Restoration of my fin tail Mercedes Benz

[devils_smile]

amazing.... absolutely brilliant

btw is that a clk cabrio in the last pic?

[VEEeight]

amazing.... absolutely brilliant

btw is that a clk cabrio in the last pic?

thankyou so much for thinking so

no, it's an SL320, an R129, very different from the fintail!

[Xulfiqar]

btw this covering is standard operating procedure for any car at any age, it protects the paint from accidents and keeps the mechanic concentrated too.

MB also have a "GENUINE PART NO" for this workshop apron and its very nice, its literally lined with soft velvet from the inside.

[VEEeight]

btw this covering is standard operating procedure for any car at any age, it protects the paint from accidents and keeps the mechanic concentrated too.

MB also have a "GENUINE PART NO" for this workshop apron and its very nice, its literally lined with soft velvet from the inside.

There really isn't much call to use an apron during the bodywork stage, but yes, once it reaches the "pre-final" coat stage it becomes like a second skin other than during oil / coolant checks. Am not surprised MB have a bespoke cover! My "problem" is I need aprons of varying sizes and whilst they are not lined with velvet, the underside IS of flannel with a layer of foam in the middle.

[Xulfiqar]

best way and most economical is to get an old blanket, then some vinyl covering, shoe laces and eyelets. Cut according to size, you dont need exact draping just near will do.

e.g. the ones MB sell are usually for at least 2 or 4 models unless you have and SLS or SLR sitting in your garage.

[Xulfiqar]

@ devil's smile

an SL is like owning a rolex. Not everyone's taste but you get incredible value compared to any other car, Its an engineering masterpiece.

[VEEeight]

best way and most economical is to get an old blanket, then some vinyl covering, shoe laces and eyelets. Cut according to size, you dont need exact draping just near will do.

e.g. the ones MB sell are usually for at least 2 or 4 models unless you have and SLS or SLR sitting in your garage.

haha!! Am afraid these are 2 models NEVER likely to be in my garage.......plenty of old blankets and vinyl pieces around tho

[VEEeight]

@ devil's smile

an SL is like owning a rolex. Not everyone's taste but you get incredible value compared to any other car, Its an engineering masterpiece.

i couldn't agree with you more on this one!! To me an SL is all cars rolled into one which is a notion many people will not agree with. I find them sublime and have hankered after them ever since I was a student many lives ago! God has been very kind as the R 129 shares garage space with a very VERY pampered R107. It's a 1988 500SL. Its built like a tank and for me personally, the "jewel in the crown" in my motley collection.....Unlike the W109 and the Fintail, both these cars totally original and I very much intend to keep 'em that way:)

Speaking of which....is their some kind of "overhauling" kit available for the folding roof on the 129....? This car was messed around a bit by previous owners and both the main hydraulic valves and one above the windscreen leak fluid copiously if the roof mechanism is activated. I don't really miss the roof not opening under power as the Lahore weather doesn't really have much call for top down motoring, but I WOULD like it to be functional. As always, advice / suggestions/ guidance would be welcome

[Xulfiqar]

the cylinders need to be overhauled, look for an industrial repair shop that repairs hydraulic rams. They can help you. There are a few companies in the US and a lot in the EU that repair them.

[VEEeight]

the cylinders need to be overhauled, look for an industrial repair shop that repairs hydraulic rams. They can help you. There are a few companies in the US and a lot in the EU that repair them.

Ok, thanks.

[VEEeight]

The reupholstering of the seats has finally started. This is the back of the rear seat. Was finally able to source the colour of choice in leather ; to my mind it will give just the right level of contrast between the exterior and interior. I didn't want the typical blue or grey and wasnt at all keen on cloth or leatherite ; the latter in particular is very unpleasant in summer. We needed about 120 sq.ft and managed to get just over a 123 Am well pleased ESP as I got a good deal on the last day before the Eid break.....after months and months of waiting.

