Author Topic: 1971 280SE 3.5  (Read 16557 times)

Jimbo1907

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Re: 1971 280SE 3.5
« Reply #25 on: August 31, 2016, 02:16:14 »
Incidentally, the shape of the roof of these cars (111 coupes) is so lovely that Saul Bellow wrote a scene into one of his novels where the main character's ex-GF or ex-wife, furious with him, bashes the roof of it in. Fortunately this was an imaginary 111 and not a real one.....LOL

JonathanB

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Re: 1971 280SE 3.5
« Reply #26 on: October 23, 2016, 01:06:19 »
Am I the only one curious to learn what the OP decided to do with this car?  If money were no object it'd be great to restore the beast, but such an undertaking is not for the faint of heart (or wallet).  To mix some metaphors, this didn't look to me to be a hill to die for.

cynewan

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Re: 1971 280SE 3.5
« Reply #27 on: October 23, 2016, 20:10:04 »
Am I the only one curious to learn what the OP decided to do with this car?  If money were no object it'd be great to restore the beast, but such an undertaking is not for the faint of heart (or wallet).  To mix some metaphors, this didn't look to me to be a hill to die for.

'this doesnt look like a hill to die  for' LOL is it because you need parts off of the car ? ....per your prior post

Benz Dr.

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Re: 1971 280SE 3.5
« Reply #28 on: October 23, 2016, 23:45:45 »
I've had my 3.5 over twenty years and it is a very expensive car to restore.  Yours looks to be too far gone, sadly.

If you decide to part it out, please let me know as I'd be interested in a set of original steel wheels and hubcaps.

How are these wheels different than others from the same time period? I think rims were date coded but not sure how far forward into production they did this. Do you know what size they are?
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

JonathanB

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Re: 1971 280SE 3.5
« Reply #29 on: October 25, 2016, 18:44:37 »
Very funny!  No, I may be a member of the California Bar but I wouldn't want to send a 3.5 Coupe off to the scrap heap just to get the wheels.  Mine already has more or less everything, including the funky little chrome handle to pull the license plate open to fill the gas tank!

georgem

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Re: 1971 280SE 3.5
« Reply #30 on: October 25, 2016, 20:42:52 »
I think you  are scaring this guy off throwing figures of $200K around - sure if you want to tow it to a resto firm and say I want the works - get ready to write a cheque for $200K BUT there are other options -one is do enough to make the car safe - both mechanically and rust wise and drive it - sure it won`t look pretty BUT this investment will allow time to decide whether the new owner likes it (or not) - if its not then the amount invested will be returned when it is on sold
George McDonald
Brisbane
230 Sl
1973 VW Kombi Single Cab Ute
2022 Volvo XC 40 Pure (100% electric)

JonathanB

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Re: 1971 280SE 3.5
« Reply #31 on: October 28, 2016, 03:12:59 »
How are these wheels different than others from the same time period? I think rims were date coded but not sure how far forward into production they did this. Do you know what size they are?

For no good reason (it seems) I always assumed that the W111 used a "better" or somehow stronger steel wheel than all the other MBZ cars of the same vintage.  On reflection, that was probably silly.  I think the size was 6.5 x 14.