May 2018 Gazette - Mercedes-Benz Club Gaz… · Gazette May 2018 50 YEARS OF THE ‘NEW...

GazetteMay 2018

50 YEARS OF THE ‘NEW GENERATION’X-CL ASSTOUR ECOSSE600 REBUILD

T H E O F F I C I A L M E R C E D E S - B E N Z C L U B F O U N D E D 1952

What’s inside...Regulars4 CLUBINFORMATION

4 CLUBPUBMEETINGS

5 DIARYDATES

6 FORTHCOMINGEVENTS

9 NEWS&VIEWS

17 YOURLETTERS

22 CLUBSHOP

24 VIEWPOINT

65 REGIONALREPORTS

80 NEWMEMBERS

85 CARSFORSALE

TECHNICALCORNER

59 W100 rebuild

63 Spares register

Editorial Office: Chris Bass, Tel: 01483 481836. PO Box 284, Stamford PE9 9BY E-mail: [email protected]

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Gazette copy datesJuly May 11 August June 8

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28FEATURES

27 Rob writes...

28 50 years of the ‘New

Generation’

35 F1 news

36 Tour Ecosse – plus

40 BTCC

43 From deep in the Archive

47 Car of the month

45 A trip to Germany

50 1995 280E estate

53 X-Class

45

4036

NEWS&VIEWS

www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • MAY 2018 • 9

These badges can be supplied with either provision for mounting on a bar or on a grille.

CAR BADGESCar badges are available from the Membership Office. They come in two types – grille or bar fixing and are approximately three inches (76.2mm) in diameter plus the base for the bar version. The badges come with fittings enabling them to be mounted on most radiator grilles. The bar type require a clamp to affix the badge to a bar (not supplied).

The cost is £25 for either type. These prices include postage and packaging. Please specify your car model when ordering. To order your badge please contact Catherine Barlow on 01780 482111 or e-mail [email protected]

Tony De Frates

NEW REGIONAL OFFICER FOR SCOTLAND – NORTH After there had been a vacancy for some time it is great to report the appointment of Ross Duthie as the new Regional Officer for the Club’s most northerly region – Scotland – North. We wish Ross all success in this new role, his first Regional report will be in the next Gazette.

Trevor Mitchell, Regional Development

NEW CLUB HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICER

Tim Shambrook.

After 15 years as our Health and Safety Officer, Vic Harper has decided to stand down and I would like to thank him for his tremendous contribution to the Club over this great length of time. Vic was formally qualified in H&S and really got us properly organised, trained and documented in this vital area and as the Club ‘Responsible Person’ (ie the buck stops with me), I am hugely grateful to him as indeed are the many event organisers who have sought his advice and guidance over the years. Thanks Vic, good job!

I am delighted to announce that Tim Shambrook has volunteered to become our new Club Health and Safety Officer in place of Vic. Tim works for the Health and Safety Executive so is well qualified for the role. He is also very well known to many Members as he was formerly a Regional Officer in Yorkshire – South. Tim’s contact details will be in the next edition of the Directory but in the meantime, if any of our volunteer event organisers need advice on H&S please contact him through [email protected] I am sure you will all join me in welcoming Tim to his new role.

Ian Keers, Chairman

Vic Harper.

MIKE RUTLEDGE

Mike Rutledge with his Pagoda SL.

Alan Cross has informed us that Mike Rutledge has died, shortly after returning from the Club trip to Techno-Classica in Germany. Mike was well known to many Members, especially in the North West, where his outstanding Pagoda SL was a regular entry at Club events. Alan’s tribute to Mike will be in the next Gazette.

Chris Bass

DEREK RHIND

It is with deep regret that I must inform Members that long-term Club Member Derek Rhind passed away on Wednesday March 21 around 11.00pm.

Derek was an active user of the Club Forum – on the old forum his user name was ‘Tern’ and lately ‘Derek’ on the new forum. He was a great friend of mine, and many others in the Club, and travelled far and wide to attend Club events in his beautifully modified R107 SL. Many of you would have seen this car and noticed the diesel engine, manual gearbox, beautiful re-worked leather interior with Saab seats etc.

Derek, being a very proud Scot, could sometimes be seen at shows wearing his kilt, complete with sporran and the sgian-dubh down his sock.

Our deepest condolences go out to Derek’s wife Bette and their family. A full obituary will be in the next Gazette.

Ray Waker

Derek Rhind at Club Member Tony Elliott’s son’s wedding.

NEWS&VIEWS


FORUM REPORTThe season is underwayBy the time you read this the annual season of car shows and events will be well underway. To find the latest information on events in your area or for your model, together with useful live links to booking sites etc, check the Forum’s events and model specific sections. You will also find sections for informal meetings, pub meetings and other events of interest. When you find an event you are interested in, you can set a marker, shown next to the post, for you to be automatically updated by e-mail if there are any new additions to that thread.

