I'm so sorry to hear this, sad news indeed.

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

Addition: Phil's kids asked me to add this info to the first post:

Details to be posted soon...

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Wayne R. Dempsey, Founder, Pelican Parts Inc., and Author of:
101 Projects for Your BMW 3-Series • 101 Projects for Your Porsche 911 • How to Rebuild & Modify Porsche 911 Engines • 101 Projects for Your Porsche Boxster & Cayman
• 101 Projects for Your MINI Cooper • 101 Projects for Your Porsche 996 / 997

I add my thanks for Phil's kindness, help, for taking the time, and for finding the impossible.

He will be sorely missed. What a great loss. We never met except on the phone and his gracious good humor always a balm to a frustrated MB restorer. He made the world a better place.

My sympathies, prayers and good will to his family and his friends.

The Hammer

I too am shocked. I, like others, was always amazed at how Phil was willing to work with you to figure out exactly what you needed for a job to be done right, and wouldn't hesitate to call if he had a question or two about the order. Being on the east coast, it would amaze me to get a call early in the moring, not expecting him to be in the office! My condolences to the family as well! That is just way to young to go.

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05 SL600 75K
87 MB 560SL 119K
87 MB 300D 180K
83 MB 240D 110K
64 1/2 Mustang
74 Monte Carlo 32K
75 Fiat 124 Spyder
16 Equinox
15 2500HD Silverado

What a great guy. I only ever spoke to him on the phone and by email; but he was always great to talk to. As busy as he must have been; he always took the time to answer any question. Many thanks & condolences to the family.

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Remember, Safety Third!
'99 E300 Turbodiesel, '82 300TD, 1996 12V Cummins Turbo, '94 Neoplan - Detroit 6V92TA

I'm shocked and saddened to hear of PeachParts' loss. I've talked to Phil a couple of times to order parts, very nice guy to talk to and got back to me when he had to do some research on a part.

My deepest condolences to his family, he would surely be missed.


.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

An hour ago I thought to run home and call Phil for some parts. Due to the time difference, I feared I'd miss him.

Now I really MISS HIM....

There are few in the world that can leave a legacy of being a "Go To Guy" & in his niche Phil was one of them. I say that because in an industry full of nonsense, I sincerely trusted him & he always delivered.

And Good for him for "Sliding in Sideways". Too young but robust to the end.

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1986 300SDL 440,xxx

On the day Phil passed away, I was working with W Hunter (Roy) when he got a call from Wayne (Pelican Parts Owner) wondering if he had heard from Phil in the last few hours. Roy said he had talked with Phil about a normal Q & A issue around noon to 1 pm and that there was nothing special about the call at that time. Just a normal business call. Roy gave him the answer... Phil said thanks and had to go on to his next call. Wayne thought it was really strange that Phil was suddenly not available.

The next couple of hours we continued to work and Roy continued to get phone calls... No one at Pelican Parts HQ had heard from Phil... what was going on??? It was really different to watch this happening.

Finally around 3 in the afternoon Roy got a call from Wayne about Phil's passing. Roy was stunned. He lost focus. We stopped working. Roy was severely shaken.

Roy had worked with Phil for over 8 years. They worked as a team. Phil had a question... Roy did research and fed the information back to Phil to let Phil help the all important customer. There were many times over the years when I was working with Roy when he got a call from Phil... Everything was stopped and Roy immediately dropped what he was doing, went to his computer and helped Phil... Sometimes the question answer was a quick email response, other times the response took a very long time. It was amazing to witness this synergy. Phil was parts. Roy is the deep research technical department.

There were many times when Roy and I were searching for a unique part for one of our projects. Phil's knack for finding the non standard part... whether new or used was amazing. Phil had a deep, deep innate knowledge of where the parts were and what parts would be the best for the customer. His customers weren't interested in the latest, cheapest, part. We, Phil's customers, are interested in parts that would solve our problems... for the long term. Phil specified parts and had parts that would do the job. He was the king of finding unobtainium! Sometimes with unobtainium, good used is all that there is. Phil could find it. If there was ever a rare issue of a part being incorrect, Phil would cheerfully deal with the issue.

It is my hope that Pelican will embrace Phil's spirit of doing business and support us by finding another gem of a parts person like Phil. I know they can't exactly replace him... His mould was broken when he was born. I hope they can find someone who can live and breathe Mercedes parts like Phil did. Someone who won't accept cheap cruddy parts that don't last. Someone who will be an asset to us.

As for me, I saw the impact that the news of Phil's death had on Roy. I heard the gulp of sadness and tears when I called one of our friends and told her about his passing. I know I'll miss him. Phil talked and serviced uncountable thousands of customers who all became his friend. We all will miss him greatly.

My heart-felt condolences to his family and to our community.

Pete Williams

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Pete Williams, President emeritus - MBCA-International Stars (Eastern Mich.) Now Wi. & Az.
1985 300D Manual 4 speed Green Hen's tooth
1979 MGB triple black Az car nice
1969 back 1/2 of MGB (Az home built trailer)
1991 Volvo 245 Wagon Nice AZ Restored Gold Brick
1983 Jeep CJ7 37,600 Miles Summer use only

So sad to hear this today.

I only spoke to him a few times but I could tell just from that he was a great guy to deal with and all around.

My condolences to his family.

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87 300SDL (work in progress) will be DD
92 Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 monster (heavily modified)
build thread on mud http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/288587-rotf-lt1fire.html

84 K1500 GMC Suburban 6.2 diesel motor...... dying to offer its engine to the Land Cruiser

Wow. Such a tremendous loss. He will be sorely missed, and fondly remembered by many, many people...

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Current rolling stock:
2001 E55 183,000+ Newest member of the fleet.
2002 E320 83,000 - The "cream-puff"!
1992 500E 217,000+
1995 E300D 412,000+
1998 E300D 155,000+
2001 E320 227,000+
2001 E320 Wagon, 177,000+

Prior MBZ’s:
1952 220 Cab A
1966 300SE
1971 280SE
1973 350SLC (euro)
1980 450SLC
1980 450SLC (#2)
1978 450SLC 5.0
1984 300D ~243,000 & fondly remembered
1993 500E - sorely missed.
1975 VW Scirocco w/ slightly de-tuned Super-Vee engine - Sold after 30+ years.

Phil was a great man who talked me back from the Mercedes ledge a few times when I first got my 240D. I will miss his guidance and expertise. My condolences to his family.

Romans 8:38-39

Thank you for sharing these precious pictures.
Tears should be saved for those deserving souls, loss of your father has me weeping without shame..

Thank you for calling.
"vstech" is following up on some of what we discussed.


.

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ASE Master Mechanic
https://whunter.carrd.co/

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
2003 Volvo V70

https://www.boldegoist.com/

May the four winds blow you safely home, Phil.

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1981 300TD "The Green Lantern"
1980 300TD
1983 300D Euro "China Cat"

Jennifer, my condolences to you and your family. Your dad was a pleasure to deal with.

Although I'm on the other side of the world, he was always extremely diligent in shipping my orders to me and always added what tools I may have missed but needed to complete the job right.

I will greatly miss the advice and guidance he gave me.

Ben, Sydney Australia

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1995 E300 Diesel

I am nearly at a total loss for words. I am saddened to hear about Phastlane Phil - He was the best... not just when it came to taking care of us, but as a person.
My condolences to his family.

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D