This is funny guys...
In some threads we debate on changing lights from US to Euro--with the Euro look seemingly being preferred and some are even quoting Paul Bracq on such appearances...yet
every time someone highlights one of these eBay gems, the FIRST thing that is picked apart are all the inconsistencies,
such as Euro lights on a US car....now you know why I personally value consistency?
The fluid reservoir ages in several ways--first, dirty fluid (I would suggest that after the first couple of years of religious maintenance, not too many of the 113's had their brake fluid changed annually...); plasticizers that "evaporate" out of the tank. The evaporation of the plasticizers is exacerbated by heat. Therefore extended milege will act as a catalyst to what will happen anyway just with time living in the engine compartment. Nearly ANYTHING that starts out with a neutral clear/white color in this world eventually yellows--from plastics to paint to your white laundry. External dirt, oil and grime that manages to gravitate towards the outside of the container also helps change the color...
that being said, anyone know where I can find a NOS reservoir tank? I've got a beautiful one, pristine color, new/new and thus cockeyed on the booster...Regarding the eBay thing, also note that a lot of these cars have changed hands from father/mother to spouse/son/daughter, with the latter not having any knowledge or interest in the vehicle. Mine started that way, when my uncle died and my aunt didn't even know the year, whether it was auto or standard, etc.; what she knew was it was a "little, old Mercedes". Another 280SL around here passed from father to son, the son had no knowledge, but gained some along the way--enough to know the car was not restorable. Bob Geco's passed the same way. So when one of these cars ends up in the hands of someone who doesn't know about it, and doesn't care to know about it, enter a willing 3rd party, a friend, a classic consignment dealer (oops there goes that classic word again!
)and that's one way they get to eBay. Professional sellers can glorify anything, particularly when they have so little knowledge of the actual history!
Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored
