• 15 October 2019

Mercedes 250SL 1967

Mercedes 250SL 1967

Mercedes 250SL 1967 1024 576 VEA

Mercedes 250SL 1967

Jean-Pierre Lafortune, member since 1984

I bought this car in May 2012.

The choice of this vehicle was based on a need to have a little more trunk space than my MGA. A search on the internet familiarized me a little more about the models 230sl-250sl-280sl and the market. Prices vary as much as the condition. But I was not looking for a show car to harvest trophies but rather a road car to enjoy.

After seeing half a dozen local cars, I notice one a four-hour drive from Montreal … in Quebec! The seller had owned it for a dozen years, drives it every summer to the Maritimes.

It is a European model 250, manufactured only one year.It has a manual transmission which makes driving more agile and interesting. The original interior of cognac color is leather and in very good condition. According to the photos I received via the internet, I could see that a paint job would be necessary.to avoid costly mistakes, I decided to go see the car but with the expert bodyman who had already done a great job painting my MGA. Since, like English cars, German autos can hide treasures of rusty problems … a buyer must beware.

After examination, road test and the coach builder’s OK, an agreement was concluded with the seller. I was evaluating the best way to bring back the vehicle when the seller offered me to drive his vehicle and at the same time enjoy it while meeting his family … super nice and showed that he had confidence in his vehicle! …Also, he made sure to get paid quickly and that I would not change my mind…right?

The agreement with my bodyman was that I had to bring him the vehicle in November and that he would give me the repainted vehicle in February. As we were only in May, it gave me plenty of time to drive my new acquisition and consider if I liked or not …

In September I begin the preparation of the car. As I had decided to change the color from burgundy to a blue-gray I completely disassembled the car to allow better access to do the body work. And while the car was at his shop I would be able to work on the mechanical parts in my garage, while it’s snowing outside!

Even the best of plans tends to mess up. With a detailed examination of the engine although with the compression ratio within standards, I discovered that the engine must be rebuilt…  oh well I have time before spring!

And while I’m at it, I’m going to rebuild the transmission and the differential, change the seals and bearings, and in no time I found myself facing a full restoration rather than just a cosmetic job to improve its appearance.

The car was actually delivered to me in February … 4 years later !!! … not painted …what a nightmare!

Fortunately, I met Alex “the paint artist” who saved me from frustrating this situation.  The bodywork was completed in the summer of 2016. The car reassembled in my garage in the winter and put on the road at the end of summer 2017 … small delay from the original schedule.

Without being a show car, the final result is better than what I was looking for initially and I can not wait to enjoy the summer of 2018.

Mercedes 250SL 1967

Jean-Pierre Lafortune, member since 1984

I bought this car in May 2012.

The choice of this vehicle was based on a need to have a little more trunk space than my MGA. A search on the internet familiarized me a little more about the models 230sl-250sl-280sl and the market. Prices vary as much as the condition. But I was not looking for a show car to harvest trophies but rather a road car to enjoy.

After seeing half a dozen local cars, I notice one a four-hour drive from Montreal … in Quebec! The seller had owned it for a dozen years, drives it every summer to the Maritimes.

It is a European model 250, manufactured only one year.It has a manual transmission which makes driving more agile and interesting. The original interior of cognac color is leather and in very good condition. According to the photos I received via the internet, I could see that a paint job would be necessary.to avoid costly mistakes, I decided to go see the car but with the expert bodyman who had already done a great job painting my MGA. Since, like English cars, German autos can hide treasures of rusty problems … a buyer must beware.

After examination, road test and the coach builder’s OK, an agreement was concluded with the seller. I was evaluating the best way to bring back the vehicle when the seller offered me to drive his vehicle and at the same time enjoy it while meeting his family … super nice and showed that he had confidence in his vehicle! …Also, he made sure to get paid quickly and that I would not change my mind…right?

The agreement with my bodyman was that I had to bring him the vehicle in November and that he would give me the repainted vehicle in February. As we were only in May, it gave me plenty of time to drive my new acquisition and consider if I liked or not …

In September I begin the preparation of the car. As I had decided to change the color from burgundy to a blue-gray I completely disassembled the car to allow better access to do the body work. And while the car was at his shop I would be able to work on the mechanical parts in my garage, while it’s snowing outside!

Even the best of plans tends to mess up. With a detailed examination of the engine although with the compression ratio within standards, I discovered that the engine must be rebuilt…  oh well I have time before spring!

And while I’m at it, I’m going to rebuild the transmission and the differential, change the seals and bearings, and in no time I found myself facing a full restoration rather than just a cosmetic job to improve its appearance.

The car was actually delivered to me in February … 4 years later !!! … not painted …what a nightmare!

Fortunately, I met Alex “the paint artist” who saved me from frustrating this situation.  The bodywork was completed in the summer of 2016. The car reassembled in my garage in the winter and put on the road at the end of summer 2017 … small delay from the original schedule.

Without being a show car, the final result is better than what I was looking for initially and I can not wait to enjoy the summer of 2018.


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