76 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

A classic 1956 Mercedes-Benz that underwent a complete restoration in Victoria has sold for a record $3.4 million US at a collector-car auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.

 

Only 311 examples of the 300SL gullwing coupe left the factory in 1956.

 

The seller was Victoria-based Tim Quocksister, owner of Silver Arrow Cars, who deals primarily in rare luxury cars.

 

The purchaser, who wanted to remain anonymous, is an 80-year-old car collector from Minnesota.

 

He has 130 vehicles in his collection and the 300SL was the last car on his bucket list, said Quocksister, who bills himself as the go-to person when it comes to the 300SL, usually selling 12 to 15 of them a year to ­customers throughout North America.

 

The car was sold at the Barrett-­Jackson Scottsdale ­auction, which took place Jan. 20 to 28 and sold a record-breaking $207.6 million worth of vehicles.

 

 

https://www.timescol...auction-8199277

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quocksister had purchased the 1956 Mercedes from the estate of a collector in 2020.

 

While the car was in relatively good condition for its age, he decided it could be better. He handed the car over to Coachwerks, a Victoria automotive restoration shop that specializes in hand-built and limited-production collector cars, for a three-year frame-off restoration that saw the car disassembled to its nuts and bolts.

 

After 4,000 hours of work by a team of 30 specialists, it’s considered to be in “better-than-new” condition. More than 3,000 pictures were taken of the vehicle during its transformation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We do not know how much he paid for the car and materials used for the restoration.  But $3.4M / 4000 hours labour is $850/hr.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 02 February 2024 - 05:06 AM.

[spanky123]

^ Good for him. He took a big risk investing that much time and effort when past sale prices were in the $500K range. 

[spanky123]

4,000 hours and a rare car gets you $3.4M.

 

48 minutes gets you $8M.

 

https://www.theglobe...cord-8-million/

[Victoria Watcher]

Under the hood: At internationally known Victoria auto restorer, it's all in the details

 

Coachwerks drew international attention last month after a Mercedes-Benz 300SL gullwing coupe it restored sold for $3.41 million US.

https://www.timescol...details-8322266

[Matt R.]

Silver Arrow has a great Facebook page.

[Victoria Watcher]

More than 5,000 people soak up the sun and a rare combination of chrome and shiny metal, not just on classic cars but also on airplanes.

“I haven’t seen another. I’ve seen them advertised in the States, but I haven’t seen one in Canada,” said Bill Alder, who co-organizes the event.

It’s called Wings ‘N’ Wheels for obvious reasons, and it’s been around for about a decade in Campbell River, minus three years during the pandemic and airport construction. But is it ever popular.

“It is. It still surprises me. It’s amazing, it’s a wonderful thing for the airport, it’s a wonderful thing for the community,” Alder told CHEK News.

“Like you say, everyone is blown away.”

 

 

https://www.cheknews...-river-1214212/

 

 

 

Sounds like a great show.

[Victoria Watcher]

The Saanich Fairgrounds will play host to car enthusiasts on Sunday, July 28, when the Victoria Sport and Import Car Show revs into town.

 

This is the third time organizers have hosted the annual event, which will have cars on show from around the world, including Japan, Germany and North America.

 

Anyone wanting to show off their car can still register. There will be judged categories, prizes and raffles.

 

 

https://www.vicnews....ar-show-7452901

 

 

 

 

Website: https://vsics.ca/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 23 July 2024 - 04:31 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

https://www.torquemasters.ca/events

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 02 August 2024 - 05:02 PM.

[Sparky]

Took in the Sidney car show yesterday. Fantastic event. Bands, food, lots of great cars and a ton of people. Probably the best car show of the season.

 

[Mike K.]

Dang. Was there anybody under 60 there?

Car shows aren’t what they used to be.

[Victoria Watcher]

Who brought their fighter jet plane to a car show?

[Nparker]

Who brought their fighter jet plane to a car show?

I'm not sure who brought it, but I bet they won the fight.

[Victoria Watcher]

Dang. Was there anybody under 60 there?

Car shows aren’t what they used to be.

 

I think you might need to feature custom (mostly Asian) cars, more so than "classic" cars, if you want to attract a younger crowd.

[Victoria Watcher]

I'm not sure who brought it, but I bet they won the fight.

 

That tank probably did alright too, I did not see it at first, in the camoflauge.

[Victoria Watcher]

I'm not sure who brought it, but I bet they won the fight.

 

[Sparky]

Dang. Was there anybody under 60 there?

Car shows aren’t what they used to be.

 

You didn't see the girl with the pink shorts in the photo?

[spanky123]

^ Was driving through Nevada last summer when I came across a DIY car wash and saw a blonde haired girl in cut-off jeans bent over her car. Was planning to stop and take the quintessential Americana photo but then thought about it and how these days you just get arrested for being a perv.