Mercedes Fin Tail 190D-Restoration

DirtyDan · 1st March 2008, 03:44

Absolutely a great project and a great choice of vehicle on your part. This era Mercedes was the pinnacle of quality. It looks a little dowdy maybe but each line and part is simply the best. I hope you stick with it until completion. I will be watching for progress reports and pictures with interest.

Had I stayed in North America instead of coming here I had the fantasy/hope of restoring this era Mercedes to looking absolutely stock but putting a big V-8 in it and blowing the doors off everything on the road. Just a fantasy, mind you.
Restoring to stock with original motor was also on my mind and probably more likely. I love the interior of this car, too.

Mpower · 1st March 2008, 20:26

Hey, nice work guys. What's the story on the engine, trans etc. Does she start/run? Is it an auto trans?

V-16 · 1st March 2008, 22:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by vintageman

Gogi Bhai ,
Please advise if the mountings for the 1961 220S can be sourced from Delhi.

Sure Chauhan, They should be available in Bombay and then surely will be available in Delhi. If not we could source them from Mumbai.
Braat001, why have the seats not been removed when the paint was stripped. As I saw the car had tremendous amount of rust and that means there would be rust everywhere. Secondly even the rear Fin chrome pattis are not removed amongst other things. Please find on the forum the restoration of my 1972 220 115 and see what kind of rust we found in it. In restoration with such amount of rust, one has to actuall strip the car of all its trims.

brat001 · 2nd March 2008, 14:50

mpower: the car is a manual and according to the previous owner, the engine was completely overhauled and then just parked.Im hoping that the condition isnt too bad, though we havent started the engine as yet i will do so once the thinkering is done, then simultaneously do the brakes and gearbox, in the worst case senario, i will redo the engine, parts being avaliable easily.

rider60 · 3rd March 2008, 00:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by brat001

mpower: the car is a manual and according to the previous owner, the engine was completely overhauled and then just parked.Im hoping that the condition isnt too bad, though we havent started the engine as yet i will do so once the thinkering is done, then simultaneously do the brakes and gearbox, in the worst case senario, i will redo the engine, parts being avaliable easily.

on the same note i think we can expect a proper document of the progress that will be done and will be updated here time to time?

good to see another vintage car being restored, would love to see this beauty back to glory.

vcash · 11th March 2008, 08:56

Hey Brat001 and Pavan - Can you confirm what gauge sheet metal you are using for the body work? We just measured our car doors and it's at 20mm.

fx45 · 12th March 2008, 17:21

nice to see this one getting all done up.. there is a garage in mumbai near the reay road station area.. who does restoration work... had seen a similar benz with him some months ago.. in almost similar rust conditon but jst checkd a week back, that car was all done up with black paint and orignal chrome accessories and was looking absolutely showroom condition.

he is currently restoring an LHD willys jeep now..

brat001 · 14th March 2008, 13:32

Thanks for the inputs.

18 guage metal is used all over the car.

The floor pans and the rest are gone for pressing.

Might come around next week.

vcash · 14th March 2008, 14:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by brat001

Thanks for the inputs.

18 guage metal is used all over the car.

The floor pans and the rest are gone for pressing.

Might come around next week.

Wow - this is confusing - 20 or 18? Does the extra 2mm make a difference if I use 20 in my car - will the finish look butchered? Can the vintage experts help? V-16 Bhai - any comments on this?

vintageman · 14th March 2008, 23:14

Hello V Cash ,

As I understand the gauge thickness of the steel plates is to be deciphered as follows :

Gauge 18 for mild steel CRC plates 0.0478 inches
for GI plates 0.0516 inches

Gauge 20 for mild steel CRC plates 0.0359 inches
for GI plates 0.0396 inches

A steel plate a mm thick would be torture on your denter / tinker so discuss with him where he wants to use a 20 gauge plate and where he wants to use a 18 gauge plate .

brat001 · 26th October 2008, 22:48

6 months of patience, 30 k of cash, trusted Tinker and Painter.

Cant ask for more, end result is as below.

The so called trustworthy tinker vanished in thin air after pocketing the money and leaving the car out in open. All the rain and sun adding new layers of rust all over and making the restoration process much more painful.

4 months of followup with the tinker went in vain. Finally i decided to move on with an alternative.

Got the vehicle moved to a different tinker, where now it'll be watched carefully week on week for the process.

Me need not worry much since its now parked closer to Kadam's house.

1 week since its lying there, atleast its got covers on.

PAVAN KADAM · 26th October 2008, 23:14

True labour is too hard to find these days.

Cant help with your previous experience.

Cheer up now, since the new tinker has already started work.

Some more pics tomorrow.

brat001 · 27th October 2008, 20:08

Posting the latest developments on the 190D.

Front right floor boards fixed finally, along with the RH running board.

Some relief this, since last 6 months this is the first day the car has seen some work.

All the floor boards has been neatly removed and paved way for new metal.

abhinav.gupta88 · 27th October 2008, 20:24

Congrats
How long do you expect the work to get completed.

