1973 Mercedes SLC
Discussion
By way of a small update, there have been some fairly significant changes for KNJ.
After an early summer MOT some work was required to replace a damaged rear brake hose and to repair a blowing exhaust which was beginning to sound more fruity than a grand cruiser deserves. The local garage also waxoyled the whole of the underneath. Total cost was just over £400 which seemed reasonable enough.
The car then sat rather forlornly, unused and exposed in all weathers as I was in one country and it in another. That was clearly far from ideal, and my house on the Continent has an underground garage, so the rather obvious solution was to drive it across the Channel and last weekend that's exactly what I did.
I'd timed it in the hope that I wouldn't need to use the (pretty poor) lights, on a dry day so that I wouldn't need to use the (pretty poor) wipers, and before the winter sets in so as not to have to rely on the (virtually non-functioning-in-any-delivery-of-heat sense) heater. Luckily, it sort-of worked; it rained for only some of the journey and the day was warm enough for me not to get hypothermia on the trip.
The prospect of a 500 mile trip inevitably tests ones confidence, especially as the car had only been lightly used this year. In the event, it ran perfectly (well, as perfectly as it ever does) for the entire journey. It still surges slightly when cold, there's still a slight misfire/stutter under light load around 70-80 mph, and it takes a moment to engage drive when reverse is engaged, but it's a delightful thing to drive.
I was too scared to work it out exactly, but economy was pretty poor, and it took 2 tankfuls to get here. This is rather offset from now on as I get cheap petrol, so on the first working day I filled it up with Super 98 or whatever it is at 58 Euro cents a litre. Result.
Yesterday was a lovely day in Luxembourg so I took it out for an end of season spin to make sure that it's fully dried out and in good order before it hibernates for a bit. Lux may not seem a natural choice for a vacationing road trip, but some of the roads around here are brilliant. The quality is good and there is some very lovely scenery. A long series of wooded sweeping S bends at some speed proved most enjoyable, and the old girl can still provide a rewarding and pretty sporty drive. Those big fat (inside-out whitewall) tyres help keep things nice and smooth too.
Some photos. I should perhaps make it very clear that I reversed up to the one way sign, I hadn't driven it the wrong way!
The plan is to largely just garage it here. I won't get it Lux-registered but will maintain it UK-legal. If there are beautiful winter days it may get a run out, but I'm really keen to keep it dry as much as I can.
I really like this car.
After an early summer MOT some work was required to replace a damaged rear brake hose and to repair a blowing exhaust which was beginning to sound more fruity than a grand cruiser deserves. The local garage also waxoyled the whole of the underneath. Total cost was just over £400 which seemed reasonable enough.
The car then sat rather forlornly, unused and exposed in all weathers as I was in one country and it in another. That was clearly far from ideal, and my house on the Continent has an underground garage, so the rather obvious solution was to drive it across the Channel and last weekend that's exactly what I did.
I'd timed it in the hope that I wouldn't need to use the (pretty poor) lights, on a dry day so that I wouldn't need to use the (pretty poor) wipers, and before the winter sets in so as not to have to rely on the (virtually non-functioning-in-any-delivery-of-heat sense) heater. Luckily, it sort-of worked; it rained for only some of the journey and the day was warm enough for me not to get hypothermia on the trip.
The prospect of a 500 mile trip inevitably tests ones confidence, especially as the car had only been lightly used this year. In the event, it ran perfectly (well, as perfectly as it ever does) for the entire journey. It still surges slightly when cold, there's still a slight misfire/stutter under light load around 70-80 mph, and it takes a moment to engage drive when reverse is engaged, but it's a delightful thing to drive.
I was too scared to work it out exactly, but economy was pretty poor, and it took 2 tankfuls to get here. This is rather offset from now on as I get cheap petrol, so on the first working day I filled it up with Super 98 or whatever it is at 58 Euro cents a litre. Result.
Yesterday was a lovely day in Luxembourg so I took it out for an end of season spin to make sure that it's fully dried out and in good order before it hibernates for a bit. Lux may not seem a natural choice for a vacationing road trip, but some of the roads around here are brilliant. The quality is good and there is some very lovely scenery. A long series of wooded sweeping S bends at some speed proved most enjoyable, and the old girl can still provide a rewarding and pretty sporty drive. Those big fat (inside-out whitewall) tyres help keep things nice and smooth too.
