My old 600 transformed

[Grant V]

I sold my 600 three months ago to Raymond Leisher, who has turned it into the most exquisite example in a very short space of time. It's tremendously satisfying to see what he has done to the car and it's great that the car went to someone who was prepared to throw the relevant money required to turn it into what it is:

Before:











After:

[Martin 280s]

That's lovely Grant. I'm sure it warms your heart to see the car in this condition. Sad it must have been to see her go but after this much TLC and $$$$$ the result is stunning.

[oscar]

3 months!!  That's a phenomenal transformation. Truly amazing.

[LiaMerc]

that is fantastic, so much detail. Great to see

[nathan]

holy shit!
and i feel bad dropping 10 bucks on a new beim beladen sticker for the boot!
its also interesting grant that in the service place pictured are so many old benzes...you wouldnt trust an australian MB dealer with your old benz!

[kolin]

grant
thats look great.almost shat myself when i saw the petrol green 116 in the background, thought it was mine for a second, then remembered my one is at home.
thats great , need to know who that work, methinks i will have to go that route and throw some money at this car of mine

[Grant V]

Nathan, this pic of the 600 was taken at our recent MB Club concours, which was held at a local MB dealership, hence all the decent cars in the background. All the new plastic stuff was parked outside!

http://forum.w116.org/auto-torque/mercedes-benz-of-south-africa-concourse/

[Big_Richard]

.

[John Hubertz]

One would presume however those three months were using a calendar that had gold bars with each date engraved in them that you would hand to the team and parts vendors instead of tearing off and throwing away.

Does anyone have an estimate of cost in dollars and materials?  I'm getting cranky enough I'm just going to ask people from now on.

[GreaseMonkey]

grant
thats look great.almost shat myself when i saw the petrol green 116 in the background, thought it was mine for a second, then remembered my one is at home.
thats great , need to know who that work, methinks i will have to go that route and throw some money at this car of mine

Isn't that W116 colour Citrus Green? You have one the same?
Any chance of posting a photo?
Chris

[Grant V]

One would presume however those three months were using a calendar that had gold bars with each date engraved in them that you would hand to the team and parts vendors instead of tearing off and throwing away.

Does anyone have an estimate of cost in dollars and materials?  I'm getting cranky enough I'm just going to ask people from now on.

That pretty much sums it up, John, and Raymond is in the fortunate postion to be able to spread those gold bars about. Someone once said to me: "A restoration is only as good as the amount of money you have to spend"

I sold the car to him with most of the new rubber seals for doors, windows etc, and that little consignment cost me ZAR26 000 two years ago. Raymond told me that the re-veneering of all the wood cost ZAR25 000, the re-upholstery of the seats, door panels and roof lining was ZAR15 000 and the paint job was ZAR50 000. I have no idea what all the re-chroming cost, but you can probably bank on another ZAR20-25 000. He did the re-assembly of the car himself, so probably saved some bucks there. However, he has a full time mechanic in his services, so that should be another ZAR8-10 000 per month.

As a matter of interest, look what other toys else he's playing with in the process of restoring:

[s class]

That W116 is caledonian green - which is a solid colour - and the pannelling to the rear of the front wheels in the wheel arches should be black not body coloured. 

[oscar]

As a matter of interest, look what other toys else he's playing with in the process of restoring:

That's awsome. 

[kolin]

grant
thats look great.almost shat myself when i saw the petrol green 116 in the background, thought it was mine for a second, then remembered my one is at home.
thats great , need to know who that work, methinks i will have to go that route and throw some money at this car of mine

Isn't that W116 colour Citrus Green? You have one the same?
Any chance of posting a photo?
Chris

i think they called it petrol green in good ol' RSA.
absolutely must be one of the worst colours ever thought up for a car.
i know some of you guys will love it,but i dont.
i want to paint it royal blue....
all pics taken with a cell phone,as i dont yet own a digicam(so please scroll through my 8 pictures)
Link

[pompy]

Nice kolin!

Finaly I get to see your green love! We had an olive green 74 280S man when I was a wittle boy.
What happened to the paint? Did somebody spray thinners (finners) on there?

Pompy-doodle