Hi Guys,
Well, having spent arguably more time and money on parts and labor over a 5 year period then most, allow me to be qualified here, as this is experience talking...
1) Calls for used parts from this list have been largely ignored, even from those who have them in their backyards. Ditto for the old Yahoo list and Pagoda113 as well. Rule #1.
2) Exception to Rule #1 is Walter Klatt, who has come up with magnificent trades on more then one occasion. That's even better then a low price as we both are winners...
3) The Star advertisers such as Aurora Auto Wrecking, etc. would be happy to sell you parts from a 1999 E500. 1963 Finback? Good Luck.
4) Those respected firms who have advertised 113 parts etc. including "parting out" 113's have also ignored requests for things as benign as wheels, horns, fuel pump cover, and trailing arms--and that's just the parts I remember asking for. Rule #2.
5) The exception to Rule #2 is Miller's, who managed to come up with a right trailing arm--even if it did take 2 tries. Note that until you take your trailing arm off as we did, you'll never know if the bushing/bearing surface is cracked--as it was on mine.
6) There are plenty of parts on eBay, yes. But if the seller (and they are not stupid mind you) knows the part is for a 113, the price is high. $2,600 for red tail lamps, remember? 5 years ago I paid $700 for a grill surround. $150 for a set of AMBER tail lamps. Acceptable prices, but not inexpensive.
7) It is wholely impractical for most of us normal guys without acreage to buy a sedan when we need a set of brake drums--even if the sedan were to go for $350. If we are in NY and the sedan is in Kentucky, this is even more impractical. Price is irrelevant here, practicality is paramount.
And yes, if someone knows of a salvage yard(s) that has various old MB's in it, it would be worthwhile for the rest of us (after you pick it clean of course)to know where it is.
When I lived in Massachusetts in the 1970's, there were two local wrecking yards that had plenty of foreign cars. At that time they were full of 1960's sedans and sports cars. But that was 30 years ago. The places are long gone and the cars with them.
Until someone comes forth with NAMES and PLACES I'll continue to believe that the salvage yards with old Benz's in them are largely old memories.
Maybe not for Joe and Dan, who can look at their old cars while sipping their morning coffee, but certainly for the rest of us.
I stand WAITING to retract the above statement when I do get a list of three verifiable old MB salvage yards.
Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored
