My Benz

I trust all will forgive my bit of straying off the recumbent bike course with this site update subject.   In addition to recumbent cycles, I also have other things that “wind my clock”…….. which I would like to share.  I am sure my German buddies will specially enjoy this “off the road” side venue.   This is long and detailed, so be forewarned.

If any of you ever had an automobile which caused you to come unglued, you will know what I am talking about.   With me it has always been (and I do mean always) the 1971 Mercedes Benz SE 3.5 convertible.  This was the culmination of the series which started in the 60s.  When it came out in 1971, the price tag of this hand assembled beauty was over $13,000.  At that time a new Cadillac was less than half that and a new Corvette was about $5,000.  Needless to say it was so far above my limit, I was relegated to dreaming.  I did, however, acquire one in March of 1997, and paid many times the original amount……and…...I refurbished to an amount greater than the original cost.  That exact amount will…..and most certainly….. not be mentioned because my wife sometimes reads my site.

A little bit about this series.  These cars were built from the early 60’s to the last year they were made in 1971.  Most were 6 cylinder cars and were built in both a coupe and convertible model.  The convertible is the most cherished and valuable. The last year (1971) was made in an 8 cylinder 3.5 liter model.  Only 801 3.5 convertibles were built in 1971, mostly geared for the USA market.  Again, only for one year!  It’s a historical fact:  Mercedes built less of these than the famed 300 SL Gullwing Coupes (1400 total).

Perhaps it was the recession in 1971 but, not too many folks were "liquid" enough to buy a new Mercedes Benz, let alone this series.  The big…. expensive SE 3.5's sat in dealer showrooms much like the 300SLs did in 1955.  But, Mercedes recognized what they had: their own showroom brochure would only read "Two of the Most Desirable Limited Edition Cars in the World", the 280SE Coupe and Convertible," and they were referring to the six cylinder models!  The last series, the V8's (the 3.5s) were so “limited” they never even got a mention in the regular showroom brochure because of their price structure.  Each featured an all-steel welded body chassis and, with the cabriolet, a folding top. They accommodated 5 adults in orthopedic designed seats, an overhead camshaft 8 cylinder engines with fuel injection.   The automobile weighed in at slightly less than 4,000 pounds and carried 4-wheel disc brakes and special features like hand-fitted exotic wood inlays and full leather upholstery with generous use of chrome on brass trim.  It was designed for high speed comfortable cruising.  Each of the Mercedes dealers could only get one of the convertibles allocated.  Today, these automobiles are seen as the next generation 300 SL's due to the limited build. It is considered a Certified Milestone Car in American History by the Milestone Society.

I bought my 3.5 Cabriolet in March of 1997.   With 55,000 miles on the odometer, it was considered to be low mileage and in “good” condition.  However, I brought it up to a higher standard.  The original color of the car when born was 423-tabacco brown with cognac leather and a dark brown soft top with a cognac leather boot.  It came with factory installed Behr A/C, electric windows with locks, heat insulated glass and USA certified.  It also had a Becker radio which I still have but changed out for a more modern unit with an electric antenna.  The VIN number is 111 027 12 001061 which makes it one of the earlier cars of this series off the line. The owner before me had it painted this burgundy color.  While striking, it is not an official Mercedes color and hence not acceptable by MB connoisseurs.  Somewhere along the line the top was changed to what is now camel colored.  I do want to paint it an “accepted” MB color, but I am not a fan of the original tobacco brown (I call it caca).  I must decide but I have options because the interior leather goes with numerous exterior colors.  

The first PIC shows the interior of the car with the steering wheel that was installed when I bought it.  It is a wood Nardi wheel and was popular in the 70’s.  Needless to say this was not standard on the original model.  The original ivory steering was in the trunk waiting to be installed.  I just had it installed after chasing down parts like what seamed forever.  The Nardi was just all wrong.  The MB designers knew what they were doing in that the original wheel is larger in diameter. The reason for this is twofold: not only can you see the instruments, but it is far easier to drive this big heavy car with a larger wheel.  The driving difference is very noticeable.  Also speaking of driving, I had new front brake calipers installed as well as new front brake discs and pads front and rear.  A new master cylinder and a steering coupler were also installed.  With a new set of tires, when cruising down the highway at 75 MPH, one can easily take your hands off the wheel and track a straight line.  In 1971 this must have been the epitome of cruising luxury. 

