36 year old W116 Mercedes
Discussion
The 'urge' tapped me on the shoulder the other night, forcing me to spin around, listen and agree to its demands of something relatively large, old and funky. Well, here it is; A W116 280SE.
Within a day, I had arranged to have this collected. Within an hour I was tracking down some AMG style 'Penta' wheels. The stars then aligned as the chap selling the car (approx 3 hours from where I live) lived approx 15 mins from the chap selling the wheels. My friend had to drive right past him, so grabbed me the wheels and the car. Success!
Such wonderful colours!
She does have an MOT, but there are a few jobs to sort, however, it's safe to say I enjoyed my first waft along the country lanes close to our little workshop.
It's a clean old girl, too. Obviously it's had some work done over the years, but where it matters, things seem pretty decent. Mileage shows around 95k from memory and with the lights on, it reminds me of everything I like about older cars because the mileage and clocks have a lovely, yellowy candle light 'dropped' on to them from above and the result is the antithesis of the all singing, all dancing, roller-disco type dash of the Audi.
You can keep your lit needles and auto-dimming LED's etc.
She's only the baby engined version, but it seems to chug along quite well, although I would like to sample the 450 or the mighty 6.9!
The wheels have been taken away to be refurbed and after much photoshopping, I decided on gold to contrast with the cars colour.
My photoshop: (wheels are rough silver currently)
I will add some more snaps and info after next weekend.
Within a day, I had arranged to have this collected. Within an hour I was tracking down some AMG style 'Penta' wheels. The stars then aligned as the chap selling the car (approx 3 hours from where I live) lived approx 15 mins from the chap selling the wheels. My friend had to drive right past him, so grabbed me the wheels and the car. Success!
Such wonderful colours!
She does have an MOT, but there are a few jobs to sort, however, it's safe to say I enjoyed my first waft along the country lanes close to our little workshop.
It's a clean old girl, too. Obviously it's had some work done over the years, but where it matters, things seem pretty decent. Mileage shows around 95k from memory and with the lights on, it reminds me of everything I like about older cars because the mileage and clocks have a lovely, yellowy candle light 'dropped' on to them from above and the result is the antithesis of the all singing, all dancing, roller-disco type dash of the Audi.
You can keep your lit needles and auto-dimming LED's etc.
She's only the baby engined version, but it seems to chug along quite well, although I would like to sample the 450 or the mighty 6.9!
The wheels have been taken away to be refurbed and after much photoshopping, I decided on gold to contrast with the cars colour.
My photoshop: (wheels are rough silver currently)
I will add some more snaps and info after next weekend.
Edited by Digby on Monday 4th July 22:01
bmthnick1981 said:
Very nice, seats from a later w126 perhaps ?
Did you consider having the wheels done in the body colour? Seemed to be popular back in the day.
I think it is a W126, yes. Apparently not uncommon if the older W116 seats of a certain material turned to dust. Did you consider having the wheels done in the body colour? Seemed to be popular back in the day.
I did try the wheels body coloured, but it was met with those "Hmmmmm...." responses from all those I showed (including myself)
Gold seemed to win the day, although silver and clean still looked nice.
I had one of these in the early eighties, it was a 350, I bought itin a hurry as my alfa did a head gasket the day before I was due to go on holiday. The merc belonged to the patriarch of the local corner shop chain.
It was gold with purple velour interior, but the ac worked. I had seen an ad in the window of their shop for a few weeks so went along that evening, bought it, set off for the south of france next morning. Didn't miss a beat , dead comfy etc
It was gold with purple velour interior, but the ac worked. I had seen an ad in the window of their shop for a few weeks so went along that evening, bought it, set off for the south of france next morning. Didn't miss a beat , dead comfy etc
Original wheels here as well I'm afraid. I had a 280 SE back in the 80's/90s and I loved it. Brilliant thing and surprisingly rapid when it wanted to be. I had it in one of my various 'skint' periods and it thrived on a diet of constant and total neglect right until the fan belt snapped and I cooked the head gasket. Even after that (and unrepaired!) it still soldiered on just with the rad cap loose to let the pressure out!
I sold it and bought, first a 350 (dire) and then a 450 which was a real hotrod and ended up with a 450SEL 6.9 and loved and cherished it with all the car the first car lacked.
Moved on to 126 versions and was a staunch supporter for many years. But, the old 116 has a real charm and quality that the newer cars lack.
I sold it and bought, first a 350 (dire) and then a 450 which was a real hotrod and ended up with a 450SEL 6.9 and loved and cherished it with all the car the first car lacked.
Moved on to 126 versions and was a staunch supporter for many years. But, the old 116 has a real charm and quality that the newer cars lack.
The 116 is really coming into its own and this one looks pretty tidy.
I like the Pentas. I'd like them more with body-colour (480 manganese brown metallic?) centres. That is how AMG offered them in period.
You might want to dye the leather to match the rest of the car. It's a surprisingly easy job.
Enjoy it!
I like the Pentas. I'd like them more with body-colour (480 manganese brown metallic?) centres. That is how AMG offered them in period.
You might want to dye the leather to match the rest of the car. It's a surprisingly easy job.
Enjoy it!
Cheers all. Loving the rocket launcher idea 
Stripped the front door card down earlier to fix a loose mirror and lube up the manual window runners (poverty spec car it seems!)
Next job, remove air filter box and change the plugs, leads, rad cap and dizzy / rotor. It's safe to say engine bays look a lot more tidy thesse days!
Refurbed wheels should be ready today...now to get the old girl in the air to see where my exhaust blow is coming from and have a poke around before I try to sort sticking caliper / collapsing brake hose..
Stripped the front door card down earlier to fix a loose mirror and lube up the manual window runners (poverty spec car it seems!)
Next job, remove air filter box and change the plugs, leads, rad cap and dizzy / rotor. It's safe to say engine bays look a lot more tidy thesse days!
Refurbed wheels should be ready today...now to get the old girl in the air to see where my exhaust blow is coming from and have a poke around before I try to sort sticking caliper / collapsing brake hose..
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