Author Topic: W188 Restoration Project - '55 300S Roadster (Read 44090 times)

CraigD · « **on:** January 15, 2012, 22:21:53 »

I’m excited (and nervous!) about a new undertaking. My good friend Bob Goodman graciously relented and allowed me to purchase his 1955 300S Roadster. In 1976 Bob bought and drove this car from the midwest to his home in the Pacific Northwest. He drove it around town a little back then, but then parked it at his business where it has awaited restoration… till now. Only 760 W188’s were made – and only 141 300S Roadsters. With respected Mercedes restorer Sig Linke, we have begun the herculean task of restoring the Roaster to it’s original splendor. It will be a multiple year project, and I’ll be serving as the cheap labor!

I will post pictures along the way! Here are a few as we start this journey.

CraigD · « **Reply #1 on:** January 15, 2012, 22:23:10 »

A few more pics...

Benz Dr. · « **Reply #2 on:** January 15, 2012, 23:25:38 »

Interesting cars. I worked on a 300S in Toronto some years back but it was a coupe. Similar engine to the regular 300 but it has three carbs instead of the regular two found on the sedans.

One thing that's rather interesting about these cars is the central lubrication system. A small tank filled with oil that has a foot pump on it forces oil to all of the fittings. If I remember correctly, there was a light that came on in the instrument cluster that told you to give it a pump every 100 miles or something like that. Small tubes with stainless braided hoses ran all over the car and lubed every spot where a normal grease fitting would be found.

I have a 1952 300a sedan that I parted down 20 years ago. I still have most of the drive train. The 300S cars have real value while the sedans don't carry that much. Convertible sedans would be the exception with the 300d being the most valued. I think they made about 60 of those so they're very rare. I've seen two at high-end car shows.

twistedtree · « **Reply #3 on:** January 15, 2012, 23:29:51 »

Very cool project - keep the picture coming....

badali · « **Reply #4 on:** January 16, 2012, 15:51:55 »

Keep the pictures coming...

JamesL · « **Reply #5 on:** January 16, 2012, 18:50:40 »

Excellent

A few years back I had a tour of Mechatronik and I seem to recall it was a 300S (Adenauer?) they had in bits. If I recall it already had a couple of thousand hours in the bodywork as all the panels were - at the time - hand made so "replacements" were in name only

and one finished...

CraigD · « **Reply #6 on:** March 06, 2012, 04:55:36 »

Latest updates on the project: Body/chassis stripped/cleaned and out to be media blasted, interior out to be recovered, tank repaired and being retinned, all chrome out for replating, engine ready for rebuild. Received from suppliers: new springs, new wiring harness, all new set of correct bolts/screws for Roadster. My current job: cleaning ALL the parts removed from the car in preparation for refinishing.

CraigD · « **Reply #7 on:** March 20, 2012, 02:23:59 »

A few pictures after the body/chassis were media blasted. F & R suspension parts will all be removed and refinished individually, but leaving them on for now helps in getting the body and chassis around...

twistedtree · « **Reply #8 on:** March 20, 2012, 10:46:56 »

Very cool. Keep the pictures coming!

Goldfinger · « **Reply #9 on:** April 01, 2012, 03:35:44 »

Very cool project, thanks for posting. Great pictures!

Ulf · « **Reply #10 on:** April 02, 2012, 09:10:13 »

Great that people like you undertake such projects to keep historical cars like that on the road, you have my respect :-)
There was a great article on the 300-series in Classic & Sportscar a couple of years ago, will see if I can find it so you can back-order it.

bsimaz · « **Reply #11 on:** April 03, 2012, 20:46:48 »

That is just a gorgeous car.

Can't wait to see the end result. Good job...

brant · « **Reply #12 on:** April 18, 2012, 18:06:27 »

I have completed restoration of my 1952 300s roadster. Body #00003/52. New top and interior being completed. Anyone interested is seeing pictures?
Brant

Larry & Norma · « **Reply #13 on:** April 18, 2012, 18:18:55 »

Yes please

CraigD · « **Reply #14 on:** April 19, 2012, 16:43:25 »

I'd love to see them too!

Bonnyboy · « **Reply #15 on:** April 19, 2012, 20:51:10 »

I must say I was confused - after seeing the pictures above and the date was march 2012 and they you say you are done - there is no way - that is less than 40 days, less time for sleeping, eating,....... then I realized that the year of the car was different.

I was wondering if you found the worm hole into another dimension where automobile restoration was done around the clock based on the 144 hour clock instead of the regular 24 hour clock.

I'd love to see pictures. All of them - not just the pretty ones for the public.

Ian

gerster · « **Reply #16 on:** April 20, 2012, 22:35:51 »

A beautiful project with the most beautiful Pre-war Mercedes.

CraigD · « **Reply #17 on:** June 22, 2012, 05:12:13 »

A few more pics...

CraigD · « **Reply #18 on:** June 22, 2012, 05:19:12 »

A few more pics...

CraigD · « **Reply #19 on:** October 25, 2012, 02:29:22 »

Progress...

CraigD · « **Reply #20 on:** October 25, 2012, 02:30:54 »

Some reassembly has begun!

ja17 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 31, 2013, 04:52:02 »

Quite a project Craig. I had a friend that had the fuel injected model, very few made. The engine was a close relative to a 300SL.

Take care, and good luck.
Joe

CraigD · « **Reply #22 on:** June 05, 2013, 14:50:18 »

More progress...

Flyair · « **Reply #23 on:** June 05, 2013, 16:14:15 »

Craig,

Is the green paint original, or is it a new livery of this lovely car? In any case: gorgeous

I am sure you know this address where some paintings representing the beauty… http://www.philseed.com/mb300s-w188.html

Otherwise, here are some restoration pics of a MB 300 (although 300d) from the shop where my Pagoda is also renovated:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=334542513276129&set=a.320301058033608.78026.148750765188639&type=1&theater

CraigD · « **Reply #24 on:** June 05, 2013, 19:42:48 »

It's DB274 Light Green Metallic, "Hellgrun". The original color was light blue. Here's a picture of a completed 300Sc Roadster in the color...

I love the pictures on the Phil Seed website. Great to see some pictures of original literature. And the 300d photos are fabulous. Those picture of the paint are just gorgeous. And I'm looking through seeing some very similar parts and in-process views. Thanks for the links!

Craig

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Author Topic: W188 Restoration Project - '55 300S Roadster (Read 44090 times)

Goldfinger

bsimaz

brant

gerster