Unique Cars of Palm Beach

[OC Tiger]

Does anyone have experience buying from them?

[Rothko]

Just that they are not in Palm Beach.  They are in Boca Raton, about 40 minutes away.

[Jack the Knife]

Man, I was just in that neighborhood yesterday picking up a Lotus Evora with a friend from a tuner shop.

Pictures of their cars certainly look nice. No experience buying from them, but prices do seem egregious on their 113s. Compare what they ask to the high #2/#1 cars sold on BaT. What they ask for a 113 is higher than any car ever sold on BaT, which already is a bit inflated (and keep in mind there's the buyer's premium which will be $5k for any of the top cars on BaT).

If you ask for 200k+ for a 113, it better be something really special.

I don't like when people trade on the name cache of places they aren't in. Boca is a decent town, why not be Unique Motors of Boca? It's as silly as someone calling their shop in Cape Coral something like Naples Autos, or some shop in Clearwater naming themselves "Slick Sleds of Siesta Key," or someone in Hollywood trading on Miami's name.

[mdsalemi]

Before y'all get your knickers in a twist and start throwing around words like "misrepresentation"...

Their first location was was on Florida Mango Road in West Palm Beach. My guess is it was a good choice of name at the time for the location.

When I sold advertising for The Star, they were a client of mine, so I knew at least some of the small office staff including the owner, Freddy Genatios.

FWIW nobody has had anything nice to say here about any "boutique" showroom selling Pagodas (or any other cars for that matter). Always been the case of overpriced and not up to par in terms of quality. You know, the old "lipstick on a pig" deal.

[OC Tiger]

Thanks, folks!  Still looking for anyone that has purchased.

I am guilty of buying a W113 for way over 200K.  So I am that guy.   

[Cees Klumper]

West Palm Beach is very close to Palm Beach and, yet, worlds apart. I lived in both - worlds apart. Also lived in Boca, nothing wrong with that city.

[mdsalemi]

Thanks, folks!  Still looking for anyone that has purchased.

I am guilty of buying a W113 for way over 200K.  So I am that guy.   

Hope your car is a nice one!

Very few people here on the forums have purchased their cars from boutique showrooms.

[woodievette]

I stopped in to see Fredy at Unique Motor Cars of Palm Beach in my quest to buy an SL. He was friendly  and helpful. The shop is full of SL’s waiting to be restored or are in the process. The quality of the workman ship was outstanding.
My business is in Boca Raton, which happens to be in Palm Beach County. It is not uncommon to refer to businesses in the area as “of Palm Beach”referring to the county not just the much smaller cities.
He appears to buy high-quality rust, free cars and then completely restore them. I’m sure this is a costly process.
I recently purchased a 1967 230 SL.
It’s a nice driver that I paid 65K for

[mdsalemi]

Well, welcome Woodie!

Yes, even finding top quality rust free Pagodas is a daunting process, and then restoration isn't easy, quick or cheap.
Have you introduced yourself at the "welcome new members" and shown us your car? Reply to this post: https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=34703.0

[OC Tiger]

I bought a one-owner, 400K+ restoration, award-winning '68 250SL from Motoring Investments in San Diego.

This thread and question about Unique is about an R107 purchase I am making now.

[Shvegel]

I will be in West Palm Beach in a little over a week if you need someone to take a look at the 107.  Gratis.  I am well qualified and wouldn't mind the distraction.

[john.mancini]

I bought a one-owner, 400K+ restoration, award-winning '68 250SL from Motoring Investments in San Diego.

This thread and question about Unique is about an R107 purchase I am making now.



thanks.

I would love to see what a $400K+ restoration W113 looks like. Do you have photos?  I've been a car "hobbyist" for over 40 years. I almost always buy from long term ownership, private sellers. On the few occasions that I have bought from dealers, those cars always seemed to be overpriced and needing more than was described or indicated.

[thelews]

I think sold cars are on Motoring Investments site.

[OC Tiger]

Yep, it's on the recent sales on the Motoring Investments site (in the sold section '68 Red/Black 250SL).  Even better is a Youtube Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3Y097Uqe6g) with the car and an interview with it's original owner who sold it to me (through Brian Peters).

Def a special Pagoda.

[OC Tiger]

Thanks!  I don't think I have that long to inspect.

Really appreciate the offer though.

[mdsalemi]

I think sold cars are on Motoring Investments site.

While the link to the "World Record Mercedes 250SL" appears to be broken, I think it must be the same car that Brian Peters was sending information out about a short while ago.
https://motoringinvestments.com/listings/the-best-w113-pagoda/

The asking price was $251,000 or so. Not $400K, but maybe not the same car. Regardless Mr. Peters indicated this was the best, so this is what a top notch restoration looks like.

This was Gary Jarvis's car. Fairly well known in west coast circles...

[Jonny B]

The car that Brian P sold was restored by Hjeltness in Escondido CA. Hjeltness is known for their work on 300 SLs and Roadsters. I know the person that had the car restored (he was at PagodaFest San Diego with the car) and he spent nicely over $300K for the work. After showing the car and getting the boatload of trophies, the owner's goal was to get a world-record price.

It is a beautiful car, and it is a 1967 not 1968.

[bogeyman]

I was at the MBCA Starfest in Phoenix in '92. The seller of this 250SL at that time had a red 300SL roadster that he was showing. He was the most fastidious and eccentric owner I have ever encountered. When unloading the 300SL from his trailer, I couldn't help but notice that the soft top was covered in plastic wrap. He claimed that the passenger seat had only been occupied once - by Phil Hill.  I think he won best of show that year. It was a gorgeous car.