Star cars

[Insert photo May 2018-pic1, caption:

Illustrated by Richard Mason’s (SEC Model Register Captain) exposition of George Harrison’s SEC on the Forum, in the Gazette and classic car periodicals over the past year or so, the impact of music stars on the future interest and value of their old cars shows no abatement. Even Mercedes-Benz World in Brooklands has a display of Rolling Stones’ SELs.

Electric vehicles

The poster for Bill Wyman’s SEL at MB World.

a diesel rather than petrol so why do manufacturers feel the need to do this for electric vehicles? What do you think?

Recently there was news of a scheme to be able to offer your charging point at home or work to others when you are not using it, like the ‘Park on someone else’s driveway’ scheme. Borough councils are installing street charging points and it seems this might really take off, for cities at least, as battery technology advances rapidly. Daimler and its new Chinese partner BYD have just launched a new all-electric Denza model for the China market which looks pretty good and has a 500kms (300-mile) range.

Mercedes is due to launch its EQ C model later this year and you can be confident you will hear about it on the Club Forum. There is a lively debate with 96 topics under the ‘electric vehicles’ section – it would be good to hear the views and experiences of more Members about this new future for motoring. Find it here: https://forum.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk/c/model-specific/electric-vehicles

Driver-less cars

keep running. Checks found the fuel pump power supply OK and suggestions from other Members led to a suspect warm-up regulator (WUR). Dismantling and testing this showed the pressure and electrical inputs had the required effect but the fuel flow was poor due to a blocked small filter in the WUR.

Removing this blockage didn’t solve the problem however and Members suggest there could be a problem with the fuel distributor metering unit. We await further news. Do you have any advice to offer? Search the Forum for ‘350SE’ to find the story so far.

Using the Club ForumUse this website address: https://forum.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk/login Click ‘Sign Up’, put in your Club membership number and your name and that’s it! Every time you want to log-in after that it is just your e-mail and password you need. On a smart-phone it can stay logged in so you are ready to browse whenever you need. The most recent posts are shown at the top of lists so you can be sure you are not missing out on anything.

There are some guides to using the Forum, how to post pictures etc which you will find by clicking the Club logo, top left, then ‘All Categories/About this site/How to Guides’. To search click the magnifying glass icon at the top right, type a word or two and all will be revealed.

Stuart Mathieson

The Mercedes-Benz/BYD Denza 500.

Not a day goes by it seems without news of some new investment or technological advance in electric vehicles, and this has not escaped the attention of Forum Members. The ‘early adopter’ Members seem keen to promote the benefits they have experienced and, at the other end of the scale, the cautious are keen to point out the limitations of range, charging time and the need to be able to park on your driveway. The current stock of all-electric vehicles on offer in the UK still looks a little over-styled to my taste, by that I mean other than a badge, we don’t have different shape car or coloured flashes to indicate

An autonomous Smart on test.

As I write this there have been 223 replies from Members to this theme in just one week. The debate is mostly about the fallibility of humans and computers and the relative risks of both in driving vehicles, not just in the future but here and now.

Perhaps it is the solution to clogged roads. Personally I find little pleasure in driving which involves queuing, whether in cities or our major interconnecting roads and I’d be happy to let something else do the chore, but it could be the beginning of the end of traditional car use and ownership as we know it. Imagine, you choose your destination on your phone app, it tells you where to pick up your (hired) vehicle in your neighbourhood, you get in and it drives you to your destination. Scary? Thank goodness I have a 31-year-old car which, congestion and toxicity charges aside, could allow me to continue to be a ‘motorist’, whereas new car purchasers might find their options more limited. Join the debate – search the forum for ‘Autonomous Car’

Recommissioning a 350SEA Member has a 350SE which has been laid up for some years and he is looking to get it going again. Old fuel isn’t a good start, so the first task was to drain the tank. He found the fuel strainer clogged, leading to only a dribble of supply to the fuel damper and pump.

However, after re-assembling the fuel system the engine would start but not

Warm-up regulator dismantled.

Old and new fuel tank strainer.

NEWS&VIEWS

Unit 6, Studley Court, Guildford Road, Chobham, Surrey GU24 8EBTel: 01483 722 923 • web: www.dclass.co.uk

email: [email protected] D:class automotive @dclassauto @dclassauto


The opinions expressed are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect Club policy. The Editor reserves the right to edit letters if necessary.They should be sent to the editorial office at PO Box 284, Stamford PE9 9BY or [email protected] YOURLETTERS

Letter of the Month

As a thank you (and as an incentive for even greater efforts) we like to choose a letter of the month. Meguiar’s have kindly agreed to sponsor this and the Member whose letter is selected receives a Wash & Wax car care kit.

MODEL RESTORATIONS

EARLY PRODUCTION UK R129 SLS

Out on the track.

