Mercury Red-Band 50Hp - Whats it worth?

[Franknstein]

I've found a 1970's 50HP mercury red band for sale in my area, which I am interested in buying just really to fix up over winter to learn a little more about outboards, and depending on what it takes to get right, hopefully sell at a small profit.

ANyhow, just interested, what would one of these be worth - I check it out today:

The bad:
1. Its not running - missing a power cable
2. Its missing one spark lead
3. has a small crack in the aluminium cover plate covering the water jackets
4. been standing unused in a barn for 5 years at least!
5. I could not get it into gear - seemed quite tight, the cables or linkages

The good:
1. Very un-corroded and clean on the outside, evidently its been in a garage its whole life.
2. Turns over and feels to have good compression
3. All original
4. Even comes with a box of old retro 1970s spares!
5. comes with metal fuel tank and Merc controls
6. prop is flawless

On the whole it looks to be a good motor... but owner cannot start it for me.

So, I am just looking at ballpark figures of what this would be worth, as I dont want to make too large an offer, but I dont want to insult him. He has not got a price in mind...

£50? £100? £500? I have no idea really

 

[l'escargot]

Spares would be dependant on someone else breaking an engine so basically none existent. As a runner to put on a boat to use yourself it would be worth whatever you were prepared to pay. To sell on you would be lucky to make anything on it - you would probably make more breaking it for spares and finding someone else trying to keep one running. The chances are that he has never got it running because he can't get the parts!

 

[Anthony]

Always suspicious of items that 'just need', because 9/10 if it was that easy to get it working they would have done it. Agree parts will be an issue, and even if you can get them then they very quickly take the total to more than a running one would have cost.

There are lots of garages with project outboards in that people either cant be bothered with or realised the parts list is more than the thing is worth.

If its for tinkering with rather than needing an engine that big I suggest somthing a bit newer (i.e. can still get parts for) and a bit smaller (parts are cheaper, easier to work on, easier to test in a bin in the garden etc).

Ants

 

[l'escargot]

The other thing to bear in mind is that 70s American engines were built when fuel was cheap. Twenty odd years ago I had a Force 50 which was a Mercury derivative. A journey I did then that used 22 gallons I reckon I could do now with an Etec 75 on 4 gallons.

 

[jfm]

I've found a 1970's 50HP mercury red band for sale in my area, which I am interested in buying just really to fix up over winter to learn a little more about outboards, and depending on what it takes to get right, hopefully sell at a small profit.

ANyhow, just interested, what would one of these be worth - I check it out today:

The bad:
1. Its not running - missing a power cable
2. Its missing one spark lead
3. has a small crack in the aluminium cover plate covering the water jackets
4. been standing unused in a barn for 5 years at least!
5. I could not get it into gear - seemed quite tight, the cables or linkages

The good:
1. Very un-corroded and clean on the outside, evidently its been in a garage its whole life.
2. Turns over and feels to have good compression
3. All original
4. Even comes with a box of old retro 1970s spares!
5. comes with metal fuel tank and Merc controls
6. prop is flawless

On the whole it looks to be a good motor... but owner cannot start it for me.

So, I am just looking at ballpark figures of what this would be worth, as I dont want to make too large an offer, but I dont want to insult him. He has not got a price in mind...

£50? £100? £500? I have no idea really

It's kinda worth £95 tbh. Some parts are avaiable and so it is probably fixable if you are prepared to repair what cannot be replaced. But the 40hp 2 cyl was never and isn't a collector's item in the way that other models in their 1970s line up are. It is very heavy for a 40hp. So even if you got it totally mint it's still only worth £200

With red band it is probaly a european built 1972 era engine. Would need a photo or serial number to confirm better

If you want a tinkering project to fix up a nice old merc you'd be better buying imho a 6 in line tower or at least the 4-in line version. You'll have a lovely motor when done

 

[aquapower]

It's kinda worth £95 tbh. Some parts are avaiable and so it is probably fixable if you are prepared to repair what cannot be replaced. But the 40hp 2 cyl was never and isn't a collector's item in the way that other models in their 1970s line up are. It is very heavy for a 40hp. So even if you got it totally mint it's still only worth £200

With red band it is probaly a european built 1972 era engine. Would need a photo or serial number to confirm better

If you want a tinkering project to fix up a nice old merc you'd be better buying imho a 6 in line tower or at least the 4-in line version. You'll have a lovely motor when done

I had a 50 red band a few years back and sure it was a 4 cylinder, I always liked the 6 cylinder tower of power and really wanted one back then but could never afford one

 

[jfm]

Yes you're right. I read the OP very carelessly and saw "40" hp, which was a 2 cyl. Now re reading correctly I see it is a 50hp, and therefore 4 cyl as you say. My mistake sorry

It's worth more therefore. The 40 was nothing special but the 50 is a more revered motor and worth doing up. I'd double both my prices

 

[Pazarneg]

Mercury Redband Spares

Hey, just read your thread. Ive got a 50hp redband myself over in london. Non runner as no compression on 1st cylinder, but all else has been refurbished i.e. gearbox, electrics, carbs. It goes into all gears and produces a spark on each plug. Hence currently looking to sell for parts or all for spares. Interested?

 

[Tremlett 15]

Redband 1967 to 1971

http://www.nymarine.ca/SIDE DECAL STYLES 63-71.gif


raced a redband Merc 500 in 1972/73 great engine & currently have since new a 1976 Merc 500 still going great.

at WOT around 5 gals per hour

 

[dingdongs]

walk away as it may only be worth 300 running and youll spend more than that investigating even if it was given to you.spares are pricy and profit will be a non starter.