After reading the two-part story in The Star about the 1968 250SE driving through the "lower 48" last year, I'm more enthused than ever about doing something similar inn 2010.

I've posted here before about this, but want to ask this simple question of those who have experience with these cars:

If I'm lucky enough to find an early 1960s 220/230 in good mechanical condition, and if have an MB mechanic check it over and "do what's needed" to make it fully roadworthy ... is it foolish to attempt the long drive in an almost 50 year old MB?

Am I likely to find myself in the middle of nowhere with a broken axle, cracked suspension, blown rod, cracked block, fried gearbox, etc. because it's an old car?

Any car, regardless of age, can have a problem on a long trip. But is an older MB likely to have a failure which would cost a fortune to repair due to extremely high parts and labor?

Any comments or thoughts will be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks.
Tom

Either a 220 or 230 would be a bad idea. Unless the car has been meticulously maintained you have way too many variables to correct (all the rubber bits, hoses, belts, fuel pump diaphragms, brakes, etc.) and the old M115's just don't have the guts to do the drive at current highway speeds.

If you took your time and cruised along in the 50's to low 60's mph range you MIGHT make it. Of course, driving at those speeds you'd probably end up as a grill ornament on some 18 wheeler!

The problem wouldn't be in the high costs of parts as much as in the availability of the parts you might need on the old cars.

The scene; a dark country road, 3:27 AM, rain pouring down, Sunday morning in the isolated wilderness country of Weirareoui, Idaho.

The cast; A lone desolate figure standing besides his valiant steed which is leaking some fluid from an inaccessible part of its innards, arms gyrating wildly, disjointed syllables bursting forth from his mouth. Three locals wearing over-alls and baseball caps (all green with the figure of a golden stag) carrying lunch pails conversing amongst themselves.

The dialogue; "Shucks Vern, What IS he saying?" "I dunno Clint, some kinda foreign mumbo-jumbo, just what the heck is a meetreek wrench?", "Well boys, I don't know 'bout you-all but I'm a-getting off this here logging trail before the big trucks start a-coming".

Mike - what's the actual reason the 220/230 wouldn't be a good idea for the trip? Is it "limited horsepower"? If I had a four speed manual on the car, would there be any improvement in the "defense against 18 wheeler" issue?

Or did the 220/230 have a "quality/reliability" problem?

Which (if any ) of the other early 1960s sedans would be a better idea?

By the way, I've never feared Weirareoui, Idaho. It's the natives of Omigoshgolli, Ohio that scare me.

T.

an early 60s 220/230, you're looking at a W111. Get the best car you can find. Paying the money upfront will save you all the assle the previous owner went through and you will save money and time. For the rest, it depends on your mechanical skills and how much you will have driven the car before. A car may look very good, but a lot of things will start going wrong if it was kept in a garage and driven a few miles a few times a year. You should therefore give priority to a car which is regularly used, even if not perfect looking, rather than to a show looking car seldomly used. For the speed on the highway, true that you may get bored after a while...

there was an article somewhere outlining the "needed" items for a long distance trek in an old MB. I would think if the car has been maintained, rubber renewed under the hood, and it is running within acceptable parameters, I would go for it, what is life if its not an adventure. Keep us posted here , we are spred out around the country, we could come and help
do it and have fun, just pack appropriately

__________________
Ron
2015 Porsche Cayman - Elizabeth
2011 Porsche Cayman - Bond,James Bond
Sadly MERCEDESLESS - ALways LOOKING !
99 E320 THE Queen Mary - SOLD
62 220b - Dolly - Finally my Finny! Sadly SOLD
72 450SL, Pearl-SOLD
16 F350 6.7 Diesel -THOR
19 BMW X5 - Heaven on Wheels
14 38HP John Deere 3038E Tractor -Mean Green
84 300SD, Benjamin -SOLD
71 220 - W115-Libby ( my first love) -SOLD
73 280 - W114 "Organspende" Rest in Peace
81 380 SL - Rest in Peace

San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, twice.
1972 280SEL 4.5 250K + mileage
Dirt roads and pavement,
120mph and behind the truck crawl.
had alternator brushes changed in Santa Rosalia, oil changes, chassis lube, tire rotation, normal stuff on the road in the local towns.

Yeah, but that was with a 4.5L. A lot different in a 2.2L.

The M115's are good engines and as reliable as any 40 year old 4 cylinder can be. I put an injected M115 in my wife's '72 W114 and she's tickled pink. It does have the 4 speed. I drive it at highway speeds with no problem but I wouldn't trust it for a several hundred mile trip at 70+ MPH. They just weren't made for it.

If you didn't hurry and took your time, you probably wouldn't have any problems. The "lower 48" consists of a whole bunch of miles driven, especially once you get west of the Mississippi. I'd bet it'd be close to 20K miles if you got to see any of the really interesting stuff.

I'm no expert, and my car is merely 23 yrs old, but I'd do it as long as I prepared it properly and had lots o tools on me.

