[mbz180]

A few updates on my car’s progress till last week:

Body being stripped of earlier primer etc. for fresh prep work and individual panels, starting with the roof, are being painted black to highlight all flaws prior to final prep/painting.

Underside of fenders, inner fenders have been painted in the actual colour – dark blue. The odd outer panel was also painted to see how the finished paint is likely to look.

Prop shaft, transmission, steering assembly and sub-frame was installed.

The previously procured steering damper turned out to be incorrect. Thankfully the OE manufacturer, 'Stabilus', still makes these dampers specific to Pontons and 190SL’s and the correct part has now been fitted (pictured).

After this, the engine was dropped in and it has currently been installed on older unused mountings. But after 2 decades of storage, these mountings can collapse under load without warning so I’ve ordered fresh mounts which should be here this week.

As I mentioned in my last update, we had the exhaust manifold sandblasted.

Freshly sand blasted

I then experimented with the ‘High Temp’ paint from the US.

I think the manifold now looks pretty neat but I wonder how the paint will hold up during actual use.

Warning: After applying this paint you have to let it dry naturally for 24 hours and then cure it by either baking the item at 150 deg C for 15 minutes or else you can cure it direct with the exhaust heat once the manifold is fitted to the car. I would strongly suggest the latter route as heating this paint even after 24 hours of drying in a home oven stinks up the whole house real bad. As a bonus, you’ll probably have to get rid of the oven too as the fumes are definitely toxic. Trust me, I know this from personal experience

Though not shown in detail here, ancillaries such as the dynamo, starter motor, brake booster etc. are being rebuilt/serviced (face-plate of brake booster pictured).

Smaller parts required continue to stream in from tiny lock clips for gear shift linkages , nuts for the exhaust manifold to correct bolts for the engine area; just too many things to list here.

Out of the larger parts to arrive recently, the new press stamped lower half ‘skins’ for the rear doors are the largest. Although yet to be installed, comparing the current panels (fabricated on the basis of photos some 10 years ago) against the new factory type stamped panels brings out visible differences in the crease lines.

New door ‘skins’ should make a big difference to the final look of the car

Will update once I have more to!


Regards,

mbz180

[Jeevith]

Hey,

Any progress on your car? One would assume this would have been restored by now.

[mbz180]

The Merc isn't ready but it's finally getting there. She's been at home for the past 1 year or so & am having the car completed myself.

Regards,
Prithvi

[the mole]

Originally Posted by mbz180

The Merc isn't ready but it's finally getting there. She's been at home for the past 1 year or so & am having the car completed myself.

Regards,
Prithvi

Going to be the best Ponton in the world and i can see the car coming up nicely! love the radio fabric

[IndrojitSircar]

Originally Posted by the mole

Going to be the best Ponton in the world and i can see the car coming up nicely! love the radio fabric

The best and most expensive ponton for sure. Really looking forward to a drive in her soon.

[shankar.balan]

Sir!
What a gorgeous work of Art this is.
Is this the same/ similar car that was there in the film Odessa File?
Thanks!

[mbz180]

Originally Posted by the mole

Going to be the best Ponton in the world and i can see the car coming up nicely! love the radio fabric

Oh please. I'm just glad that she's going to be complete soon. Best in my city is enough

Originally Posted by IndrojitSircar

The best and most expensive ponton for sure. Really looking forward to a drive in her soon.

Nah, any of these old Mercs with so many parts lost/missing would be an expensive affair.

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

Sir!
What a gorgeous work of Art this is.
Is this the same/ similar car that was there in the film Odessa File?
Thanks!

Thanks. Just saw the MB on Odessa File. That too is a Ponton but the top of the line, 220S Cabriolet, really beautiful cars in my opinion & only one known to exist in India. Mine is a bottom feeder 180A sedan.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by mbz180

Thanks. Just saw the MB on Odessa File. That too is a Ponton but the top of the line, 220S Cabriolet, really beautiful cars in my opinion & only one known to exist in India. Mine is a bottom feeder 180A sedan.

A lovely car.
Here is a screenshot of it.
Im trying to get a scale model of it but so far no luck.
I have managed to get this one though from the same era but one level higher.

[mbz180]

In an effort to be as authentic as possible, I replaced all the floors with pressed floors from Germany, including the cabin & trunk floors. The longitudinal members, A pillar bases and reinforcements, front cross tube, front apron, rear lower apron, trunk partition etc etc were all replaced and mig welded.

The wiring harness was imported complete from a specialist in Germany, factory colour coded and tagged, which made later assembly relatively simple. Every mechanical componnent was taken apart, inspected, rebuilt & perished rubber components replaced. These were then detailed. Once the floors were done, the underneath of the car was painted in the correct 'light stone grey'.

Pontons originally came with a crinkled finish underneath the bonnet and we did that. Bonnet hinges had become weak, so an NOS pair was brought in. Bit by bit, the engine bay & ancillaries were put together.

Painting was done with great care at home with efforts put in to avoid dust and insects etc.

A few pics showing some of this.

[mbz180]

...and finally, towards the end of January 2023, the Mercedes was ready!

Winning awards here and there, getting accolades from several quarters etc.; I was honestly a bit overwhelmed.

I've been driving him regularly; 3 out of town trips in the car without a hitch and between February & today I've covered 1200 kms in the Merc so far. I'm particularly proud of the engine bay; it's just the way it should be and how I imagine it to be.

Some photos of the completed car.

I thank everyone for following this saga over the years. One chapter in my life is now over

[KPS]

Originally Posted by mbz180

...and finally, towards the end of January 2023, the Mercedes was ready!

Winning awards here and there, getting accolades from several quarters etc.; I was honestly a bit overwhelmed.....

I thank everyone for following this saga over the years. One chapter in my life is now over

Well, the wait was worth it. I was checking you started this thread in Jan'2010!

The car has come out very well, outstanding in fact. Amazing commitment to the car . Your father would have been very proud. Well done and congratulations again

Cheers

KPS

[Jeroen]

Excellent restoration! Really enjoyed following this thread. Love the matching suitcases in the boot. The colour really suits this car.

As restorations go, I know of many folks who have taken a decade or longer to finish their car. But quite a few give up along the way. For various reasons.

Great to see you persevered and what a result. Enjoy driving it!

Jeroen

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by mbz180

...and finally, towards the end of January 2023, the Mercedes was ready!

Winning awards here and there, getting accolades from several quarters etc.; I was honestly a bit overwhelmed.

Some photos of the completed car.

Hearty congratulations. That is a very attractive colour. You hard work and patience has resulted in a car that is handsome, regal and statuesque. Savour it. That mint condition of the engine is to die for! Can't help drooling over the photos. maybe, when time permits, you could share some photos of the interiors too.

[KDS]

Many Many congratulations.

Your hard work and long patience has resulted into a fantabulous restoration.

Fantastic choice of color too. Wish you a happy and trouble free mile munching.

[turbospooler]

That is stunning! The shade of maroon does full justice to this car.
To see your painstaking efforts be turned into a work of art piece by piece is just too satisfying. I am feeling nothing but vicarious happiness.

The shot from above with the sun-roof open is a masterpiece.

I think we need to bring back the idea of customized luggage cases which will fit in the boot perfectly.