1966 Mercedes-Benz 250SE Coupe

• Burgundy paint is deep and glossy and the chrome grille and bumpers look bright, so the top side needs no paint money.
• Light seats look excellent with no tears and the headliner looks clean and tight, so no seat or headliner spend shows.
• Dash wood is the big interior problem — the top veneer is cracked, peeling and lifting in the photos, so a full wood refinish is real money.
• Lower door panel looks yellowed and stained in close-up, so budget for a deep clean or dye on the door cards.
• Glovebox area is open with the box out and rust showing around the trunk-side shock mount, so interior and rust repair money is hiding there.
• Engine bay inner panels are glossy burgundy and the motor looks complete, so the bay presents well for a driver.
• Underside photos show surface rust on suspension parts, so budget for a clean and protect underneath.
• One underside close-up shows rust holes eaten through the floor pan, so floor welding is needed — that is the biggest bill on this car.
• Tires show deep tread in the underside shots, so no immediate tire spend shows.

Money: At $31,000 the glossy paint and lovely seats tempt, but the holed floor pan, peeling dash wood and rust at the shock mount mean restoration money on top of the price.