Is the sl a customers car or is it a car you will be selling in the future?
Gas tank and pump removed. The pump is damaged and will be replaced. The gas tank is removed for cleaning. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
A new top will be made to replace the damaged original fabric. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
As much as I love the pictures and following this, it's downright scary to me as far as the cost. I don't have the stomach to restore a car (but buying a car already restored- especially by a shop like Brandan would be something I'd love to do, assuming the full costs of the restoration aren't recaptured in the car price ) This will be a very very lovely SL, although it looked lovely to me when it had some oil leaks and old tires- I would have put new tires on and a rubber mat under the car and called it a day The best thing will be that first drive when the work is done with the top down- spring is just around the corner Apopik, and it will all be "worth it" at that moment- no way to put a price tag on that! Drive her in good health! -Andrew
Andrew, as I am sure you are aware, you almost never recapture the monies spent on restorations. But as anyone who has and owns a classic, they are very special and just like driving a Ferrari, the enjoyment in driving and owning them is a complex set of emotions. I call it "Grins per Mile", just the thought of taking out one of the classics on a beautiful day gets me to smile and it lasts well past putting her away for the night. If you have it done, and done right like at Bradan, you don't compare the cost to a car you see on eBay. Compare it to something new, amazing, and what anybody can buy off a lot. Restored 280SL vs. 550SL, 911, etc. It's also like your house, when the prices fluctuate are you really going to move? Enjoy your toys in good health as well. Drew
Replacing the top. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The way the top folds into the back causes some "snag" points that eventually rip the top. It's not the best looking thing but small patches were put on to avoid tearing the new top. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Fuel pump arrived. First start. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbAQWPRj5tI&list=UUfXu0SFbT4oUfKa0lilOXow&index=2&feature=plcp[/ame] Letting it idle [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK1AXuSbpAU&list=UUfXu0SFbT4oUfKa0lilOXow&index=1&feature=plcp[/ame]
We drove this car 100 mile so far and worked out all the bugs. The speedo did not work. We found that the mechanical drive cable broke. We crimped a new cable using bicycle brake cable. Image Unavailable, Please Login
The fuel level would act erratic once it went below 1/4 tank. The sending unit was found to be damaged from rust. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Mechanically this car is finished, it just passed NY state inspection and is road worthy. The last step is to spray in tiny chips around the front nose of the car. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Spraying the nose to blend the paint. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Finished. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