Some photos. I should perhaps make it very clear that I reversed up to the one way sign, I hadn't driven it the wrong way!
The plan is to largely just garage it here. I won't get it Lux-registered but will maintain it UK-legal. If there are beautiful winter days it may get a run out, but I'm really keen to keep it dry as much as I can.
I really like this car.
I've been enjoying this thread. About a decade ago , i bought 4 SLC 5.0 cars from an estate sale. An Ikon gold 79 450SLC 5.0 painted thistle green, Inca red 80 450SLC 5.0 (badged as a 500SLC), an 80 Silver blue 500SLC and an anthracite 81 500SLC that was painted black.
I sold the 80 pretty quick but ended up restoring the 79 and repainting it back to Ikon gold. After driving it for a while and enjoying it, I sold it on. I continued to drive the 81 for a couple of more years, It was pretty rusty, although it didn't look it, and had been bodged restored, needing sills and floors. It was a pretty unique car with ABS which was a rare option in 1981.
I still have the inca red car. It was the PO's daily driver. He was a diabetic and went through an episode while driving the car into the garage and smashed the front end into the garage wall. He later proceeded to take it apart for restoration but passed on. Mechanically it was in great condition, dash is crack free and wood was beautiful. I need to put the car back together. I bought 1980 350SLC, also with automatic climate control last January to use as a donor so that I can fix this car. I have all the parts, but as I did not take the car apart, i really need another car to take apart in order to figure out how to put it together. Maybe a 2019 project.
That's the problem with having too many cars, you're spread too thin and never make any real progress.
I sold the 80 pretty quick but ended up restoring the 79 and repainting it back to Ikon gold. After driving it for a while and enjoying it, I sold it on. I continued to drive the 81 for a couple of more years, It was pretty rusty, although it didn't look it, and had been bodged restored, needing sills and floors. It was a pretty unique car with ABS which was a rare option in 1981.
I still have the inca red car. It was the PO's daily driver. He was a diabetic and went through an episode while driving the car into the garage and smashed the front end into the garage wall. He later proceeded to take it apart for restoration but passed on. Mechanically it was in great condition, dash is crack free and wood was beautiful. I need to put the car back together. I bought 1980 350SLC, also with automatic climate control last January to use as a donor so that I can fix this car. I have all the parts, but as I did not take the car apart, i really need another car to take apart in order to figure out how to put it together. Maybe a 2019 project.
That's the problem with having too many cars, you're spread too thin and never make any real progress.
A new chapter in the car's life story. If this results in it getting used, more smiles on your face, and more photos of your trips I am all for it. So pleased it managed the journey. My wipers are poor too although I do need some new rubbers at some point soon. Keep checking in from time to time CdG.
alabbasi said:
About a decade ago , i bought 4 SLC 5.0 cars from an estate sale. An Ikon gold 79 450SLC 5.0 painted thistle green, Inca red 80 450SLC 5.0 (badged as a 500SLC), an 80 Silver blue 500SLC and an anthracite 81 500SLC that was painted black.
What a trial that must have been! Nice back-story you have there. Do make sure you finish the refurb. paulyv said:
A new chapter in the car's life story. If this results in it getting used, more smiles on your face, and more photos of your trips I am all for it. So pleased it managed the journey. My wipers are poor too although I do need some new rubbers at some point soon. Keep checking in from time to time CdG.
Thanks paulyv. I hope yours is coming along nicely? CharlesdeGaulle said:
Thanks paulyv. I hope yours is coming along nicely?
It is, thank you. Not much change since we last 'spoke' but there it sits on the road in Central London, occasionally getting admiring glances from tourists and as of yet no clumsy glances from Deliveroo riders. Not much will be done until the New Year now I think, as it requires the heating and vacuum system to be thoroughly worked on. I might take it to a different specialist this time, just for comparison and to meet another mechanic who has insight into these graceful beasts. Possibly SS Motors who seem communicative. I could do without another 6.5k bill this year.Drove the car to my sisters wedding a month ago and as I have another wedding to attend in Italy next June I have a faint distant dream of taking in Le Mans before heading there. I'll need the aircon working for that, although I have little fear regards mechanical reliability (see aforementioned 6.5k bill). Also in the lucky position of considering spending a month in Spain later in the summer of 2019, and would love to take it on the ferry to Santander and then deeper into the country. Big romantic dreams for a big romantic car...we shall see.