Dear Chris,In his letter published in the July 2017 Gazette Justin Lazic requested any knowledge concerning the early life of his recently purchased R129 500SL (WDB129066-2F- 001391). At that time I thought I might be able to offer a possible answer but could not locate my photos to substantiate my idea. Then, after a house move and a major sort out of domestic clutter, I managed to find the attached photos taken by me in September 1989 at the Jerez Grand Prix circuit in southern Spain. The occasion was the official launch of the new R129 SL model to UK Mercedes-Benz dealer staff and as you can see we lucky individuals were treated to the experience of driving this new and advanced car on the Grand Prix circuit and on the roads around Jerez.

In the first photo you can see the 15 or so cars lined-up in the pit-lane waiting for us to drive, all of which had been PDI’d (Pre-Delivery Inspected) in Germany before arriving at Jerez. Now the really important point of this story is that out of the 15, four or five were UK specification right-hand-drive cars. We asked the factory representatives what was going to happen to these and were told that after the launch event they would be sent by road transporter, probably via Dover, to Milton Keynes and would be registered by Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd (the ‘Special Notes’ in the V5 ‘Declared New in GB by Independent Importer’ would be because these few cars had not entered the country by the normal Mercedes-Benz import route recognised by HM Customs – Bremen-Zeebrugge-Harwich). A few months later when back at my dealership in Kent I found out that this had happened and that these UK spec RHD SLs had been registered and allocated between the Marketing Department and the Demonstration Department at Milton Keynes. Due to the very limited number of new R129 SLs coming from the factory and the very high demand at that time there was virtually nil depreciation. The ‘unusual’ early history of these four or five cars was also another consideration that led MBUK to retain them for longer than the customary six-month period. When they were sold it was through MBUK’s own dealerships, probably being marketed as ‘ex-demonstration models’.

If Justin Lazic has not been provided with a more likely explanation then I think it highly probable that his car is one of these rare ‘ex-Jerez’ cars.

Kind regards,Derek Singleton, via e-mail

In the pit-lane at Jerez in September 1989.

Inside one of the brand new SLs.

Dear Chris,I was interested to see Nick Kisch’s letter about repairing a model W116 (as opposed to a W116 model), because a couple of years ago I started restoring some of the model cars from my youth. This involves disassembling the car into its component parts, stripping the paint down to bare metal, polishing the bodywork, spraying the components with rattle-can primer and paint, hand-painting drivers, grilles and exhausts, applying new racing numbers where appropriate and, finally, clear-coating everything. The photo illustrates a few cars in as-bought, in progress and completed conditions.

This actually has several advantages over restoring the real thing. I can work in the comfort of home during the winter evenings, the cars cost just a few pounds rather than thousands, spare parts such as tyres and transfers are easily available and very cheap, I have yet to remove any skin off my knuckles and, finally, the whole restoration process takes just a few hours, rather than several years.

There are some similarities with the real thing however and one of these is that I currently have more cars waiting for restoration or in progress than I have finished. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Regards,Andy Hewitt, Portugal

RNLI VISIT

Some of Andy Hewitt’s fleet.

An RNLI Trent Class lifeboat named Earl and Countess Mountbatten of Burma which was moored alongside the quay.

Dear Chris,Michael and I lived in Poole during the 1980s. Although we moved away after five years we have retained strong links with the area.

Recently, whilst in Poole, we took the opportunity of visiting the headquarters of the RNLI, the Club’s chosen charity.

22 • MAY 2018 • www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk

Club sweater, now in Burgundy plus other colours

£30.00

Padded body-warmer with Club logo £32.00

Contact details Mike Colls To order please ring 01934 418364If we are unable to answer the phone, please leave a message on the answer-phone and we will call you back.

The e-mail address is [email protected] Sorry, but due to bank charges, we have had to introduce a minimum order value of £5.00.

Buy on the Club websiteVisit our Club website shop where all items can be viewed. Orders can now be made via the site with payment by credit card or cheque.

Log onto the Club website and start shopping the easy way. Please make cheques payable to Mike Colls. All orders will be despatched within 14 days, if there is a problem we will contact you. Post and packing is not included in the prices given above.

Goods found to be faulty through design flaws or postage damage will be replaced free of charge.

