Today's offering is of a year/make/model that we've featured previously but, being such a rare, low-production example, we simply have to take a closer look at this one as well.
As we've said in the past, we all know that rarity impacts value when it comes to collector cars and Mercedes are no exception from that: values on the low production W211 AMG wagons and R63's perfectly illustrate that fact.
This example, listed for sale by TSF Auto Sales in New Jersey, takes a slightly different variation on that theme, however. While total production of the W140 CL600 is in the thousands, it is only in the 1999 model year that true rarity for this incredible car emerges. For the creation of the W140, Mercedes invested over a billion dollars in research and development and created one of the greatest models in its venerable history. This, of course, did not happen overnight.
So, too, with the then-forthcoming W220 successor which was being developed over many years and known to be arriving for the 2000 model year. Thus, buyers for 1999 variants of all things W140 were, logically, limited as a new, updated version of the S-class was right around the corner.
This is particularly important when you consider the cost of the 1999 S600 Coupe presented here. At over $140,000 in 1999 dollars, this was a $210,000 vehicle when accounting for inflation. That is not a small investment by any measure and, if a new one was right around the corner, why buy in 1999?
Well, the production numbers for that model year reinforce that question as, through the best verifiable reporting, there were only fifteen of these super-coupes imported to North America that year. Thus, this 1/15 V12 super coupe is valuable not only in its inherent capacity, but again in its rarity for the 1999 model year.
Added to that calculation is the fact that this car shows only 64,000 miles, is finished in a desirable black on mushroom leather interior, and you've got a recipe for an excellent W140 coupe. The car is additionally optioned with parking sensors which is rare for this era. It's worth noting that the wheels are the chrome 19" AMG monoblocks which have become highly valuable today and rare.
Condition seems excellent from the photos with minor interior wear being noted in the driver's seat and some parking lot dings that should be corrected with simple PDR. This car also features some interesting interior wood additions in the dash and door handles that were not factory options and could be easily removed if desired.
With an asking price of $23,990, the seller is definitely in line with the strong trend of current W140 prices. We'd want to know a little more about the history, maintenance and service on this particular car before proceeding.
The Carfax notes one front-end accident in 2009 but states that airbags did not deploy. If the damage was minimal or the repairs superlative, this could be the right CL600 for someone to use and enjoy while benefitting from its inevitable appreciation.
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