2014 DC MBCA Picnic. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Mark DiSilvestro · #1 07-17-2014, 07:23 AM

Well, I attended the 2014 Washington DC chapter MBCA picnic last Sunday. Typical stifling July heat & humidity, only relieved a bit by an occasional breeze. Unfortunately, I had to drive my Toyota (horrors!) since I couldn't bring the '84 Euro 300TD as I've started the heater-core replacement job.
Another dissappointment was no flea-market.

Otherwise, among the more unusual vehicles on display was a burgundy W108 250S with a manual four-speed column-shift, and a beige '67 W110 230 - also with a manual columnshift.

Spotted a burgundy '61 Ponton 190b with a for-sale sign and no price, but a nicely redone interior and poor respray - looks good from 30 feet.
Also wrong rear bumper, needs a tail-light, and the center dash radio-delete panel is missing & replaced by a bit of plywood. Guy who brought it said "make an offer" but I was too hot to crawl around underneath and inspect for rot. It's insane but I'm tempted by this possible replacement for the decaying remains of the '61 Ponton 180b I drove in high-school. I even still have a brand-new Ponton tail-light and bumper I acquired years ago when I thought I would restore my 180 someday (Unfortunately I only have the FRONT bumper!) My 180 could donate the missing dash panel (Though it would say 180 instead of 190) or I also have a Ponton Becker Europa tube-radio with panel I could install. Meanwhile, I may drive up to Maryland this weekend to better inspect this car and see if I'm ready to lose my mind and buy another one!

Also the gorgeous '52 300SC Cabrio I saw at the German Marque show was there. The good news is he won three awards - popular vote, best in show and best Cabrio (I think) The bad news is, on my way home an hour later, I spotted this car on the right shoulder of the Capitol Beltway!
I felt bad I couldn't stop to help, but I was in the far left lane, and there was already one of those V-DOT emergency trucks with a big flashing traffic arrow sign diverting traffic from behind the SC, so I didn't spot it until I had nearly passed.

Glad I had my air-conditioned Toyota.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Mark DiSilvestro · #2 08-05-2014, 11:04 AM

Well, I drove up to Mt Airy Maryland to meet the seller of that Ponton 190 at a WalMart parking lot. What a heap! Left unibody frame-rail is perforated in several spots below the doors and completely open behind the left front wheel. Who knows what else the thick layer of drippy, spray-undercoat may be hiding?! Lifted the rear carpets and was able to scoop-up handfulls of rust-flakes! In addition to the center dash (radio-delete) cover replaced with plywood, an ill-fitting Ponton 220 wood glovebox door is installed. I popped the hood and both complete heater assemblies are missing - cores, ducts, flaps, plumbing, everything. The under-hood openings in the dash are plugged with sheet-metal. Electric fuel pump on firewall. Block-off plate now on engine where the original pump was. Warmed it up for a bit, then went for a test drive in the parking-lot. Engine clattery, but oil-pressure seemed OK. Hesitated and wouldn't idle without the choke pulled-out part-way. Brakes went 2./3 to the floor so my test-drive was very brief. Column-shift very sloppy (not unexpected), but more serious is the tranny was very noisy! New bias-ply tires are good for show, but not to drive.
Close-up, the shiny burgundy paint has many flaws and a few bubbles here & there. Seats & head-lining redone in tan vinyl. Matching (maybe-original) door-panels look OK. The original rubber floor-covering has been replaced by carpet.
Again the original rear bumper has been replaced by a front bumper off some other Benz and the right tail-light lens needs repair/replace. I told the seller, If I wanted the car really badly, I might consider $2K tops.
But I won't be bringing this one home.
However, I told my neighbor in Virginia Beach all about it and he was very interested.

I hope the guy, and his 300SC Cabrio on the side of the Beltway, made it home OK!

Happy Motoring, Mark

Jub · #3 08-05-2014, 04:42 PM

Hi Mark,

If you're looking for a ponton, there has been two on craigslist in the DMV area for a few weeks now: one was owned by a senator from texas ("Babs"; replaced with small block engine), and there is another one in Maryland which was appearently "garage kept". Search 1960 mercedes, 1961 mercedes, 1962 mercedes...etc (both will pop up at some point).

Oh, and not sure if you knew this but in Mt Airy there is a pick-and-pull (Crazy rays), which is the un-official repository for older mercedes and odd ball cars (saw a crazy old volvo there few weeks back; and a peugot).

Mark DiSilvestro · #4 08-06-2014, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jub

Hi Mark,

If you're looking for a ponton, there has been two on craigslist in the DMV area for a few weeks now: one was owned by a senator from texas ("Babs"; replaced with small block engine), and there is another one in Maryland which was appearently "garage kept". Search 1960 mercedes, 1961 mercedes, 1962 mercedes...etc (both will pop up at some point).

Oh, and not sure if you knew this but in Mt Airy there is a pick-and-pull (Crazy rays), which is the un-official repository for older mercedes and odd ball cars (saw a crazy old volvo there few weeks back; and a peugot).

Yeah. The seller of this Ponton told me about Crazy Rays, but I was also on my way to a job in Buckeystown, and just didn't have any extra time after my test-drive.
I'll check craigslist, but I'll bet that "garage kept" example is the one I looked at! The seller did claim this 190b had been garaged. Just not how much of it's 54 year existence it had been garaged.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Mark DiSilvestro · #5 08-06-2014, 12:49 AM

Well, I just checked the DMV craigslist and there are no 60 - 62 Pontons listed. Though there is a possible decent '62 Fintail 190, for $3K, needing some TLC in Frederick MD, that's missing the FRONT bumper. Love the grey, with red interior combo. Wonder if that front bumper is now on the rear of that Ponton 190 I looked at? Wonder if my NOS Ponton 180b front bumper can be made to fit on the front of a Fintail 190?
Also found the $8K black '59 Ponton you posted the picture of.
Plus a beige "1966" (!) automatic W123 240D, needing body & mechanical work, for $1K.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Jub · #6 08-06-2014, 08:18 AM

Right, saw those (didn't see the mint/modified ponton for 5k; sold).

There's a lot going on on craigslist right now. Good deals too.

Oh, and that fin tail: there's one sitting in a pic-n-pull on Baltimore ave right now- 62-sh, if I'm not mistaken). Along with the remnants of a gutted ponton.