The next photos show the interior of the car and what must be observed is the sheer size of the seats!  They look like living room recliners rather than car seats!  MB spared no expense with this series and it shows in all the details.  What is also evident is the generous use of chrome trim on door sides running rails and large bumpers.  A great deal of the trim is chrome over brass and the actual chrome is heavier than their normal cars at that time.  Also for the leather used!  It was thicker than what was used in other series cars.

The front console, while in good condition when I purchased the car, was showing some signs of age.  This is an area, BTW, that all of this series autos start serious deterioration.  The reasons are many.  The dashboard, especially near the windshield, has condensation which rots the veneer on the dash.  The sun, perhaps the greatest offender, dries out the wood and causes flaking of the precious veneer.  Also, part of the dash is the same leather as the interior, so it gets the same damage as the wood (i.e. water and sun).  I have seen some dash boards of this series where it was completely unrecognizable as wood and leather.  While mine was not in bad shape, my decision was to bring it back to its former glory.  That included the wood as well as replacing the leather on the console.  This was done in 1998, and I think it was a good decision, because this is one area where the price has gone up exponentially.  Also, the wood on this model was Burled Walnut.  The earlier series had this wood.  The later series had different rare woods, such as Zebrano and Fruitwood which to me is not as “rich looking.”  I personally prefer the Burled Walnut, as can be seen in the Rolls Royce models of their convertible series, but that is a personal decision.

The first two PICS show the complete composite of the dashboard.  Please keep in mind that disassembly here includes many….many hundreds of screws…..and time.  The front wood pieces are the windshield wrap-around, and the right and left pillars and the top dash grille.  Then there is the dashboard and the front panel of the glove compartment lid and the Behr A/C unit.  Then there are the leather portions.  I had to purchase a hide of cognac leather and try to match the original.  This is very difficult with this cognac leather because there is a red dot dye superimposed on the brown base color, unlike a black, brown, red or whatever single color leather.  These parts include the top dash sill and the bottom and the instrument surround.  Also included was the interior lining of the glove compartment.  Mercedes went to the trouble and expense to line the glove compartment with the same leather as the car’s interior.  While I was at this I covered the seat adaptor between the front seats and lined the interior with the same German carpet material, and recovered the arm rest.  Keep in mind that while I am talking as if I did this, this is not the case.  I had it done by people that know what they are doing.  As was said previously, there are many specialists in the classic car restoration business.  I went to a shop in Georgia for the leather restoration and to one in North Carolina for the wood work.  As I write I have commissioned a “track down” specialist to get me some parts no longer available through Mercedes.  It never ceases to amaze me in my old age that all it takes to get things done……..is to get professionals…….and write checks!

The next series of pictures show details of the dashboard.  Notice in particular the detail of the wood and leather surrounding the Behr A/C unit.  A hard lesson was learned here.  There was a BEHR logo centered between the two control knobs.  When I sent the wood (in pieces of course) to be refurbished the logo “disappeared.”  Hard lesson:  remove all extraneous items when sending and demand a list from the receiving end.  There are parts which are in high demand and will be pilfered in a flash.  Another good example is the leather pouch for the convertible top handles.  This is shown in the detail of the glove compartment PIC.  There are people who will pay good money for items such as these that “fall off the back of a truck.” Whenever I have work done on my car, all loose items are removed and kept home.  I learned my lesson, so that pouch and chrome plated handles stay home!  While on the subject of the factory installed BEHR A/C, air conditioning in those days was not up to today’s standard, but this unit (after charging) blows lots of cold air, which was not often the case with the aftermarket units installed on the 6 cylinder models.

