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-   -   Bought a 1980 280SL - $1,200. (http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-sl-discussion-forum/223953-bought-1980-280sl-%241-200-a.html)

pwogaman 06-02-2008 04:07 PM

Bought a 1980 280SL - $1,200. Link to before pictures added!
 
Here are the before pictures: http://s284.photobucket.com/albums/ll4/pwogaman/1980%20Mercedes%20280SL/

All I have to do is replace the rusted frame and body. Seriously though it does need new front fenders, the first of which I just bought off eBay for $125. If I slammed on the brakes with the existing fenders I figure the headlights would come flying out - one of them is held on with 1 screw. Just the same, the prior owner gave me the euro headlights.

It looks as if the rust is pretty much limited to the fenders and quarter panels. Since I have my own mig welder changing that out should not be too difficult. The rest of the body looks sound and straight: no rust in the pans or the structurals. I figure the massive fender rust came from prior owner filling rust holes with fiberglass and bondo - without cutting out or sealing the existing rust.

I got the 280 because it is a Euro, and I figured I start my first MB gaser with a smaller engine that is easier to work on with room in the engine bay, much like my 300SD with the 5 cylinder 617.95. The engine sounds good and strong (and loud with an exhaust leak. The prior owner's records reflect about 150 compression.

While the mileage reads 217K, I know that is off significantly. The car lived its first 50-60K kilometers in Germany as indicated in the service stamp books. It then came to the U.S. and a used replacement speedo-cluster was put in (even has the U.S. O2 sensor light). Looking back through the records the lowest mile mileage I could find is 192K. So, best case the lowest mileage would be about 25K on the replacement speedo and 50-60K kilometers on the original for a total of approximately 75K miles. In any event, it probably is not above 100K.

This will be an extensive restoration. I already took 98 pictures in the as received condition and will post them once I size them down to shop forum limitations. I will also take many as I go.

Picking up the car was a bit of an adventure. Powerpig gave me a ride to get it and drive it home. Unfortunately the alternator was not charging and the battery was totally dead (unlike the one that was in it when I bought it). Piggy and I decided to leave the car and I would come back later with a tow dolly, but before we left a caravan of about 40 exotic cars came racing down this little curvy road: Porsches (loads of them), BMWs, Lotus', Ferraris, a couple of Mercedes, etc . . .

U-haul didn't have any tow dollys, so they gave me a full trailer for the same price. I brought another battery and jumpers and returned to the car. Wouldn't you know it! My other battery was dead too. And because I was in the mini-van for the tow I didn't have tools to take its battery out for the load. Being at least an hour from home I really didn't feel like driving the full trailer back to get more tools or another battery. What I ended up doing, however, was putting the mini-van with the trailer at the bottom of a slight hill and set up the trailer ramps. I nexted pushed the 280 back, about 4 inches at a time, until itl was lined up with the trailer. I then pushed down the hill and up on the trailer. I had one shot and I got it about 90% of the way loaded: the rear wheels were just barely hanging on the ramps. I used the minivan jack to raise the rear wheels and slipped flat fence posts underneath and then leveraging up the rest of the way. What a way to spend an hour!

Once I got home I used another battery, which I knew worked, to get it off the trailer and into the driveway. The damn thing didn't work again! After about two minutes I figured we had the terminal leads mixed up.:rolleyes:

Dee8go 06-02-2008 04:32 PM

Congratulations, Paul, and good luck with your restoration. I know it has found a good home at your house. Can't wait to see the pictures.

Mistress 06-02-2008 05:25 PM

Way to go McGuiver! O.k. what color is it?

Dee8go 06-02-2008 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mistress (Post 1872380)
Way to go McGuiver! O.k. what color is it?

Rust?:D

powerpig 06-02-2008 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mistress (Post 1872380)
Way to go McGuiver! O.k. what color is it?

It's sort of an olive green like my Euro wagon. Strong engine. Can't wait to see the progress pics.

meltedpanda 06-03-2008 09:42 AM

great find, looking forward to the (your :D) adventure

pj67coll 06-04-2008 02:45 PM

Interesting project. I look forward to seeing the pic's as well as I'm contemplating the possibility of something similar.

- Peter.

pwogaman 06-04-2008 03:47 PM

The project got off to a really bad start this morning. I went to DMV to title the car and get Antique tags. The title still has a lien on it without a release! I contacted the seller and he is now looking around for the second half of the title with the release on it, or alternatively, he will go to the credit union tomorrow to get something else establishing the release. In the mean time I am not going to spend another dime on it.

meltedpanda 06-04-2008 04:32 PM

yup and then if like here in Kentucky , will tax you for more than it is worth!:D

pwogaman 06-06-2008 01:30 PM

I added a link to the before pictures in the first post of the thread. Enjoy.

Lexxani 06-06-2008 03:08 PM

daaammn. . .you can see right through that there trunk. . .thats unfortunate for that car. . .interesting rims, never seen any like them, are 14's right?

JimFreeh 06-06-2008 04:15 PM

I just looked at the pictures. OMG!!!
 
Are you seriously going to attempt to "restore" this car?
This is a parts car at best.

Please take very close look at the firewall and the inner front fenders, especially along the top of the inner fenders and verify that the structural member is sound. Any rust in these areas is terminal.

I've got parts SLs that don't look this bad....

R107 SLs are relatively cheap right now, you will be much better off to find a better example, with minimal rust.

Jim

pwogaman 06-06-2008 04:17 PM

Yep - they're 14"s I doubt they'll pull through.

I did the trunk deal once before, so I guess that makes me an expert at it: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/bodywork-repair-paint-tools-tips-tricks/124667-rust-never-sleeps.html

I kind of love a challenge. I prefer to think of this as a Lego building project.

Dee8go 06-06-2008 04:18 PM

Boy, that looks ambitious, Paul. If anybody can restore that, I'm sure it's you. It'll be fun watching your progress. how soon before we'll see that at a GTG?

pwogaman 06-06-2008 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go (Post 1876307)
Boy, that looks ambitious, Paul. If anybody can restore that, I'm sure it's you. It'll be fun watching your progress. how soon before we'll see that at a GTG?

Which part do you want me to bring? :D


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