Donor Car

My good friend and über-mercedes-mechanic Attie (from SDA Motors) has sold me the perfect donor car in order for us to start this restoration in earnest. While my 220b's body is very rusted, this car is weatherbeaten, but appears virtually rust-free, absolutely 100% complete (including every last interiour detail), and, best of all, it has never been laid a hand on. It has never been resprayed, it has never been disassembled. A fresh source of every part I could need, including a gorgeous complete interior just waiting for restoration. It still has engine and gearbox, but my current car's is likely to be far superior in lieu of all the time and money spent on it mechanically over the years.



For 45+ years of age, everything still looks remarkably well - the edges and door seams are still perfectly straight, and clicks shut like clockwork.



The only "problem" is that this is a model 220Sb, the more luxuriously-trimmed brother of my (rarer) 220b. The biggest difference lies in the more elaborate chrome and taillights (nicely explained by Martin's Heckflosse site) and I will have to decide on whether I want to keep the end-result a standard 220 (which will take some effort), or, if I use the donor car as the basis of this project, upgrade my current engine to "S" spec with the bigger Solex carburettors, etc.

Either way, the next step is the complete disassembly of the donor car, starting with the interior trim (which will likely be the most time-consuming to restore).