Also shown in more detail is the center console and armrest.  To redo the rugs the seats were removed to completely cover the floor.  In doing so, I removed the center console and had it redone in the same leather as the dash.  I then had the arm rest also recovered as it was showing some signs of wear.  A close up shot of the rug on the driver’s side shows that these are Mercedes certified replacements with the rubber pad beneath the right heel.  The additional pads add to the depth of feel under foot.

The last in this series is a close-up of the top’s inner liner.  A convertible top of this series consists of 3 parts: The inner liner (car’s interior), the outer canvas, and padding in between for sound proofing and a thick look.  The convertible was to have the same characteristics as the coupe.  This car has an inner liner which is good.  I have seen liners that virtually disintegrate before you, much the same as an old lamp shade.  When I got this car some 9 years ago it was good and it has been virtually kept under cover and not exposed to the elements.  The same can be said for the canvas.  I don’t know the exact age, but it is in good condition. I plan to have it re-sealed, although I don’t know why because it doesn’t even remember what rain is!

We are at an area which I am in disagreement with the MB purists.  The “purists” contend that the car should have the hub caps that are shown on the driveway ground which came with the car (when born and when I got it).  The engineering anal in me (big time here) does not like hub caps because of rotational out-of-alignment.  A straight wheel rotates as true as the shaft and the wheel bearings.  A hub cap is a loose snap on the wheel rim and subject to wobble.  My shrink has tried to help me with this with little success.  The wheels I have on the car are authentic MB Alloy wheels……found for me from sources, and had them blasted and painted the “official” MB silver paint.  Now….here is my story…..and I am sticking with it.  A few MB enthusiasts have told me that in 1971 these Alloy wheels were an option…….although a very expensive option.  In years they were produced in greater numbers and the cost came down.  I think they are much better looking than the hubcap and they give this series a cleaner look.  Again that’s my story!  Had they not been an option, I probably would not have installed them.  Also notice the chrome trim over the wheel wells.  This was an add-on option.  They were inspired from the 600 Mercedes limos of that same era which are still seen driving around foreign dignitaries.  I still see some 3.5’s that do not have these as I think it gives the car a very rich and racy look. 

We are near the end of my tirade!  The first PIC shows the trunk.  While the original mat “looks” in good condition, it is not.  I cannot even remove it because it will disintegrate upon doing so.  I do, however have one of my trackers (already paid him) who claims he has a new one.  He has worked out before, so I am hopeful.  Also vaguely shown is the trunk seal.  There was a leak here when I got the car, and caused the only bit of rust (on the surface and confined to the trunk) that I have seen in the car.  I do have a new seal, actually procured from MB in Germany and it will be installed.  The rusting has not progressed since I owned the car because it was garaged the whole time.  Shown in the next PIC is the engine compartment.  I am slowly detailing it.

The last PICS show the underside of the car.  The original undercoating is very visible and in tack.  Also shown is the new stainless steel exhaust system.  These cars had a tendency to rust from the underside, the front wheel wells directly beneath the front windshield and the area of where the headlights are connected to the frame.  This car shows no sign of that rust progression.  The “converted” convertibles (coupe to convertible) also rusted, for some reason aft of the back seat and progressed to the underbody.

Working (and documenting) this classic has been as enjoyable as my endeavors with recumbent bikes.  Most certainly driving it is also as invigorating as riding my recumbents.  My next update will be on the VKHi racer. 

Hope all have enjoyed these downloads and my tale.  I would like to show some links of other 3.5’s out there for a myriad of reasons:

The first is a link to a coupe that is in excellent shape with a pedigree, low miles and is the original tobacco brown color that my convertible was.  The thing to notice also is the value of the automobile.  Go to: http://www.heritageclassics.com/mercedes/71brn280se5/Page.html.

The next two sites are very interesting and must be explained in greater detail.  There are cars like mine that are listed as in “good” to “very good” condition.  Then there are those that are listed in a separate category.  These are the “gems” of the series and are classified as investment grade.  The reasons are many: low mileage, condition, owner traceability, documentation and the date of manufacture.  The next two links show some pedigrees……. of the pedigree line:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170023376150