1953 Mercedes-Benz 220

• Black paint looks glossy on the rounded roadster body, no dents showing, so no paint bill in sight, but this is a heavily customized car, not a stock 1953 body in detail.
• Chrome grille shell and headlight rings look bright, no rechrome cost showing, though the grille sits on a custom front end.
• Modern burgundy bucket seats with racing harnesses are fitted instead of period seats, they look clean with light wear, so no reupholster cost, but originality money is already gone.
• Dash is custom with modern round gauges and a sport steering wheel, all looking tidy, no repair bill showing, but nothing here is factory.
• Engine bay holds a modern V8 with a big round air filter, alloy radiator and electric fan, clean and complete as a hot-rod swap, so running costs are custom-car costs, not Mercedes costs.
• Convertible top cannot be judged, no top is shown up in the sampled photos, only the open cockpit and a small windscreen.
• Underside cannot be judged, no underside photo appears in the sampled photos, only the bare metal trunk floor and a metal fuel tank in the boot are shown.
• Polished drag-style alloy wheels with wide BFGoodrich tires look clean with tread, no immediate replacement cost.

Money: At $22,000 you are paying hot-rod money, not original 220 money, the V8 swap, custom interior and fuel cell mean value depends entirely on the build quality, so inspect it like a custom car.