Barrel bag in various colours £22.00

Baseball caps in navy, black, red, burgundy or bottle green with silver Club logo £10.00

ClubShop

Softshell jacket in various colours £35.00

Keyrings from £5.00

Coolplus polo in long or short

sleeves, ladies or gents in various

colours £25

Club fleece in various colours £32

Reversible coat in several colours £58

Beanie hats in various colours £10

More detailed clothing descriptions, sizes and colours shown on the website

Available from the Club website Post and packing is not included in the prices shown


Viewpointby Ian Keers

New premisesThose of you who managed to digest my AGM Report (see January Gazette) may have noticed that I mentioned plans to expand our administrative capacity this year. Our excellent Membership Administrator, Catherine Barlow, has been our sole employee for several years now and has worked from her home office in Stamford. Well, I am delighted to announce that the Club has now taken a lease on premises in central Stamford and Catherine will be moving her operation there during the next few weeks. Furthermore, we are in the process of recruiting a second administrator on a part-time basis to help Catherine manage the ever increasing workload. The offices have yet to be fitted out and equipped and we will announce the address when we move in, but this is quite a step forward in the Club’s development. We now occupy two locations, the new Stamford office and our superb Archive facilities in the wonderful art deco Control Tower at Brooklands, just outside Mercedes-Benz World.

The weather!Last month I wrote about how I was looking forward to the London Region’s first meeting of the year at the RAF Museum in north London. I recalled previous such events with fine, early spring weather and eagerly anticipated giving our newly acquired SL400 its first Club outing. Nope! The ‘Beast from the East’ (can’t remember if it was the main one or its nasty little brother that followed soon after) decided otherwise and the Midlands received a fair dump of snow with biting easterly winds and

I decided that travel in a rear-wheel-drive car fitted with summer tyres was a no-no and several of my fellow Members in these parts made the same decision, which was a great disappointment. However, I was delighted to see that in true Club style, the meeting went ahead and many local London Members braved the elements and turned out and had an excellent meeting. This was only a couple of weeks after the planned open day at Hemmels, the restorers in Cardiff, was abandoned due to a red warning for extreme snow in the area, so it has not been a great start to the season for me so far! Nonetheless, I remain optimistic for a decent improvement soon, but it does seem a long time coming!

Drive It Day – April 22This edition of the Gazette will come out just after Drive It Day this year so I hope all our classic enthusiasts gave their cars a good airing. Pat and I are booked to take my 450SEL 6.9 on the Stilton Cheese Run which is a massive annual event starting in Uppingham, Rutland and, via a picturesque route, ends up in the village of Stilton, Cambridgeshire on the old A1. We have done this run several times before and I must say, the starting gathering in Uppingham, with all the streets jammed with classic cars, is particularly enjoyable if the weather is fine. There is a half-way stop at a big farm shop where the cars park in long, double rows and I remember one year we took my 300SEL 6.3 which at the time ran extremely rich (an understatement) on start-up and we parked at the farm shop for coffee. When we came out of the café and returned to the car park, I noticed a lovely,

white Lotus had parked directly behind us. I started the 6.3 and gave the throttle a good blip, glanced in my mirror and saw to my horror that the front of the lovely white Lotus was covered in soot! I said to Pat, “Come on, we’re going,” and scarpered as quickly as I could! That car was so rude at times!

Luggage decisionsWe are taking our SL400 on the Club’s Spanish Rally in May and are looking forward to it immensely; this will be the perfect car for touring in the Pyrenees with its aluminium body, carbon-fibre boot lid and plenty of horsepower, an ideal package I think. However, it has the smallest boot of any car we have ever used for a holiday and we are away for two weeks, so much thinking has been going on. I have consulted quite a few Members I know and more widely on the Forum, which is always good for speedy advice. Some Members just use squashy bags and have found them ideal, but quite a lot advocate the fitted luggage sets that are available (at a price) from the German company Roadsterbag. There are a few others that make fitted sets for all models of SL and SLK, but Roadsterbag seems to be the predominant company and Members who have purchased sets have found them durable over several years of use so, as our car is a ‘keeper’, I finally decided to invest in a set. It consists of five cases, a small one that fits the recess under the boot floor, two thin ones that lie on top of the boot floor and two decent sized trolley cases that lie on top of them, exactly filling the available space under the cover that enables the

280SE 3.5s on the Ponton Rally in Rostock, Germany in 1999. Mine (brilliant silver) is on

the right, the one on the left (smoke silver) was owned by Chris Riden. No, I didn’t

have to drive it all the way to Rostock with a grease gun hanging on!

FEATURE

www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • MAY 2018 • 27 www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • MAY 2018 • 27

Rob writes... by Rob Halloway

Edzard Reuter had a tough act to followMr Reuter, a mathematician and lawyer by trade, worked in various industries before joining what was then Daimler-Benz, in 1964. Two decades later, after some 20 years of service, Edzard Reuter became the ninth chairman of the board of the company. Under his guidance from 1987 to 1995, the company focused on an open corporate culture, and Reuter’s tenure helped – in many ways – to pave the way for today’s less formal and more collaborative way of working.

