Motoring Investments

Motoring Investments is a San Diego dealer and restoration shop that specializes in vintage Mercedes-Benz, with a particular focus on the W113 "Pagoda" SL (the 230SL, 250SL and 280SL). The business says it was founded in 1985 by Brian Peters, and the Better Business Bureau profile gives the same start year. It combines three jobs under one roof: selling collector cars from its own stock, restoring and servicing classics, and taking select cars on consignment.

History and who runs it

The company's About page describes Peters as the founder and owner. It says he grew up working on family cars, began his career at a Saab and Ford dealership in 1978, moved from Ohio to San Diego in 1982 and started Motoring Investments three years later so he could work full time with vintage and collectible European cars. The company says it is best known for vintage German, British and Italian cars and has handled many kinds of classics since the start. Its philosophy statement stresses authenticity and describing each car as accurately as possible.

How the business works

Most cars on the website are owned by the company, which says it accepts select consignments only. Selling to the dealership is also an option: it says it will evaluate a car and either buy it outright or sell it on consignment, and it says it will look at a single car or a whole collection. The home page claims 2,355 cars sold, 88 cars restored and shipments to 15 countries. These are the company's own figures and we could not verify them independently. The site also notes some cars have been offered on Bring a Trailer, and the inventory page shows that a few cars are located outside San Diego, in Oregon and Virginia, so ask where a particular car is before planning a visit.

What Motoring Investments sells

The inventory is dominated by Mercedes-Benz SL cars from the 1950s through the 1980s, including 190SL roadsters, Pagodas, and later 450SL and 560SL models. It also lists the occasional other car, including a 1941 Buick Super 8, a V8-powered Austin-Healey 100-6 race car, Porsche models, and in one case a 2021 Tesla Model X. The company says it looks for especially original, rust-free, low-mileage cars from the dry Southwest. At the time we looked, the inventory page showed 58 entries including sold cars. Asking prices ranged from about $20,000 for the Buick to $525,000 for a Pagoda marked as a benchmark restoration and coming soon. If you want a broader view of the California market, browse classic cars for sale in California.

Restoration and service

The shop performs full and partial restorations and service on classics, and the company says it has written the book on the W113 Pagoda. Its site publishes a Pagoda buyer's guide and a photo-documented restoration process for a 1956 190SL. In its FAQ it says a comprehensive, nearly nut-and-bolt restoration on a car without severe rust or collision damage can take 2,000 to 2,500 shop hours before parts and outside services, and that a cost cannot really be set in advance. Service and restoration contact numbers differ from the sales line, so call the shop line for that work.

Buying and consigning

Buyers can visit the San Diego showroom by appointment, or browse the online inventory and "virtual showroom." The company says it will help arrange shipping and ships worldwide, and its FAQ says shipping to Europe typically costs no more than a coast-to-coast move. The pages we read do not describe financing or trade-ins. For sellers, the company asks you to call, email or use the form and to photograph flaws as well as highlights. Consignments are accepted based on the quality and desirability of the car. If you are weighing that route, our guide to consigning a classic explains the usual terms, which you should get in writing from any dealer.

Reputation

The BBB lists Motoring Investments with an A+ rating, not BBB accredited, and no closed complaints in the past three years when we viewed it. The listing aggregator Birdeye shows 4.6 stars across 16 Google reviews. The company's site also carries testimonials from buyers of Mercedes and Porsche cars, which are chosen by the business. Review scores on a single platform are a small sample, so a prospective buyer should still ask for documentation and consider an independent inspection.

Visiting

The showroom and shop are at 3287 F St, Suite A, San Diego, CA 92102. The sales line is 619-238-1977, the shop line is 619-238-1978, and the sales email is [email protected]. The contact page lists sales hours of 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on weekdays, while the About page lists 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, with Saturday by appointment and Sunday closed. The FAQ asks visitors to email or call ahead because staff work flexible hours.