I must confess, I follow my heart a lot more during a restoration, than I do my mind or pocket.......and happily , experience has shown that I have never had to regret doing that. When I saw the leather sample , I knew this is what I was looking for.....and had found it ! Am sure these seats will provide comfort to many a posterior incl mine......and also look good

[VEEeight]

[VEEeight]

Here are the pictures I was supposed to post earlier relating to the earlier post. By the way, sorry about posting text as a pic, the system was being extra weird!

[VEEeight]

[VEEeight]

This picture......even in special inverted form(!) shows the trial fitting of the front bumper and grill. Happily, the grill is relatively fine, though not flawless and won't need to be rechromed.

The bumper, on the other hand has to be adjusted to get the gaps right and look as if it actually was meant for this car! Am trying not to be too tongue in cheek about this.....have been told that new one from a motor factor may well be a $1000 each. Another friend has got a "new old stock" set from Tehran, of all places, for his immaculate and very original Fintail for a 100k........

Although am done with the bodywork mostly, will be on the lookout for doors, wings etc in case I can improve upon the overall appearance of the old girl, even if a repaint is involved.

[msabbasi]

This picture......even in special inverted form(!) shows the trial fitting of the front bumper and grill. Happily, the grill is relatively fine, though not flawless and won't need to be rechromed.

The bumper, on the other hand has to be adjusted to get the gaps right and look as if it actually was meant for this car! Am trying not to be too tongue in cheek about this.....have been told that new one from a motor factor may well be a $1000 each. Another friend has got a "new old stock" set from Tehran, of all places, for his immaculate and very original Fintail for a 100k........

Although am done with the bodywork mostly, will be on the lookout for doors, wings etc in case I can improve upon the overall appearance of the old girl, even if a repaint is involved.

Dear Asim Sb.,

Nice work. Truly nice. I love the paint work. Coming along very nicely. Seats are looking good too. I had mentioned in my other blog that I sold my XJ40 due to my work contract finishing in Saudi, but what I didn't say was that I resigned my job on account of my getting another contract. I was back in Saudi on my new job within a month. Once I got back I began looking for a car. My wife always had a soft spot for two door Mercs. So that is what I got. I thought since this is a blog relating to your beautiful and special 220S would be a good place to share my old car's pics (of course I hope you will not mind)

This car was not a Saudi spec car but a German import. It had special features such as a Vebasto additional heater and heated front seats. Handy in the cold months. The additional heater is a device that preheats the car without the engine running. Uses the petrol from the tank, burns it in a small heat exchanger that warms up the car cabin and the engine. And there is a timer that you can porgram to heat the car before going to work in the morning. Neat!! Oh yes, it also had hydraulic rear suspension that had auto leveling. This car I often drove well above the posted speed limit . It could easily top 240Km/h.

I drove this car for five years and put 375,000 Km on the clock and finally sold it before it got so worn out that no one would pay any money for it.

[Xulfiqar]

I still believe it was not worn out, MB are great cars, after a small general redo of the mechanical parts, it will be good to roll for the next 400,000 kms.

btw vee eight, I hope you did not pay for stuffing those seats, they look like overstuffed sofas instead of the contoured seats that they are supposed to be.

[Zeeshan206]

Great Project

[VEEeight]

Great Project

Thankyou so much. Appreciate your saying this.

[VEEeight]

I still believe it was not worn out, MB are great cars, after a small general redo of the mechanical parts, it will be good to roll for the next 400,000 kms.

btw vee eight, I hope you did not pay for stuffing those seats, they look like overstuffed sofas instead of the contoured seats that they are supposed to be.

As for the seats, they are more "convex" than concave in contour compared to the ones fitted in later models that have headrests also. The stuffing DID have to be redone as the seats had absolutely no thigh or lumbar support. At this stage they ARE overstuffed as local materials used for stuffing in this neck of the woods sort of "settle" during initial use. My emphasis is on comfort, esp during a longer journey. If I find the seats lacking in any way, they will be reworked.