Why would people do this?

[Sirasila]

I just don't get it.  It makes me upset. 

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/01/08/boss-audio-systems-1968-mercedes-benz-280sl/#continued

[badali]

I don't like it.  They ruined a nice car.  Another one gone...

[bootes]

Looks like something from a "Pimp My Ride" episode

[scoot]

I would love to have the parts they got rid of to make that vulgar contraption.

[Ulf]

It almost made my breakfast return the same way it came in....

[thelews]

I thought we were only supposed to say nice things or nothing at all.

Well, I guess I'll be odd man out on this one, so what else is new?  I don't quite understand why some folks get their panties in such a bunch over stuff like this (well, I do, but it still doesn't make sense to me).

Consider...

1. The workmanship and detail on this car is probably as good if not better than some of the over-the-top original restorations of 113s.
2. The innovative ideas can be quite imaginitive and remarkable
3. It's a compliment to the marque that the fabricator chose a 113 for it's aesthetics
4. There were over 50K 113s made, certainly not a rare car by any standard, so a handful of restomods is hardly dooming the marque
5. This example might have been a rusted heap missing half the car/parts that no 113 afficianado would have ever considered restoring

[dtuttle123]

I'm with John on this one - I think it's OK to experiment on a few W113's - it's the way we learn and explore.

[Louis]

I thought we were only supposed to say nice things or nothing at all.

Well, I guess I'll be odd man out on this one, so what else is new?  I don't quite understand why some folks get their panties in such a bunch over stuff like this (well, I do, but it still doesn't make sense to me).

Consider...

1. The workmanship and detail on this car is probably as good if not better than some of the over-the-top original restorations of 113s.
2. The innovative ideas can be quite imaginitive and remarkable
3. It's a compliment to the marque that the fabricator chose a 113 for it's aesthetics
4. There were over 50K 113s made, certainly not a rare car by any standard, so a handful of restomods is hardly dooming the marque
5. This example might have been a rusted heap missing half the car/parts that no 113 afficianado would have ever considered restoring

I agree.....

[Theo]

Doesn’t the irreversible mutilation of one original car increase (albeit slightly) the rarity factor and value of all of us who have original/properly restored ones?

Also in my opinion better it be contorted (trying to use a more polite word) like that, than totally lost altogether. At least it still exists.

It’s a bit like the freak shows they used to have in circuses, its something to look at anyway.

Or maybe think of it as one of those works of modern art that, if nothing else, manages to provoke strong feelings.

Theo
66 230SL

[JamesL]

Nice attention to detail: jacking point covers!

[thelews]

Nice attention to detail: jacking point covers!

But, the rockers aren't dark grey.

[JamesL]

But, the rockers aren't dark grey.

You mean black, shirley

[thelews]

Shirley, I mean dark grey.

[Benz Dr.]

Which is why I asked for a separate forum that I ended up calling R&D so that we could get this stuff out of the general discussion forum. In that case, it was more about having a place where those so inclined could go nuts talking about modifying, or street rodding their car.
I still stand by that position I took several years ago because I believe our main focus should be on maintaining original cars and not '' throwing a chevy small block into it. ''

  Fortunately, our cars don't lend well to radical modifications like many older North American cars do. We can at least be thankfull for that.

  Someone did go to a great deal of work on the above car.
 Which only makes me ask, '' What could you do with something original ? ''

[Theo]

So he's a great Pagoda restoration artist, but in his youth he just fell in with a bad crowd. And just look at what its left him with now.

[GGR]

I thought we were only supposed to say nice things or nothing at all.

Well, I guess I'll be odd man out on this one, so what else is new?  I don't quite understand why some folks get their panties in such a bunch over stuff like this (well, I do, but it still doesn't make sense to me).

Consider...

1. The workmanship and detail on this car is probably as good if not better than some of the over-the-top original restorations of 113s.
2. The innovative ideas can be quite imaginitive and remarkable
3. It's a compliment to the marque that the fabricator chose a 113 for it's aesthetics
4. There were over 50K 113s made, certainly not a rare car by any standard, so a handful of restomods is hardly dooming the marque
5. This example might have been a rusted heap missing half the car/parts that no 113 afficianado would have ever considered restoring

All true. But still, there are some questionable design choices (often people tnd to forget that practicality is as an important part in designing as aesthetics)

That screen coming out of the hood may not be best for safe driving. But if you are into contortions, you can lift the aero brake in the back and try and watch the two screens there. If not contorted enough, you can still try and watch the screens just behind you head, on the back of the headrests. And if not enough, but then I eally wonder how you do it, you can watch th monitors locked in the trunk.

[thelews]

I don't think practicality entered much into the design here.  It's all about audio and video porno.

[philip]

Why could be answered ,because they can. But yes i agree do not do this to a 113 any other car even maybe another Merc but not a 113  in S.A. there are very few of these cars around and all going for not less that $80,000. This car is now not a Mercedes 280 SL anymore but a street rod and a nice one at that.How ever i am a sinner as well i have made 380 SE 126 into pick ups but then there are plenty of them to go around .I am busy cutting the roof off a 108 and extending the front doors and welding up the rear doors in order to make a convertible wth a hydraulic operated converible roof . The other mods i will not tell you about as i will then be asked the same question . Why do people do this.