May I ask - did you hear from Strela at all?
Mandatory moody shot of car.
Edited by paulyv on Monday 8th October 00:36
Good to hear of these cars getting some proper use.
Alabbas - inca red is my absolute favourite old 107 colour.
My SL's barely turned a wheel this year, sad really. Once in while I take Mrs ig off somewhere or most recently my sons to Mercedes world. Must concentrate on getting a drive in every month or so at least when it's not salty out I think.
Alabbas - inca red is my absolute favourite old 107 colour.
My SL's barely turned a wheel this year, sad really. Once in while I take Mrs ig off somewhere or most recently my sons to Mercedes world. Must concentrate on getting a drive in every month or so at least when it's not salty out I think.
idiotgap said:
Good to hear of these cars getting some proper use.
Alabbas - inca red is my absolute favourite old 107 colour.
My SL's barely turned a wheel this year, sad really. Once in while I take Mrs ig off somewhere or most recently my sons to Mercedes world. Must concentrate on getting a drive in every month or so at least when it's not salty out I think.
It really pays to do so, I can't count how many takes I've had to take the fuel system apart on old CIS cars and clean out the fuel lines, injectors and fuel distributor because the ethanol in the fuel gummed everything up.Alabbas - inca red is my absolute favourite old 107 colour.
My SL's barely turned a wheel this year, sad really. Once in while I take Mrs ig off somewhere or most recently my sons to Mercedes world. Must concentrate on getting a drive in every month or so at least when it's not salty out I think.
paulyv said:
... Big romantic dreams for a big romantic car...we shall see.
May I ask - did you hear from Strela at all?
Car looks great, and some perfect road trips planned by the sound of it.May I ask - did you hear from Strela at all?
I didn't hear from Strela; I mailed but no response. All his posts except those that were quoted have gone from here too.
To think that I lay on a damp patch of asphalt in North Yorkshire looking under that car and advised you not to buy it because of some trifling water ingress and surging issues. What a fool I was! How far-sighted and imaginative you were to go ahead.
It looks wonderful and there's a special satisfaction in taking it for a proper drive that involves crossing multiple borders. Must make all the expense with Steve Griffin worthwhile.
Will it be awake and on the road again in time for Essen? I might try and get the Brown Bumbler into shape in time for that, weather and children permitting.
It looks wonderful and there's a special satisfaction in taking it for a proper drive that involves crossing multiple borders. Must make all the expense with Steve Griffin worthwhile.
Will it be awake and on the road again in time for Essen? I might try and get the Brown Bumbler into shape in time for that, weather and children permitting.
I have you to thank Zonergem. I've never once cursed you for not doing enough to put me off!
I suspect the car won't ever really be hibernating properly. I'm near the Moselle and fancy a spin along there on a nice sunny day. The only real constraint is the lack of much in the way of heating, so doing much over the coldest winter months is unlikely unless I man-up to the temperature or man-up to pay for getting the heater fixed. Buying more clothes might be cheaper!
I'm certainly up for an Essen trip, especially if there might be a 107 convoy? Do give me a shout if you (or anyone else) ever comes this way, especially if there's a self-indulgent car-themed destination to look forward to at the end of it.
I suspect the car won't ever really be hibernating properly. I'm near the Moselle and fancy a spin along there on a nice sunny day. The only real constraint is the lack of much in the way of heating, so doing much over the coldest winter months is unlikely unless I man-up to the temperature or man-up to pay for getting the heater fixed. Buying more clothes might be cheaper!
I'm certainly up for an Essen trip, especially if there might be a 107 convoy? Do give me a shout if you (or anyone else) ever comes this way, especially if there's a self-indulgent car-themed destination to look forward to at the end of it.
r129sl said:
paulyv said:
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Thanks paulyv. I hope yours is coming along nicely?
* Obviously, I refer to driving an old classic before the NP&E nutters descend.
Even though the classic car market is under the cosh and it's the run-up to Christmas/Brexit/Armageddon this 450SLC managed to smash the estimate at auction today.
https://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2018-1...
https://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2018-1...
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