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Garage => Test Drive => Topic started by: JHead on 31 December 2022, 06:52 PM

Title: New Member 450 SE
Post by: JHead on 31 December 2022, 06:52 PM
Hi All,
I would like to introduce myself and my 1973 450SE. I just moved back to Tennessee after 14 years in Melbourne Australia - I've noticed a ton of Australians here. I needed to buy a car and with the used car market what it is right now I decided to buy vintage instead. I've always loved the design of the w116s but didn't know much about them. This has been my daily since September after I swapped the transmission out with some great advice from the forum, so thanks again. It has issues, the first owner lived in Michigan so there's a little rust. I'm in the process of finding a new exhaust system. The body has some imperfections etc but it runs great and is a pleasure to drive. Look forward to chatting with you all and learning more.
Title: Re: New Member 450 SE
Post by: daantjie on 01 January 2023, 01:39 AM
Welcome 8)   don't see many in that coulour, nice find!
Title: Re: New Member 450 SE
Post by: gurrier on 01 January 2023, 03:26 AM
Welcome-likewise with the colour.

Never thought to ask before but wonder why the step on the wood trim was dispensed with early in production.

Title: Re: New Member 450 SE
Post by: goldacre on 01 January 2023, 08:53 AM
Welcome to the W116.org club JHead; I found these W116.org dudes back in 2007 and the wealth of knowledge, and the civil conversations are in my own honest opinion leaves many motor forums for dead, its a cool place to hang out and learn  8)

Nice Motor you have there, and that blue is soooooooo beautiful 1970s for sure  :-*

Melbourne is my favourite city and I travel a fair bit. Considering how much Australia needs overseas people to fill the jobs we offer I always wondered why people from the USA did not take up the opportunities we can offer, hope your long sojourn was a good one and would love to know what line of work you are in....

G
Title: Re: New Member 450 SE
Post by: JHead on 02 January 2023, 09:08 AM
Thanks Everyone,
Yes I love the blue too, it looks almost white in certain light as well.

Goldacre- Melbourne is also my favorite city - just got a bit home sick I couldn't stay forever. And to answer your last question I'm an architect.
Title: Re: New Member 450 SE
Post by: adamb on 04 January 2023, 05:56 PM
Quote from: gurrier on 01 January 2023, 03:26 AMWelcome-likewise with the colour.

Never thought to ask before but wonder why the step on the wood trim was dispensed with early in production.


Early ones didn't have wood console. I used to have a 1973 280SE and it looked the same but with cloth seats and no aircon.

And, yes, the colour is great, I totally agree.
Title: Re: New Member 450 SE
Post by: nathan on 05 January 2023, 04:28 AM
and it still had the Becker radio in it, thumbs up indeed!
good luck with the project and we all look forward to following it.
regards
Nathan
PS isn't michigan a snowy state and would be salted?
Title: Re: New Member 450 SE
Post by: gurrier on 05 January 2023, 05:11 AM
Quote from: adamb on 04 January 2023, 05:56 PM
Quote from: gurrier on 01 January 2023, 03:26 AMWelcome-likewise with the colour.

Never thought to ask before but wonder why the step on the wood trim was dispensed with early in production.


Early ones didn't have wood console. I used to have a 1973 280SE and it looked the same but with cloth seats and no aircon.

And, yes, the colour is great, I totally agree.



Agreed - mine does not have the wooden console around the gearshhift either.  If you look closely at the wood trim on the dash there is a step about half way down which was discontinued at some stage of production.  Anorak territory I know but of interest.
Title: Re: New Member 450 SE
Post by: JHead on 05 January 2023, 10:05 AM
Quote from: nathan on 05 January 2023, 04:28 AMand it still had the Becker radio in it, thumbs up indeed!
good luck with the project and we all look forward to following it.
regards
Nathan
PS isn't michigan a snowy state and would be salted?

Thanks, I have just bought an after market antenna & motor that I need to install to get it working properly again . I tried cleaning the old motor up and replaced the antenna but still no luck.

And yeah I mentioned Michigan because of the salt causing some rust. You can see parts of the bottom of the body that the rust has eaten away.