I've been fantasizing about taking a mid 70's 280C and reinforcing the chassis, chopping off the roof, and retrofitting the motor and 5 speed tranny from a late 80's 190E. I'd have a fun car to putt around town and still get good gas mileage and have low emissions. I'm reasonably advanced with the CIS and EZL systems so I know what's in store there. I've located a '76 280C in need of restoration for $500.

My wife is one month from delivering our first, a baby girl. Am I totally crazy to think that I'll have the time to do this? Is it even possible? Somebody either needs to encourage me or talk me down because this 280C is going to go quickly.

Thanks,
Robert

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89 300te 222,222
92 300e 190,000

JMO! But if it were me ! I would be devoting all my spare time right now to that new member of your family! Your better half gonna need all the help and support for awhile! And they really grow fast!


Smokie

I'd say if you want to try it... you have maybe 8 months at this point before the real ***** starts to fly Edit: (she'll be sleeping a lot and she can't get into too much trouble until she can get off the blanket)... but you never know what will be up around the bend any more... so be ready for your project to turn into a decade long affair.
Good luck with your new little one. If they weren’t so amazing they would be considered a 20-year sentence with no parole.

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-Marty

1986 300E 220,000 miles+ transmission impossible
(Now waiting under a bridge in order to become one)

Reading your M103 duty cycle:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831799-post13.html
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831807-post14.html

Are you thinking of something like this:

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1989 300CE Astralsilber/Schwarz
1992 300CE Schwarz/Schwarz

Yeah! That would be the ideal model, but imagine it in desperate need of restoration.

I'm leaning towards holding off on the project. As A264172 and smokiesman point out, the future is full of more important things...

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89 300te 222,222
92 300e 190,000

have you done this kind of thing before? Sounds like it could involve some fabriacation and such of mounts, driveshafts, etc.

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2005 Mercedes C230k sport sedan, 6 speed
1987 Porsche 924S - 968-engined track car

My vote is for facing reality. Wait until you can afford it and buy a good convertible. Always buy the absolute best you can afford: you can buy quality and condition a lot cheaper than you can restore it.

You could probably get a very nice CLK320 for about what it cost you to do that nicely.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200