Finding the Red Car

[getsmart]

You're too kind Colin,  you're assuming I know what I'm doing.... how about we double that figure 😇🤣

600 hours to go!

[johnk]

Or in my case 800 hours of actual work and 200 looking for my missing ten millimeter wrench or whatever to go!

[getsmart]

  so very true John, thats when the expletives become uncontrollable!!!!

Or in my case 800 hours of actual work and 200 looking for my missing ten millimeter wrench or whatever to go!

[Leester]

or the socket that rolled who knows where!

[Mike Hughes]

... or where one left the flexi-magnet now needed to retrieve the fastener one dropped that bounced and went down the spark plug hole!

[getsmart]

Hi all,

Some more progress over the last few days.

I just finished installing the rear end, it is one heavy cantankerous beast!!! But all in now, just have to check it's alignment.

Took me a full 2 days and all the tips and threads I've been studying for years were of great benefit so a big thankyou to this wonderful community.

Cheers, Joe

[AdelaidePagoda]

Congratulations Joe, what amazing news! I also have a copy of that photo and recently wondered if my car is the second in line, the white Italian delivered car (side round indicator markers). It is a 1/64 manufactured car VIN: 11304210002101

Would be fun to find out if it is or not. Imagine that!

Dave

[getsmart]

Thanks Dave, imagine that if somehow the white one was yours.  None of the others have a vin written on the windscreen though so would be almost impossible to find out!

PS. I have the hubcap stencils,  pm me to discuss

[AdelaidePagoda]

Agreed, unlikely to ever be able to rule in or rule out so I will sleep at night knowing that it is mine in the photo 😂

Have messaged you about the hub cap stencils. ✅

[getsmart]

And now after 10 years of taking delivery of this mess of an unfinished resto I now have the ole girl on her feet!!!

It's probably been at least 20 years though in reality. The rego sticker is dated 1985!!!

[DaveB]

Doesn't exactly look like the home straight yet
But you got the skills and tenacity!

[getsmart]

Doesn't exactly look like the home straight yet
But you got the skills and tenacity!

Spot on Dave,  soooo much more to do yet it is a significant event to get it on wheels

[Garry]

Joe,


That is very cool having the original production line photo of your red car on the back wall of your garage.  Gives you plenty of incentive to keep going.


I see the floor is half red to match lol.


One small step for Joe, one big step toward completion. 

[getsmart]

Joe,


That is very cool having the original production line photo of your red car on the back wall of your garage.  Gives you plenty of incentive to keep going.


I see the floor is half red to match lol.


One small step for Joe, one big step toward completion.

....don' forget to mention the red paint on the walls too Garry.....I do like your eye for detail 

[RobSirg]

Congrats Joe.

I knew it was yours - as I stated back in 2015  :

 Reply #46 on: August 04, 2015, 12:12:45 »
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My money's on you Joe,

You have so many bases covered. RHD in that colour combo without a hardtop? I'm thinking most RHD's would have been delivered with hardtops - except for a few to Australia or Sth Africa perhaps.

[getsmart]

Hi Rob,

I clearly remember your confident statement !!!! 

Hope you're well,

Rgds, joe

[RobSirg]

All good thanks Joe - since that post I started and finished the restoration of my 1970 280SL which won a raft of awards at this years MBCV Concours including 'Best in Show'.
It was a 5-year total restoration which was finished just in time for the 2020 Concours ..... which was then cancelled for 2 years due to Covid and eventually held in 2022.

When I get around to it I will prepare a Post about it. Here's a pic in the meantime

[AdelaidePagoda]

Outstanding car Rob!

Congratulations on all the well deserved awards.
If you do not mind sharing, who did the fantastic restoration?

[RobSirg]

Thanks Dave,

This is easily the question I am asked most - the answer is many people  - all managed by myself.

Ultimately I had:
- Someone who did the body work and some of the paint
- Another who did some body corrections and final paint, main external assembly
- Engine Builder
- Main Mechanic
- a couple of Interior guys
- 3 Platers (Zinc plating)
- 2.5 Chrome Platers
- Auto Electrician
- I sourced all the parts from the usual part supplies in USA and Germany

Almost all vendors were sourced by me  - most were recommended by someone

Most good - some not-so-good....and a couple of hero's.

I used the information from this forum which was invaluable and I was anal enough to have work re-done (up to 3 times) at my expense when it wasn't quite right.

I'm not sure if there exists (in Australia) a restorer who you can simply drop off the car and keys and collect it some years later to this standard.

I'll throw some photo's on a post soon.

[AdelaidePagoda]

Rob, well done, that is truly a labour of love and the results are worth every minute you spent on tracking down parts and completing your car to this magnificent level.
I am not aware of any Pagoda expert restoration centres here in Australia either, perhaps someone else can chime in and correct me. 
Sleeping Beauty seem to be one store with a reputation for exotic car restoration if and when my car requires it. Hope to see yours one day in real life as I am just across the border in Adelaide.

[Garry]

Reinhard Klavers and Associates in Croydon Vic, does Merc restorations and i believe did. W111 cab that won the M B concourse a couple of years ago and was featured at Motorclassica as well. They rebuilt my engine and did up the engine bay some years ago that won the Best Engine Bay in Show at the MB concourse around 2015.

[getsmart]

Current status,

I do manage to do something on it everyday, even if it is like yesterday where I needed to dremel off a few stuck nuts...

[Mike Hughes]

The key in the ignition is a sure sign you are seeing light at the end of the tunnel!  ;^)

[getsmart]

Mike the key was to test the steering lock, how I wish the motor was in!!!! Interesting though I did wonder if someone would comment on the key!!!! 😁

[AndyMac]

A Refinisher company in Melbourne are currently doing mine. They have done a lot over the years and have a few there now. They recently did a Gullwing too apparently. Good luck!