1969 250C sports coupe value?

[Tucker]

I'm looking to buy a 1969 250 C 4 speed manual sports coupe in quite nice condition from a private seller. Interior is in perfect condition, the body has two very small rust spots the size of a 20c piece but other than that its perfect. As far as I can see the engine is in good working order however i'm no mechanic. It has been serviced religeously every month up until 1998 when the owner (only one previous owner) bought a new car and the 250C was garaged and taken out only once or twice a year. I believe these service records and the odometer reading (19000 miles) to be genuine.
could anyone tell me roughly how much it would be worth so i can gauge whether i'm getting a good deal or not?

[Michel]

19,000 miles? or was that 119,000, 219,000

What mileage does the service book show (in 1998)?

And better still how much is the seller asking?

To give a value, one needs to know the exterior colour (and condition of body and paint), interior colour (and condition), under carriage, wheels/tyre, etc...
Also, where is the car located (state/city) and pictures would definitely help.

[John Skene]

Two small rust spots? This could be a danger sign, have it checked out properly as once you can see rust on the outside there is normally more hidden rust within.

Basically unused for 10 years does not help it much as the seals deteriorate, the rubber hardens and the alloy head can corrode. Was the coolant changed in the 10 years it was unused? Was the brake fluid changed during its previous use, was it changed when in storage? Give it a good run and check for gearbox leaks, even braking, overheating, soft hoses etc, but most importantly have it checked by a Mercedes expert.

To be safe the brake hoses will need replacement (cracks or swollen up inside), as will all the rubber in the engine bay, such as the radiator hoses, heater hoses, vacuum connections etc. A prepurchase inspection is very important.

[StarMan]

To put a price on such a car I have seen many buyers start from the "will be" price and work backwards.  So for example, you are looking at a car which you know is worth (for arguments sake only) is worth $25,000 when up to scratch.  If you are looking at a car that needs a Detail (say $200), new wheels and tyres (say $3,500), and a boot liner (say $300), that would suggest the car is worth $21,000.
And then there is the Sellers view, which can vary widely.  They may just say up front they want $20,000 for my hypothetical example above, that puts you in a position to make a fairly good purchase at 5% below par.
It seems the question for you then, is "what is the fair price for an up to scratch 1969 250C 4 speed"?

[Tucker]

The seller is a friend of my parents, im convinced they have little to no idea of how much the car is worth, they haven't given me a number as of yet. It's located in an old country town in tasmania, i can get it transported to me to get a PPI from a mercedes expert but its not going to happen soon. I'm in no rush at all, i dont need the car for transport (i just want it) and its not being advertised for sale. The service records match the odometer reading, as i said i believe it to be genuine. Its white with a blue leather interior, i'll post photos when i get round to it. the two rust spots i mentioned are imperfections in the paintwork that i am assuming is worst case senario (caused by rust). tyres have deteriorated and will definately need replacing. i should also mention its unregistered.

does anyone know what the seatbelt laws are? this car only has lap belts, will i need to get full sash belts installed to get it registered?