Wednesday, May 31, 2017

RESURRECTION

Last Thursday I sent the Becker Grand Prix, so kindly donated by Malcolm, off to Becker in New Jersey for a refurbish and Bluetooth mod. I’m waiting for their analysis and cost, but from what they told me up front it all sounds very reasonable. It will be nice to have the original radio in-place, since I’m such a stickler for originality. Or am I?

Also last week, I almost pulled the trigger on another 1988 Arctic White SEC. This car is in much better fettle than Johnny was when I purchased him (and cheaper). The car is located in St. Louis and is currently owned by an MBCA Regional Director, whom I believe is only the third owner from new. In the end common sense overruled insanity and I decided two major projects are enough for now (I also have a 1953 MG-TD/C under restoration). The latest edition of the SL Market Letter has the contact info if anyone is interested.

One item I failed to mention in any detail before was Johnny’s battery. When I initially purchased the car I asked the seller how old the battery was. His response was “New, 2 mouths (sic).” Imagine how gob-smacked I was when I picked up the car and sitting prominently on the battery case was some generic battery with a USED BATTERY sticker proudly emblazoned on same. Well, this went right along with the no-name “Duro” tires and the Econo Lube oil change sticker. During the car’s safety inspection back in Virginia the battery was the first thing to go. The crap tires will be history when Johnny comes out of the body shop with his fresh paint and refurbished 15-holers with a set of new Michelin Defenders mounted. The original spare wheel and tire, Michelin MXV, remain with the vehicle.

Least you think everything was bad, I do have the original first aid kit and complete tool kit and with the exception of the rear window sill, the car is rust free.

The back shelf came back from the upholstery shop last week and all I can say is they look as good as new. I harbored some trepidation about what they would look like, but they turned out magnificently. After the paint and body is finished, probably this week, the headliner will be redone and the seats refurbished.

In the end after much internal debate I decided to go with the monochrome look and paint the body cladding, bumpers, door handle guards and mirrors in white to match the rest of the body. I think it offers a much cleaner appearance and a more modern look. Now, before you go off and ask me how I could possibly change the look of a car designed by Bruno Sacco; I’ll just have to say my taste is more refined today then Bruno’s was in the ‘70’s when the design was laid down. No offense Signore Sacco.


There are a few pictures below of where we are so far…

Look Ma, no trunk!

New rear window edge in place. This is an original MB part.

Where have all the bumpers gone?

Recovered rear shelf compartment covers.


Recovered rear shelf.

Our upholster was able to find the original material.


Ascessories still in good nick.

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Value Added Costs

As we await Johnny's exit from paint and body I thought it would be a good time to catch up on some of the finer details of the journey thus far.

I just ordered a new Virginia license plate with the same letter and number combination Johnny Carson had when the car was registered in his name in California. Avril and I decided this was more historically accurate and a better choice than some kitschy vanity plate.

As you may recall, once Johnny was in Virginia I turned him over to Simon at the Auto Haus Williamsburg Classic Center. Simon’s initial evaluation was simply to get the car through the state inspection, remedy some initial concerns, and fix a few problems either found along the journey from California and/or not addressed by Rafi’s before the cross-country trek. To wit:

State Safety Inspection
Replace Front Suspension Lower Ball Joints
Replace Front Shock Absorbers
Replace Front Wheel Bearings & Seals
Replace Rear Shock Absorbers
Replace Rear Accumulators
Replace & Bleed Rear SLS Hydraulic Fluid
Replace Rear Stabilizer End Links
Replace Steering Damper
Transmission Service (Includes Fluid & Filter replacement)
Replace Left Rear Window Switch
Replace Wiper Blades
Replace Driver’s Side Seat Belt Retractors Gears

So, not an inconsequential amount of work, especially when you consider the amount of work Rafi’s accomplished prior to departure. But that’s not all folks…

As previously mentioned, with Malcolm’s help I now have the correct wheels (since refinished), lug bolts and a Becker Grand Prix radio in very good nick. I’ll be sending the Grand Prix to Becker for refurbishment prior to installing it in the car. But wait, there’s still more…

The next update will be the rest of the mechanical work done prior to Johnny going into the body shop for repairs and a list of minor, but non-critical things yet to do. In the meantime, here are some pictures from the body shop. The first picture is of the left rear fender, which had a ripple in the sheet metal, being brought back to straight. Those God awful chrome wheels are on their way out. The black sheet metal piece you see in the second picture is the replacement panel for the rusted out rear window lip. Pic number three shows it was pretty dirty behind the cladding, but fortunately no rust.