But back to the tough act to follow. Mr Reuter’s predecessor (as Chairman of the Board) was one of the lesser-sung legends of German engineering. Werner Breitschwerdt was the eighth chairman, from 1983 to 1987, and led the company through some radical changes during his time at the top. Professor Breitschwerdt had, as head of research and development, brought in multi-link rear axles and cars including the W126 S-Class, W124 E-Class, R129 SL and, most significantly of all, the W201 190 – the ‘Baby Benz’. 16,000 jobs were created and business boomed – an engineer leading the company through an incredible period of change and to amazing success. Professor Breitschwerdt went on to be inducted into the European Automotive Hall of Fame in 2009, alongside founding fathers and pioneers Carl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler, Wilhelm Maybach, car safety genius Béla Barényi and design master Bruno Sacco. Exalted company indeed!

Edzard Reuter didn’t let his illustrious predecessor put him off from the job in

hand. Neither did his successor to the role of Chairman, Professor Dr Jürgen Schrempp, who rose to the board from his first job in the company, apprentice mechanic. Factories in China, the USA and South Africa gave the company a global manufacturing base from which it still produces cars today, and more foundations from which today’s success was built. From 1995 to 2005, Professor Schrempp led the globalisation of the business, and his successor – the 11th chairman – Dr Dieter Zetsche – has been in charge ever since.

Each chairman clearly had big shoes to fill, and each chairman led the company into new and interesting territories. Each chairman was aware of the success of the business and of the importance of representing and protecting the interests of the incredible legacy of Mercedes-Benz.

As in business, so it is with our Mercedes-Benz Club, as we bid a fond farewell to our ninth chairman and welcome our 10th. I’m sure that when he took over the reins from number eight, Mike Powell in 2003, Ian Keers was well aware of the excellent job his predecessor had done. Mike was the first Club chairman I met during, I think, a yo-yo competition that was held during the golden jubilee celebrations in 2002. First impressions were good – even though my yo-yoing skills were a bit up and down. Ahem.

Mike and I shared an interest in preserving the company’s information in the UK, and I often sent boxes of old slides, price lists, photos and other materials for documentation and safety, when various cupboards at Mercedes-Benz UK’s head office were emptied.

It is, however, Ian who has been chairman for the longest period in my time at the company, and his myriad achievements in his role are exemplary and have been seen in these Gazette pages every month since 2003. From a personal and professional view, I’ve been very impressed by Ian.

His effort, ethics and energy are apparently boundless. He’s been our guest at Tongwell many times, and met every one of our own CEOs, creating (alongside Michael Chapman in particular) a terrific positive relationship between Club and company. And like any good relationship there’s been a healthy portion of challenge alongside the support – a difficult balance to get right and one in which our ninth chairman has excelled.

Ian and I have always got on very well, and he is a man I respect and like very much. For more than a decade at National Concours and Christmas parties I’ve always willingly participated because Ian asked me, always politely, and it was because Ian asked that I gratefully accepted his invitation to become Honorary President last summer. In the history of the Club – now expertly archived at very impressive facilities at Brooklands, Surrey – Ian’s contribution should not be undervalued. Thank you very much, Ian.

Yet time marches on, and we have a new Club chair waiting in the pit-lane, ready to roar into action. And I’m absolutely convinced that Rosemarie Maslin is going to make a brilliant job of it. Filling those big shoes won’t be easy, yet once again I’m impressed and encouraged that in Rosemarie we have someone who will keep the Club vibrant, successful and wonderful. I’ve always enjoyed working alongside Rosemarie at Club functions over the years, and I’m certain that she’ll do a terrific job, and with my full and enthusiastic support.

The Club’s in excellent hands, and if my tenuous example has done anything, it’s an attempt to show that change at the top is inevitable, it is invigorating and often it is actually quite inspiring.

Werner Breitschwerdt. Edzard Reuter.

Ian Keers (right) with Rob Halloway at a Club Officials’ Christmas party.

CLASSIC MERCEDESINSURANCE?

(PRE 1990)

FEATURE


To many of us the realisation that our pride and joy is part of a series of cars that was launched 50 years ago will seem amazing, I know

time flies when you are enjoying yourself – but 50 years is a long time ago.

Known as the ‘New Generation’ this series was a step forward in car design and production, and even today can be classed as essentially a modern car. Dual circuit servo disc brakes, swinging rear

axles and all round independent suspension made the cars feel tight and smooth, with crumple zones for added safety. Optional extras, depending upon model, such as fuel injected engines, power steering, automatic transmission, central locking and air conditioning put them at the forefront of the market. Acres of chrome kept up the opulent feel, as did spacious cabins and boots, along with elegant styling, especially the coupés – and yet it’s hard to

imagine that these well-made cruisers were the smallest car Mercedes-Benz had yet launched in the post-war period.

The series became known as the W114 and W115 cars from the first three digits of their chassis numbers, curiously the six-cylinder cars were the W114s, the four-cylinder cars the W115s. I never did ask.

