Donor 450SEL and 6.9 #5370 progress

[QLD6point9]

Good evening guys,

Just thought I would provide some more photos of my cars. In particular the donor 450SEL that I will be using mainly for its spare parts after cosmetic surgery is completed in the future on my 6.9.

Please excuse the dirty unwashed state on the 450, I am working on getting a reliable water supply in the regional area that my land and shed is located and as such I have to transport water in smaller quantities right now.

In the interim, I am going through now and ensuring (right down to any missing nuts and bolts) that the 6.9 is made complete by using spares from the donor 450. It is quite a shame for the 450, I find it hard to subject a car to its end by stripping parts off it, however I see it that in the long run; it’s going towards ensuring it’s rarer sister remains on the road viably.

The 450 donor is, I believe a German market vehicle (if the language on all the decals and fuse diagram is anything to go by). I was told it was from the UK and imported to Aus privately in 1990. Has the velour interior also (which I believe was more common on European models back then).

The odometer is showing 22,000 miles which has got to be a wind back or a discrepancy. It does appear however like a vehicle that has not done much work… everything is intact and doesn’t look flogged out which is great for the donor cause.

Anyway, just thought I would chime in and provide some more photos of the environment I’m working in and what I’m working with so to speak. Really enjoying the 6.9 experience. Hands down has to be my favorite car that I’ve ever experienced. Loving the Sherman tank build quality (just observing the quality of everything overall).

In between working away (in my job), in the times I am home I am finding myself spending half days to full days working on all the small little things that complete the 6.9 and restore its function. I am probably only (in terms of overall progress) 5% in, however I understand that this is what I signed up for and I am loving it.

My next days work on the 6.9 will be finishing off the brakes (calipers are being refurbished right now and I have other new lines and spares to be installed).

I find not focusing on everything at once, and rather making a list and tackling one area at a time until completion seems to work for myself.

Cheers again for reading and talk to you all down the line

 

[Oversize]

As many would say (including myself) having a spare car when building a project car is invaluable for many reasons apart from the obvious storage issue! Well done & never give up!

 

[Styria]

That's a great facility in which to keep your cars. The 450 - what year model is it, and could it have D type fuel injection ? The large clock has got me a bit confused. Also, it would be good to have some interior pictures as well. Over the years, I have always regarded leather upholstery as being the preferable material for the seats. However, nowadays, I would probably prefer the cloth interior as it is really a beautiful product when in good condition, and it is also warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Regards Styria

 

[c107]

That's a great facility in which to keep your cars. The 450 - what year model is it, and could it have D type fuel injection ? The large clock has got me a bit confused. Also, it would be good to have some interior pictures as well. Over the years, I have always regarded leather upholstery as being the preferable material for the seats. However, nowadays, I would probably prefer the cloth interior as it is really a beautiful product when in good condition, and it is also warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Regards Styria

UK market 450s were not fitted with a tachometer. No idea why.
Even rear seatbelts were optional on UK spec cars, which is shocking to me given MB's apparent emphasis on safety.

 

[c107]

That's a great facility in which to keep your cars. The 450 - what year model is it, and could it have D type fuel injection ? The large clock has got me a bit confused. Also, it would be good to have some interior pictures as well. Over the years, I have always regarded leather upholstery as being the preferable material for the seats. However, nowadays, I would probably prefer the cloth interior as it is really a beautiful product when in good condition, and it is also warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Regards Styria

Can't confirm without seeing the engine, but I would guess K-jet. I'm pretty sure it was only the 1975 cars that had d-jet and the antenna at the rear of the car, where the earlier D-jet cars had the antenna at the front.

 

[ProfessorExperimental]

My car (uk spec 350SE, no seatbelts from MB, 77? ish build, 78 import) also has "that can't be right" mileage (64k). The one option it seems to have been fitted with ex factory (other than tex/plaid seats, style must come first...) is the frankly ginormous long wave radio antenna box, an integrated LNA by the looks of things, underneath (and attached to) the rear mounted FM antenna (a non-retractable whip in my case, though that may be a generic replacement from Years Later). The two arms of the LW dipole are 8 or 10mm diameter alloy tube, and together take up the full length of the cavity under the rear quarter, from C-pillar to taillight.

Bryce, to your knowledge were these SETI-grade downlinks only available post-75 or would they have been selectable prior? If so might that have dictated a rear-mounted antenna on an otherwise typical D-Jetronic car?

 

[c107]

Bryce, to your knowledge were these SETI-grade downlinks only available post-75 or would they have been selectable prior? If so might that have dictated a rear-mounted antenna on an otherwise typical D-Jetronic car?

I’m not sure of the driver behind it, but the antenna location moved from the front wing to the rear one late in the early cars. Not sure of the exact date, my guess was late 74 or early 75. Same change on the 107.

it’s possible this was to start aligning with the then new w123. But that is a guess. Certainly the location at the rear made it easier to access.

in Australia at least, the antenna were always fitted here in Australia. Same with the radio.