Author Topic: dying classics  (Read 4820 times)

nick350

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dying classics
« on: January 06, 2008, 09:52:12 »
I saw this and although whilst I am aware that some will be deeply offended by the moving picture on the left,  there are some interesting cars including a few lovely old mercs....phwoooah!


http://www.supercarforums.co.uk/chatforum/viewtopic.php?t=30
« Last Edit: January 06, 2008, 11:55:53 by nick350 »

Douglas

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Re: dying classics
« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2008, 12:08:19 »
I knew this Pagoda looked familar:

Download Attachment: ScrapSLL-1.jpg
53.62 KB

For anyone interested, it was indeed saved, though a bit bastardized in the process:

http://www.ritzsite.net/280SL63/02_SL63.htm

Douglas Kim
New York
USA
« Last Edit: January 06, 2008, 12:10:12 by Douglas »

rusty_parts2001

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Re: dying classics
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2008, 19:30:25 »
6.3 under the hood.  How much of an engineering feat was that?  

TheEngineer

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Re: dying classics
« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2008, 20:57:59 »
I like the picture on the left!

'69 280SL,Signal Red,Automatic,retired engineer, West-Seattle,WA
'69 280SL,Signal Red, 09 cam, License BB-59U
'67 230SL, 113042-10-017463 (sld)
'50 Jaguar Roadster XK120, #670.318 (sld)
tired engineer, West-Seattle,WA

dixy2k

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Re: dying classics
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2008, 22:33:38 »
Those are considered crimes in my book. (talking about the pictures on the UK site)

psmith

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Re: dying classics
« Reply #5 on: January 09, 2008, 00:29:14 »
At least he had the class to stick a Mercedes engine in there instead of an American V8.

Pete S.

al_lieffring

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Re: dying classics
« Reply #6 on: January 09, 2008, 08:15:52 »
After looking through the (car) photos on the UK site I noticed the majority of the true exotics there were either fire damaged or where victims of botched, incompleted restorations.  

My favorite photo of the bunch was the Alfa that looks like it broke in two when both doors were opened at the same time.

When I drive into town through Watkinsville, off in a shed is a 70 Citroen Maserati. I have looked, it is restorable, but the C M has no market value to make it worthwile. The Locheed/Girling hydraulic suspension would cost a fortune to repair, if parts could even be found, I guess Koni coil over shocks could be fitted in place of the hydro struts, but the brakes are part of the hydro system too, there is a button on the floor in place of a brake pedal.
This is the similar to the hydro system that the 70 and 80's Rolls Royce used, I imagine this is a large part of the reason those Silver Clouds where abandoned.  


Al Lieffring
66 230SL

Paddy_Crow

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Re: dying classics
« Reply #7 on: January 09, 2008, 08:46:11 »
I think my favorite is this one, which is clearly a scale model and not a real car:




Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch...

Douglas

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Re: dying classics
« Reply #8 on: January 09, 2008, 09:54:58 »
quote:
Originally posted by Paddy_Crow

I think my favorite is this one, which is clearly a scale model and not a real car:




It's so sad how people even let their scale models slip into disrepair....  :D

Douglas Kim
New York
USA

philmas

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Re: dying classics
« Reply #9 on: January 09, 2008, 17:02:47 »
quote:
Originally posted by al_lieffring

After looking through the (car) photos on the UK site I noticed the majority of the true exotics there were either fire damaged or where victims of botched, incompleted restorations.  

My favorite photo of the bunch was the Alfa that looks like it broke in two when both doors were opened at the same time.

When I drive into town through Watkinsville, off in a shed is a 70 Citroen Maserati. I have looked, it is restorable, but the C M has no market value to make it worthwile. The Locheed/Girling hydraulic suspension would cost a fortune to repair, if parts could even be found, I guess Koni coil over shocks could be fitted in place of the hydro struts, but the brakes are part of the hydro system too, there is a button on the floor in place of a brake pedal.
This is the similar to the hydro system that the 70 and 80's Rolls Royce used, I imagine this is a large part of the reason those Silver Clouds where abandoned.  


Al Lieffring
66 230SL



Old SM's are indeed quite a PIA to restore obviously because of their complex hydraulic system ( and so are DS's).Moreover, the hydraulic lines frequently need to be traced through "hidden" spots of the body, which are difficult to access ... happy strip down!
On the other hand, you wouldn't want to discard one of the major singularities of these cars by replacing the hydraulic "spheres" with vernacular springs and shocks (...shocking!!!).

I think many parts can still be found on the french market, in case you'd be interested...
 
Philippe from Paris
'71 280SL manual 4sp
« Last Edit: January 09, 2008, 17:55:17 by philmas »
Philippe from Paris
Euro '71 280SL manual 4sp

hauser

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Re: dying classics
« Reply #10 on: January 09, 2008, 17:22:58 »
If only cars could talk!  What amazing stories they could tell us. :)

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

mdsalemi

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Re: dying classics
« Reply #11 on: January 09, 2008, 20:24:01 »
It's a crying shame, all those very expensive and very neglected autos, but that's the way the world works, I'm afraid.

The capsule history of my car, for those that don't know, was that it was a daily driver (belonged to my uncle) from 1969-1979; occassional use as it was falling into rust and disrepair 1979-1985; 1985 was the last registration, and it was put in the garage, some sheets thrown over it and that was it.  Uncle died in 1998, the 280SL never getting the attention it needed.  There are a lot of indignities as life as a daily driver in NY--salt air, salt roads, weather.  Car worth less, service cost more as it ages, no wonder it fell into disrepair.  Every car indeed has a story, and those that are candidates for restoration have colorful ones, usually.

Many of you have seen the car; you have not seen the before:



Nothing worked, rust in every place that Tim Kidder told us about at PUB, (and more he doesn't know about!)...would barely roll as the brakes were mostly seized.  2x4 props the hood which didn't fit.  Missing trim, lots of bondo, etc.  Better candidate for the crusher than restoration.

Nothing time and money can't fix.  It's when there's an element of sentimentality that overrides common sense that cars get saved.

Paddy_Crow: you should add the REST of that Benjamin Franklin quotation to your signature!

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch...Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!"

And, is theengineer Pete the only one who noticed the oversized risque Avatars on that site?  My goodness.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
President, International Stars Section
Mercedes-Benz Club of America
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid
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