As a regular driver of a 250CE coupé I’m always amazed at the attention these cars receive when they are out and about. Sadly, very few remain, but interest in ownership does at last seem to be increasing, which may keep a few more on the road. I recently had to decline an offer to buy mine whilst washing it on the drive – sponge in hand. The designer, Paul Bracq, ably assisted by Bruno Sacco, certainly got something right. So successful was the initial launch that the coupés were not available for another year to allow the plant at Sindelfingen to keep up with demand for saloons. Of course, diesel performance in those days was not what it is today but around half of all sales were diesel saloons, many finding their way to taxi ranks.

Between the launch and eventual replacement by the W123 series in 1976 the enormous total of 1,919,056 cars were made, a result that overjoyed Mercedes-

50 years of the ‘New Generation’ cars

by Phil Greaves, Model Register Captain W114 and W115 cars

The presentation of the ‘New Mercedes-Benz Generation’ in January 1968 in Sindelfingen. Head Engineer Hans Scherenberg (left) presents the new models, from left to right: 220D (W115), 280S (W108) and 250 (W114).

Sketch by Friedrich Geiger, one of the design team, for the new mid-range series.

FEATURE

www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • MAY 2018 • 35 www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk • MAY 2018 • 35

CHANGESTechnically, the wider and faster cars of the 2017 season have continued to develop for the new season. As well as the prominent ‘halo’, which poses potential air-flow issues and has needed significant chassis redesign, the ‘T’ wing and shark-fin engine covers seen last year have gone. Ferrari and Red Bull had pioneered an additional suspension link last year that had the effect of raising the ride height in cornering, the FIA have moved to tighten-up this loophole and this feature too is absent this season.

AUSTRALIAThe new season got underway in Australia the week before Easter. It will feature 21 races and, for the first time, three back-to-back race weekends. Channel 4 will show the Bahrain, Azerbaijhan, Monaco, Austria, British, Belgium, Singapore, Japan, USA races and season finale in Abu Dhabi live on terrestrial TV, whilst Sky of course feature all the races as they happen.

Overall, the weekend offered little to please fans of the Silver Arrows. Lewis Hamilton did take pole – a record seventh at this race – but team-mate Valteri Bottas lined-up a disappointing 15th. Hamilton’s was the only Mercedes powered car in the top 10 starters, with Force India failing to make Q3 and there was a poor performance from Williams, who could only manage to qualify in 13th and 19th places.

Come the race, Hamilton held the lead from Raikkonnen, whilst Williams’ rookie Sirotkin experienced a bizarre retirement on lap seven as a plastic bag became entangled with his brakes. The story of the midfield was the resurgent Haas team. A close working relationship with Ferrari sees the team not only secure the power-plant, but the use of suspension technology too. Haas were running fourth and fifth until a bizarre series of pit-stop errors saw both cars released with insecure wheels and immediately retiring. To make matters worse, following the race, the team was heavily fined for releasing an unsafe car. Hamilton and Verstappen in Bahrain.

Hamilton lost the lead to Vettel after a safety car incident and once again the Mercedes showed that it struggled to follow in the dirty air of another car. Despite superior straight-line speed Hamilton was unable to overtake, finishing second. Bottas climbed to an eighth place finish, whilst the Ferrari of Raikkonen took the other podium slot.

It was a painful afternoon for the Williams team. Stroll said the team had ‘survived’ rather than raced at the weekend, voicing his frustration at a series of technical issues that had seen him slip down the field, whilst chief technical officer Paddy Lowe said the race was “an afternoon to forget”.

Force India fared better, whilst neither car made it into the top 10, both finished the race, coming home in 11th and 12th places.

HAMILTONAs he enters the final season of his contract with Mercedes, speculation has become rife. There are rumours on one hand of the Brit being offered the most lucrative contract in F1 history, whilst other sources speculated that the team will instead offer current Red Bull driver Ricciardo the seat. Ahead of the Bahrain race, Hamilton has said that he wouldn’t be rushed into a decision on what he calls the most important contract of his career.

BAHRAINLewis went into qualifying with a five-place grid penalty after having to change his gearbox as a result of a leak during the Australian race. Regulations stipulate that

a gearbox must be used for six consecutive races; an unscheduled change leading to an automatic penalty.

Q3 saw Hamilton only manage to qualify fourth – behind team mate Bottas – with the Ferraris, led by Vettel, locking out the front row, leaving him to start in ninth slot with the Force India of Ocon directly in front. Sadly, the misery continued for the Williams team, with Sirotkin taking 18th slot and team-mate Stroll 20th and last, leaving Paddy Lowe to state rather obviously, “That’s not where we want to start the race”.

