1964 230SL restoration in UK

[stickandrudderman]

Scott, having bought unfinished projects in the past I know how problematic they can be but if you do want out of it let me know.
Stick

[Shvegel]

Stickandrudderman (Colin)does nice work.  If you do decide to sell he won't mess up what you have started.

[JamesL]

Any news Scott

[Scottcorvette]

Im still here but no nearer to getting started on the 230. Earlier on in this thread I mentioned I had bought a 66 Corvette, I spent most of my spare time that year tinkering with that and then building/renovations/decorating at home so that was a lot of my spare time gone.

I then started doing a bit more with the 66, I found a period correct 327 and had that rebuilt and made inroads into fitting a 5 speed transmission, next thing I'm into a full blown body off and thats where I'm at with it now. I really don't know how it happened but it did...

Once the 66 is done I have some work to do to my 62 Corvette and then I can get back on to the Mercedes. I doubt it will be until later this year early next though. I keep thinking I should make inroads into selling it but that in itself would be a fairly laborious task and it would seem a shame after I have put so much into it.

I figure I'll make a start on it again when I get time and see if my enthusiasm gets renewed.

[Scottcorvette]

So after a long period of not much happening it seems I am thrust headlong into the world of Pagoda renovation once more...

My engine man sent me a surprise email saying he had started ion my engine rebuild. I took this to him way back in around 2015 but every time he was about to start on it I took him a Corvette motor to do instead so mine took a back seat, no problem for me though has I hadn't touched the car myself in years anyway.

Pretty exciting to see some progress on it though, here the block has been cleaned and machined.

[Scottcorvette]

Crankshaft balanced...

[Scottcorvette]

Cylinder head with new valve guides installed and new valves ready....

[Scottcorvette]

And now with the crank and new pistons installed. Its hard to believe I've had this car nearly ten years now and am still so far away from it being completed. I finished the 66 Corvette and that is home now, the 62 is at work and I need to get that done before I can get stuck into this one, but I'm starting to get a bit of enthusiasm back for the Mercedes and have started ordering a couple of bits for it now.

The last thing I found was one of my tail light frames was bent so I have bitten the bullet and ordered a couple of complete tail lamp assemblies, along with new injection lines as mine are blocked, another lasting legacy from my plating nightmare early on in this process...

And to finish here's a picture of me and my engine guy, I'm the one on the left. what is interesting is that neither of us had any grey hair before we started this project. Anyway its nice to be back...

[DaveB]

Hi, looks good! Nice to see such a thorough professional job.

[stickandrudderman]

Scott, it might be too late now but we advised that new lenses (complete with chrome surround) are now all plastic when ordered from Mercedes. Difficult to tell the difference visually but for the money they cost I think it's a bit of a cheek.

[Scottcorvette]

Im getting the tail lamp assemblies from Authentic Classics. I got lenses real early on from K and K and wasn't impressed with them so am hoping these will be better.

when I enquired with Mercedes about tail lamps they weren't available and I never thought to try again. they are the all red lenses I need. maybe if the AC ones are no good I'll try the MB route....

[lgarret]

Keep us posted on the authentic classics ones, could use a set for my 65
Thanks

[114015]

No.

Scott, for the taillight lenses you always have to go the aftermarket route,
and you can still keep your old chrome surrounds. MB doesn't supply all-red taillight (A113 802 0164 and 0264) since 1989 anymore...; from the dealer you could only buy the late 280 SL lenses ...., at a price in the meanwhile.

Aftermarket lenses are available with and without chrome surround from several sources. It helps to look around for the most suitable ones for your taste.
There are even (all-red) lenses around that are fitted into the chrome surround from behind - very similar to the 280 SL lenses. You won't see the difference 10 feet away, but you can see this close by.

Good luck with your car!

Best,
Achim
(only original lenses...)

[stickandrudderman]

Of course you realise that were it a requirement to have an MOT, a fussy tester would fail it on red indicator lenses.