__________________
1984 300SD Orient Red/ Palomino
1989 560SEC
2016 Mazda 6 6 speed manual
1995 Ford F-150 reg cab 4.9 5speed manual

I've driven my ponton all over the east coast - Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, DC, Philadelphia, Boston, Atlanta, Orlanda, Birmingham - never a problem in spite of me doing all the work on it myself.

__________________
Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

Pshaw! 23 years old? Shucks, you should still be using "break in" oil in that baby!

Then you should have no problem attending the GTG this summer!!!

John in San Antonio

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John Hughes, was in Landstuhl, Germany but currently in San Antonio, TX


1978 280CE Astral Silver now 59,xxx miles and counting "Silber-Kugel"
1986 300E Black Pearl Metallic 143,xxx miles 5-spd daily driver w/ blk leather "Schwarz-Schönheit"
1989 190E 2.6 (euro) 5-spd Desert Taupe 112,xxx kms Had to leave behind in Germany!!! "Helga"
1983 300D Pastel Beige now 312,xxx + miles SOLD

OBK#24

Before your trip - I forget the author but it's all about the journey my friend - take the old car and don't worry about timetables... stop along the way for maintenance and repairs and enjoy the breaks.

I personally would take a 6 or 8 cyl gasser from the early 70's like a 280SE, but there is no reason a well restored fintail wouldn't make the journey if you explore back roads and highways instead of Interstates for most of the trip.

Sounds like a fun adventure!

You know I used to own an older (73) GMC Motorhome - there is a forum and network of owners dedicated to these old classics too much like this one - they have something known as the "Black List" (named after a guy named Black) which was started as a listserver - it contains names, addresses and phone numbers of owners around the country willing to provide assistance, tools, a place to repair, etc. and is very handy for a GMC owner to have when travelling. Perhaps we should begin something similar? I'd be willing to join. In the meantime I am only an e-mail away from anyone in Central Texas that requires help.

John in San Antonio

__________________
John Hughes, was in Landstuhl, Germany but currently in San Antonio, TX


1978 280CE Astral Silver now 59,xxx miles and counting "Silber-Kugel"
1986 300E Black Pearl Metallic 143,xxx miles 5-spd daily driver w/ blk leather "Schwarz-Schönheit"
1989 190E 2.6 (euro) 5-spd Desert Taupe 112,xxx kms Had to leave behind in Germany!!! "Helga"
1983 300D Pastel Beige now 312,xxx + miles SOLD

OBK#24

I have taken my old 4 cylinder MGB on many 1000+ mile trips on interstates and autobahns, and also drove my old MB coupe down from Boston to Atlanta after I bought it. I would recommend a car that has no problem with sustained 70-80 mph though and a 6 or 8 cylinder MB may be better (but my MGB has no problem with doing 70-80 mph forever at 3500-4000 rpm in overdrive).

I would recommend that you drive your car of choice first for a couple of months in daily commuter traffic around your place to get to know it and make sure all kinks are out. You really need to know your car because it will tell you when a funny noise appears (sign of trouble!) versus noises that have always been there.

Also, never leave home on a long trip without basic spares. I ALWAYS have ignition points, rotor, water pump belt, alternator/generator belt (if not same), extra spark plug, fuses, some electrical wire and tape (tape is good for fixing small hose leaks too), hose clamps, and (for my MGs) a spare electric fuel pump with me on a long trip (over 2 hour one way). Plus a complete set of wrenches (things rattle loose too over long trips), sockets, screwdrivers, pliers, and the ultimate starter repair tool, a.k.a hammer. And a foot operate air pump is good in case the spare tire turns out to be flat too. Have a towing rope in the car in case all else fails. Most folks have starter cables in this country so you can skip on that, but tow ropes are few and far in between. Do know where to attach the rope.

All these spares are cheap and easily replaced by yourself at the side of the road, but can really leave you completely stranded if one fails and you don't have the spare. I would recommend a manual shifter because in case of starting problems, all you need is a push to get it going again, or park on a hill facing down before shutting down the engine (done that with my old VW bug for a while and even with my MB before I put a new starter in - also starts when popping clutch in reverse gear ). Plus it is better for mountain driving, in my personal opinion.

All above mentioned problems I have had during some trip, but nothing is more satisfying than being able to fix the problem and head on out again to enjoy the trip or at least get to a destination where a more thorough repair can be made. Part of the fun!

Good luck,

Bert

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'70 111 280SE/c 3.5 (4 spd manual) - sold
'63 MGB
'73 MGBGT V8

You drove that '63 MGB for a thousand miles? Dude, you must have kidneys like rock and a butt made out of foam!

Sir, you are a MUCH stronger man than I am!

Of course, looking at the cars in your signature, you may just be a masochist!

Uprated front torsion bar (3/4 inch) and adjustable shocks in the back. Seriously, interstates and autobahns are smooth driving even for such bare minimum cars. Those old european cobble stone city centers rattle the fillings out of your teeth.

I like firm rides. Wobbliest ever was that 1972 Cadillac Eldorado convertible I owned. I felt seasick in that Plus it turned like the Titanic. Although it would have pulverized the iceberg if it hit one...

Bert

__________________
'70 111 280SE/c 3.5 (4 spd manual) - sold
'63 MGB
'73 MGBGT V8