Bottas took second place at the first corner as Vettel held the lead from the start, whilst both Red Bulls had incidents– Ricciardo retiring – leading to a virtual safety car on an eventful first lap. Meanwhile, Lewis made his way through the field; together with Bottas taking the medium compound tyre to run a one-stop race. Raikkonen was released too early from his second pit-stop, leading to one of the pit crew being injured and the Finn retiring with an insecure wheel. Bottas took the fight to Vettel in the closing stages, his fresher tyres adding to the Mercedes’ pace, but once again the Silver Arrow struggled to follow in dirty air and Vettel made it to the flag to take his second consecutive victory; his fourth in Bahrain, ahead of Bottas and Hamilton, whose third place marked his 119th podium finish.

Gasley bought his Honda powered Torro Rosso home in fourth place, to score the first points of his F1 career, whilst Ericson took his first points for 50 races as he bought his Sauber home in eighth. The only other points-scoring Mercedes powered car was the Force India of Ocon, finishing 10th. Williams’ woes continued, with the cars finishing line astern at the back of the field.

F1 NEWSby Will Gardner

Hamilton battling with the Ferraris in Australia.

FEATURE


It seemed to our friends with an SLK350 and ourselves with an SL350 that they are perfect cars for Scotland, so last year we planned a whistle-stop tour.

Being based on the south coast of England, the ‘Scottish Northcoast 500’ was a bit far for our available time so we sought advice from Carolann and Robin Thomson of the Club’s Scotland – Central Region who told us about roads not to miss. Advice we duly incorporated into our route.

We travelled via Wales and the Lake District, beginning in South Wales at Blaenavon visiting ‘Big Pit’. This is one of three former coal mines in Britain where you can go down to the coal face. Active from 1880 to 1980 it was reopened as a museum in 1983 and is free to visit. The deepest coal seams are at 90 metres and are accessed via the lifts the miners used to go to work. The passageways are narrow, low at points (hard-hats are provided)

and pitch black when the safety lamps are briefly turned off. Former miners are the guides and are both knowledgeable and entertaining. Above ground attractions include a winding house, saw mill, pithead, baths and museum exhibits.

Skirting along the edge of the Brecon Beacons we enjoyed magnificent scenery and quiet roads to our overnight stop at Chester where we partook of a river cruise. Then, on our way to the Lake District, we stopped at the magnificent art deco Midland Hotel in Morecambe for coffee and paid respects to the statue of Eric on the seafront. Next stop was Carnforth and the Heritage Railway Station that was used in the film Brief Encounter. The tea room is much as it was in the film and there is an area devoted to director David Lean. There are several rooms with displays of the history of the station and ephemera from the film.

Tour Ecosse – plus

Our Lake District hotel was sited next door to ‘Hill Top’, Beatrix Potter’s house, now owned by the National Trust, in which she wrote many of her books. So we immediately visited the house, the contents of which belonged to Miss Potter and were bequeathed to the Trust for the house to be as it was in her lifetime. Just down the road in Newby Bridge is the Lakeland Motor Museum. With Coniston Water nearby there is a Donald Campbell exhibition displaying full-sized replicas of the 1935 Blue Bird car, 1939 Blue Bird Boat K4 and 1967 jet hydroplane Bluebird K7. The main museum building contains over 30,000 exhibits with a 100-year time line of cars also featuring Donald Campbell’s Bentley 4¼-litre ‘Standard Steel’ Park Ward saloon. There are motor bikes, scooters and an Isle of Man TT feature, along with pedal cars, bicycles, aircraft, caravans and there is what museums consider the largest collection of motoring memorabilia on public display in the UK.

On the road – the A82 near Rest and Be Thankful.

by Sara and Bill Billett

FEATURE


I attended the annual British Touring Car Championship media launch day recently at Donington Park. 2018 marks

the 60th anniversary of this exciting racing series. There were new cars and drivers to be unveiled to the press and public. There was a brand new Honda Civic type-R with a new driver to partner series stalwart Matt Neal, Porsche Cup driver and championship winner Dan Cammish who replaced multiple champion Gordon Shedden who has gone to pastures new. Rob Austin débuted the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta for the Handy Motorsport outfit and topped the time sheets in the afternoon’s practice session, which started wet, but dried out later. Many suspected that he was running

no success ballast, which indeed he didn’t need to, but a lot of drivers did, including Mac/Ciceley Motorsport’s ace Adam Morgan, who was eighth, 0.4 seconds off pole. The crew chief decided to run the entire session with ballast, the reason was that they would hope Adam was going to do well in the championship and will be carrying weight for most of the season. It was good PR for the Alfa Romeo team though!

The Ciceley prepared A-Classes had a new aerodynamics kit fitted for the new season with revised sills and rear door mouldings. Adam’s car was sporting some new sponsors, with Preston based Lunar Caravans coming to the series for the first

time alongside Pallex, a palletised haulage company based in Coalville.

Wix filters, former sponsor of Ciceley, had moved over to the Honda Eurotech team in a deal to sponsor the two-car team. It was a little strange seeing the Wix logo on another car! The usual photo of all the drivers has been moved to the first round at Brands Hatch.

