up for 25k. low by recent prices! not sure if suspension is rogered as all pics in high position. they should get rid of that horrible steering wheel and gear shift wood. 225000km. carpoint

[daantjie]

Holy cow, I can kinda live with the wooden shifter handle, but that wooden steering wheel cover is hurting my eyes

[rumb]

Still has the washer hose connected incorrectly....

I have never seen a distributor cover?  is that  an AUS thing?

I realize some people really like sheepskin covers, but they should always be removed when trying to sell the car!

[nathan]

hi Rum,
good point I didn't spot that distrubutor cover!  this is not an Aussie car, it was an import. Aussie cars didn't have such covers, I wonder what the story was with it.

I agree Daan, that steering wheel wood is unfortunate. you would only realise how daft it was after you smash your teeth on it!

[robertd]

I just checked the grey Euro on carsales they are showing a 116 033 Vin number, this should be 116 036 for a 6.9 funny business me thinks,.

[karmann_20v]

I just checked the grey Euro on carsales they are showing a 116 033 Vin number, this should be 116 036 for a 6.9 funny business me thinks,.

This is supported by what looks like zebrano wood, rather than walnut.

[TJ 450]

Hi Karmann_20v,

This is true for later 6.9s, although earlier ones (pre 77) came with either full Zebrano or Zebrano on the dash and the black console trim being the earliest.

You'd have to go and inspect the car to be certain I would say.

Regards,
Tim

[karmann_20v]

Thanks for the info, TJ. I did not know that.

[nathan]

well, people are certainly trying to cash in their investments at the moment! another 6.9. little info at moment as pre auction pics only for Shannons.
Auction is Melbourne, and an original Australian car.  interior looks ok. this car must have a LOT of rust!  you can see the rear sills are hanging off and rust around the front near the 'baffle plate' /chin spoiler.  they have had the alloys replaced which makes it look a bit tidier.  it may just be my colour blindness, but are the front quarter panels completely different colour of gold to the rest of the car?  I would think in current market price 15-20k due to rust - no rust could see a lot higher.
perhaps a phone bidder will not pick up on this!

[UTn_boy]

How in the hell is it that Australian cars end up being so rusty?!  I know that in the early 1960's when the car were being assembled there in Australia that no body shutz was used, and 99% of Mercedes in Australia from that era rusted away.  But with the W116, the body shutz and cosmoline were applied at the factory just like every other W116.....which makes me wonder why so many later model Australian cars end up  being so rusty?   

[ptashek]

How in the hell is it that Australian cars end up being so rusty?!  I know that in the early 1960's when the car were being assembled there in Australia that no body shutz was used, and 99% of Mercedes in Australia from that era rusted away.  But with the W116, the body shutz and cosmoline were applied at the factory just like every other W116.....which makes me wonder why so many later model Australian cars end up  being so rusty?   

Low quality steel used on the W116, plus most of the Australian population living in what's probably the globe's biggest rust-belt, close to the Pacific shoreline?

Just my guess

[TJ 450]

Yep, mostly due to cars being near the coast, but also due to water leaks not being attended to in the cars, and them being left outside in the weather.

Tim

[TJ 450]

Also, cars in the arid areas aren't imune to rust either as the soils can be very saline, so all that red dust that gets in everywhere also causes rust.

Tim

[robertd]

Why do you say " low quality steel" UTn ?

[daantjie]

Why do you say " low quality steel" UTn ?

Story I hard was due to steel shortage low grade steel from Russia was used at the time. Something to do with carbon content apparently.