Saturday, May 20, 2017

PRE STAGE

When I first picked Johnny up from Mike, I was, unfortunately, in a bit of a rush. This is never a good thing when picking up a new to you car sight unseen. My flight to LAX was delayed a bit getting in and it is a rather long haul from LAX to Chino. I was facing a deadline of getting the car to Rafi’s Autotech in Culver City before their 4:00 pm closing. My first impression of “Johnny” was favorable, but then Mike began to show me some things he was not forthcoming about during a many of our post-purchase discussions. Some of those items, like the headliner, I know he knew about, but he blamed it on his detailer opening the sunroof. The number of inoperative or poorly maintained and neglected items rose with my blood pressure as I did my first walk-around. I didn’t say a lot to Mike, but I’m sure my disappointment was obvious, not that he would care one way or the other.

Frankly, I don’t think Mike was fully aware of the extent of the terrible and neglected shape the car was actually in. Or then again maybe he did, but didn’t have the time, know how, funds or inclination to do anything about it. It was obvious from the start the car had been long neglected. Only six months before, the car was in the Mecum Auction (no sale) sporting a nice detail, but despite assurances from Mike that the car had been garaged all this time, the amount of crud accumulated in the engine compartment and various other cavities it was obvious the car was left sitting outside for all of intervening period.

Another indication of the abuse poor “Johnny” suffered was the Econo Lube sticker on the windscreen and the no-name tires. Who subjects a Mercedes to such indignities? Albeit they looked to be relatively new the tires were sufficiently out of round even after extensive balancing and steering alignment as to vibrate at any speed. But really, I can’t blame Mike for all this, other than a slight exaggeration of the car’s condition. After all, it’s buyer beware on eBay and I chose not to have a PPI done based upon my conversations with Mike. It seems I have this personality disorder where I think most people are at least as honest and forthcoming as I am in their dealings. Naive? Extremely! But it’s all good because I now possess the car (or it possess me) and I have the chance to bring it back to life after years of forsaken care and abuse. Sure, I could have purchased a much nicer car for less money and I would not be dumping thousands of dollars into “refurbishing” it, but I didn’t. I bought a “celebrity” car and at the end of the day, if it does not mean something special to anyone else, it will to me. That said, I have no intention of selling this car. I didn’t buy it to flip it. I’m sure someday circumstances will force its transfer of ownership and I hope I’m still lucid enough at the time to see it goes to a proper home or maybe even to one of my grandchildren.

I mentioned earlier I would list the work done so far. You can see below the list of repairs and service accomplished by Rafi’s Autotech in Culver City over a 10-day period from when I dropped the car off after rescuing it and when I came back to pick it up on 13 February to begin the epic 3,500 mile cross country jaunt to “Johnny’s” new home in Virginia.


L&R Tie Rods
Center Steering Link
Alignment
Rebuild Fuel Distributor
Valve Cover Gaskets
Camshaft Oiler Tubes
Rear Brake Pads
Right Passenger Window Regulator/Lift Assy/Motor/Glass
Left Window Regulator
Oil
Oil Filter
Air Filter
Fuel Filter
Washer Pump & Nozzles
Antenna Mast


I have a bit of catching up to do Blog wise, so stayed tuned for some more updates over the next few days. I would be remiss at this point, however, if I didn’t mention my new BFF Malcolm coming to my rescue yet again with an original Becker Grand Prix radio. You’re the best Malcolm.

As a teaser of upcoming attractions, here is a picture of Johnny in the body shop:


Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Lug Woe Be Gone

Yes, I have been negligent in my duties. I have not posted an update in several weeks. In my defense I've been working a lot, fought the flu and for the past two weeks dealing with a bad back that makes it a literal PIA to sit for any length of time.

When I last left you, my faithful followers, I was engaged in a duel of wits with a Mercedes-Benz dealership on-line store. I am happy to say the situation has been satisfactorily resolved. My hat is off to OEMercedesBenzParts.com for refunding me the entire purchase price, including shipping, for the wrong length lug bolts, which I returned. Their initial position was they are the correct replacement bolts for the SEC and therefore they would not reimburse me for the shipping if I returned them. Even though they technically fit, they do not look right as they are recessed into the wheel, which is the point I kept trying to convey to them. It is nice to see an on-line store do the right thing. Now if I could only convince Mike & Vince to send me the damn valet key and owner list...

On the plus side, with most of the mechanicals sorted and new wheels and the correct lug bolt courtesy of Malcolm, things are moving right along and I'm happy to say JC (Johnny) is in the body shop having the shiny bits see to. A bit of a surprise, or no, was the discovery of significant corrosion around the lower lip of the rear window seal (see below). Fortunately, it has not progressed beyond the lip and onto the rear deck or into the trunk. A few more weeks in paint and body and JC will be ready for the BIG REVEAL. I'm not sure when or where that will be, but I am giving some thought to HEIMATFEST in Birmingham at the end of the month. That may be too ambitious, however.







Long Overdue

I can't believe it's been two years since I posted anything about Johnny. Just as with the rest of you it's be a tumultuous time...