GTO - Touring · 28th October 2008, 20:08

Too bad about the mechanic abandoning your project, but your indomitable spirit is the silver lining of that experience. Congrats on getting the work rolling again. I love the fintail series...she deserves to get back on the road.

Please ensure that you put the body through pro-grade anti-rust treatment once the tinwork is completed.

1st March 2008, 03:44	#16
DirtyDan Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dharamsala, H.P Posts: 2,075 Thanked: 1,563 Times	Absolutely a great project and a great choice of vehicle on your part. This era Mercedes was the pinnacle of quality. It looks a little dowdy maybe but each line and part is simply the best. I hope you stick with it until completion. I will be watching for progress reports and pictures with interest. Had I stayed in North America instead of coming here I had the fantasy/hope of restoring this era Mercedes to looking absolutely stock but putting a big V-8 in it and blowing the doors off everything on the road. Just a fantasy, mind you. Restoring to stock with original motor was also on my mind and probably more likely. I love the interior of this car, too. Last edited by ajmat : 1st March 2008 at 09:32.
	() Thanks

1st March 2008, 20:26	#17
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	Hey, nice work guys. What's the story on the engine, trans etc. Does she start/run? Is it an auto trans?
	() Thanks

2nd March 2008, 14:50	#19
brat001 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: bangalore Posts: 155 Thanked: 33 Times	mpower: the car is a manual and according to the previous owner, the engine was completely overhauled and then just parked.Im hoping that the condition isnt too bad, though we havent started the engine as yet i will do so once the thinkering is done, then simultaneously do the brakes and gearbox, in the worst case senario, i will redo the engine, parts being avaliable easily.
	() Thanks

11th March 2008, 08:56	#21
vcash BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 453 Thanked: 22 Times	Hey Brat001 and Pavan - Can you confirm what gauge sheet metal you are using for the body work? We just measured our car doors and it's at 20mm.
	() Thanks

12th March 2008, 17:21	#22
fx45 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: mumbai Posts: 1,823 Thanked: 384 Times	nice to see this one getting all done up.. there is a garage in mumbai near the reay road station area.. who does restoration work... had seen a similar benz with him some months ago.. in almost similar rust conditon but jst checkd a week back, that car was all done up with black paint and orignal chrome accessories and was looking absolutely showroom condition. he is currently restoring an LHD willys jeep now..
	() Thanks

14th March 2008, 13:32	#23
brat001 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: bangalore Posts: 155 Thanked: 33 Times	Thanks for the inputs. 18 guage metal is used all over the car. The floor pans and the rest are gone for pressing. Might come around next week.
	() Thanks

14th March 2008, 23:14	#25
vintageman BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lucknow Posts: 427 Thanked: 668 Times View My Garage	Hello V Cash , As I understand the gauge thickness of the steel plates is to be deciphered as follows : Gauge 18 for mild steel CRC plates 0.0478 inches for GI plates 0.0516 inches Gauge 20 for mild steel CRC plates 0.0359 inches for GI plates 0.0396 inches A steel plate a mm thick would be torture on your denter / tinker so discuss with him where he wants to use a 20 gauge plate and where he wants to use a 18 gauge plate .
	() Thanks

26th October 2008, 22:48	#26
brat001 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: bangalore Posts: 155 Thanked: 33 Times	6 months of patience, 30 k of cash, trusted Tinker and Painter. Cant ask for more, end result is as below. The so called trustworthy tinker vanished in thin air after pocketing the money and leaving the car out in open. All the rain and sun adding new layers of rust all over and making the restoration process much more painful. 4 months of followup with the tinker went in vain. Finally i decided to move on with an alternative. Got the vehicle moved to a different tinker, where now it'll be watched carefully week on week for the process. Me need not worry much since its now parked closer to Kadam's house. 1 week since its lying there, atleast its got covers on. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

26th October 2008, 23:14	#27
PAVAN KADAM BANNED Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NAMMA BENGALURU Posts: 5,602 Thanked: 2,549 Times	True labour is too hard to find these days. Cant help with your previous experience. Cheer up now, since the new tinker has already started work. Some more pics tomorrow.
	() Thanks

27th October 2008, 20:08	#28
brat001 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: bangalore Posts: 155 Thanked: 33 Times	Posting the latest developments on the 190D. Front right floor boards fixed finally, along with the RH running board. Some relief this, since last 6 months this is the first day the car has seen some work. All the floor boards has been neatly removed and paved way for new metal. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

27th October 2008, 20:24	#29
abhinav.gupta88 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Delhi , India Posts: 4,092 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	Congrats How long do you expect the work to get completed.
	() Thanks

28th October 2008, 20:08	#30
GTO - Touring BHPian Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 710 Thanked: 54 Times	Too bad about the mechanic abandoning your project, but your indomitable spirit is the silver lining of that experience. Congrats on getting the work rolling again. I love the fintail series...she deserves to get back on the road. Please ensure that you put the body through pro-grade anti-rust treatment once the tinwork is completed.
	() Thanks