Author Topic: Vantage's 1988 Mercedes 560 SEL (Read 55447 times)

Scaerio · « **Reply #80 on:** November 21, 2016, 07:22:12 am »

Post pics when it's all done!

TheHire · « **Reply #81 on:** December 31, 2016, 01:40:02 am »

Here's what I've got for now. She's back. OEM Euro one-piece glass headlights are in, OEM Avantgarde grille, and all of the body work is now done. She's finished and officially parked for winter. Spring can't come a day sooner...

Lower Level · « **Reply #82 on:** December 31, 2016, 06:44:41 am »

The W126 is my absolute favourite Mercedes. I love what you've done to it and it's nice to see someone buy one and refrain from putting massive 22" retardrims on it. Beautiful car!!

Hannibalsmith · « **Reply #83 on:** December 31, 2016, 08:36:35 am »

Beautiful...

Where do you store your cars?

TheHire · « **Reply #84 on:** December 31, 2016, 05:18:19 pm »

Quote from: Hannibalsmith on December 31, 2016, 08:36:35 am

Beautiful...

Where do you store your cars?

Thanks! "Scattered". Right now this one's in my parents' garage, and one of the others is in a friend's garage... I'm in a condo right now with underground parking so winter storage is a bit expensive here.

johngenx · « **Reply #85 on:** January 01, 2017, 10:47:27 am »

That car will be 30 years old not too long from now. While I firmly believe modern cars are amazing, there are instances of "they don't make them like that anymore."

TheHire · « **Reply #86 on:** January 01, 2017, 11:27:14 pm »

Quote from: johngenx on January 01, 2017, 10:47:27 am

That car will be 30 years old not too long from now. While I firmly believe modern cars are amazing, there are instances of "they don't make them like that anymore."

It's an '88 manufactured in January of '87, so in literally twenty days it will be 30 years old. I'm fortunate enough that my job involves testing the latest and greatest, which is why getting into cars from a different era is properly refreshing.

carcrazed · « **Reply #87 on:** January 06, 2017, 04:19:24 pm »

It looks amazingly good. Great job sir.

Triple Bob · « **Reply #88 on:** January 09, 2017, 06:00:03 pm »

What was the reason that North America got those god awful headlights?

tpl · « **Reply #89 on:** January 09, 2017, 06:19:04 pm »

Quote from: Triple Bob on January 09, 2017, 06:00:03 pm

What was the reason that North America got those god awful headlights?

The US rules 30 years ago.

Lower Level · « **Reply #90 on:** January 09, 2017, 06:30:48 pm »

All head lights had to be sealed beams. Quartz Halogen even barely got in but had to be sealed beam Quartz Halogen. I ran Hella Quartz Halogen composite quartz (separate bulb so highly illegal, lol.) back then with Oranus super bulbs in the high beams.

TheHire · « **Reply #91 on:** January 15, 2017, 12:07:25 am »

Some more pics from the day I moved it ... not perfect yet but getting there!

2JDM · « **Reply #92 on:** January 15, 2017, 12:11:30 am »

Brig · « **Reply #93 on:** January 15, 2017, 07:35:29 am »

Why are the plates different?

Mean-looking beast! And so shiny...

Railton · « **Reply #94 on:** January 15, 2017, 08:24:40 am »

Quote from: vantage007 on January 15, 2017, 12:07:25 am

Some more pics from the day I moved it ... not perfect yet but getting there!

Boss!
Where are you living now with all that snow? Can't be Toronto?
Railton

Jaeger · « **Reply #95 on:** January 15, 2017, 09:00:32 am »

Looking at this car makes me think that Mercedes has really lost something along the way. This car doesn't scream quality and class. It simply IS the rolling definition of those terms, both in its time and decades later.

Lower Level · « **Reply #96 on:** January 15, 2017, 10:32:24 am »

Quote from: Jaeger on January 15, 2017, 09:00:32 am

Looking at this car makes me think that Mercedes has really lost something along the way. This car doesn't scream quality and class. It simply IS the rolling definition of those terms, both in its time and decades later.

A lot of Mercedes guys agree with you. Many believe the W126 was the last of the good ones. I can't say I disagree. Love this car and the SEL/SEC is on my top 10 favourite cars of all cars.

TheHire · « **Reply #97 on:** January 15, 2017, 11:47:09 am »

Quote from: Brigitte on January 15, 2017, 07:35:29 am

Why are the plates different?

Mean-looking beast! And so shiny...

There's a bit of a story behind those plates. The "569 TDK" plates were my dad's first plates in Canada, after he immigrated. They were initially on a ratty 300 SEL he was given by his brother as a hand-me-down, and they were around until they were on my first car ('89 Camry). Dad turned them in by accident because someone at the ministry basically told him he could no longer carry over plates (don't know what the full story behind that is).

Apparently, in Ontario, when you turn in a plate, they're destroyed and not only "locked", but even you can't get them re-issued to you. Through a massive battle with the MTO that lasted nearly a year, they were kind enough to release the plates again and they've been re-issued, and are now on the 560 SEL.

@Railton - Yup, those pics were taken in the GTA a couple weeks ago. No snow now, of course, but the car is stashed safely in a heated underground.

HeliDriver · « **Reply #98 on:** January 15, 2017, 01:50:35 pm »

Yeah, what Jaeger said. Beautiful car!

But I'd be rolling on the original 15" rims if it were mine. Front looks a little stanced in that second pic. $:-\$

Lower Level · « **Reply #99 on:** January 15, 2017, 02:01:19 pm »

Quote from: HeliDriver on January 15, 2017, 01:50:35 pm

Yeah, what Jaeger said. Beautiful car!

But I'd be rolling on the original 15" rims if it were mine. Front looks a little stanced in that second pic. $:-\$

Myself too but it still looks great. I gave up on the main Mercedes forums years ago because it broke my heart to see these cars ruined with 20 and 22 inch retardrimz. It's really nice to see one done right like this one.