Making his début in the BTCC was another ex-Porsche Cup driver, Cheshire’s Tom Oliphant, who was piloting the third Ciceley prepared A-Class in the series, stunning in metallic green and black – Ciceley Commercials the title sponsor on this car. Tom had a steady test, finishing 23rd, 1.2 seconds off pole, being side-lined for a while with power steering failure. Aiden Moffat in the other A-Class was down in 25th. Reigning champion Ash Sutton could only muster 20th in his first outing in the Subaru Levorg.

A new Dunlop tyre labelling system was introduced at Donington. Wet tyres will now carry blue stickers, alongside the normal yellow and silver. This will make it easier for TV viewers to identify what tyres drivers are using.

There are some slight rule changes for 2018 – the reverse grid draw will now be from positions sixth to 12th and driving standards penalties are set to increase. The Jack Sears Trophy for the most promising rookie has been extended to any driver who has not scored a podium finish.

BTCC media launch, Donington Park by Paul Kelly

Tom gets to grips with the A-Class – note new blue labelling on the Dunlop wet tyres.

FEATURE


A recent discovery by the Archive team is the programme and entry form for the ‘Berta Benz Centenary Rally’ organised in

August 1988 by the German Mercedes-Benz clubs and other organisations.

To put this event in context, first I shall digress slightly. My wife is always telling me that behind every successful man is a good woman. 40-plus years of marriage have taught me not to argue, but I have this sneaking feeling that she is right.

And, as you will see, I believe that Karl Benz would also have agreed with this sentiment. Karl’s wife Berta was obviously a formidable lady. She stood by him when, during the development of his first internal combustion engine, the bailiffs tried and failed to seize his workshop equipment. She also stood by him during the protracted development of his first car.

Then, in August 1888, she made the world’s first long car journey – something that changed the modern world. Without Karl’s knowledge, Berta left home before dawn, accompanied by their two sons Eugen (15) and Richard (14) – in a three-wheel Benz Patent Motor Car to drive from Mannheim to Pforzheim – a distance of 104km (65 miles). Till then the very few motor vehicles existing had only been driven short distances, generally with a mechanic on board.

Ostensibly Berta made the journey to see her mother, but her real purpose was to show Karl that the motor vehicle would be a financial success if the world could see how useful it could be. Karl, undoubtedly a brilliant man, had, until then, not carried out sufficient marketing to get his new motor vehicle noticed.

Along the way to Pforzheim Berta had to overcome a number of difficulties. First there was the problem of obtaining fuel as there were no filling stations in those days. So Berta had to find dispensing chemists that sold the solvent Ligroin, to use in place of the yet to be invented petrol. Then a blacksmith had to found

to make repairs to a chain on the car. Other attention required by the little Benz included replacing its brake linings, clearing a fuel line blockage with a long hat-pin and insulating a wire with a garter, all dealt with aplomb by Berta.

The indomitable Berta and the two boys arrived at her mother’s house in Pforzheim well after dusk. Berta then sent a telegram to Karl to tell him of their epic journey. The return journey home to Mannheim was successfully completed three days later

As a result of her long journey the Benz motor car received a considerable amount of publicity and Karl, thanks to Berta’s reports of the problems suffered along the way on the round trip from Mannheim

to Pforzheim and back in the Benz, was able to make several improvements to the vehicle.

A hundred years after Berta’s epic journey those participating in the Berta Benz Centenary Rally had a much easier journey, with surfaced roads and no breakdowns.

The Mercedes-Benz Club’s digital archive is having new material added every month and now includes thousands of items. If you haven’t yet done so please take a look by registering. It’s a simple process, just go to: http://archive.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk and follow the on-screen instructions – happy browsing!

If you would like to dispose of surplus Mercedes-Benz literature or photographs please let us know. Whether it’s one brochure or a car-load your surplus material will benefit Club Members. Even early Gazettes are welcome, although the Archive does have a full collection of the later A4-format editions. Please contact the Archive team: Jon and Lynne Bell, Phil Reed, Sophie or Andy Holmes ([email protected]). If you do not use e-mail please telephone 01932 346981 and leave a message.

Inside it has illustrations evocative of the time of Berta Benz’s endeavour and shows the route she took.

From deep in the Archive

by Phil Reed

The cover of the entry form for the 1988 event.

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Wolfgang writes: ‘After wanting a classic car for some years I decided to get serious in the new millennium and started looking around. Having done so for some time my idea was to get a Mercedes and in particular a 190SL – a nice one but not too good, so that I could drive in not too perfect weather conditions. Look what I ended up with.

Having looked around the UK for a couple of years I decided, in 2003, that for my birthday I would have one, which I did, so I got a 1961 190SL in fire engine red (code DB564). The car was first registered on July 5 1961, exactly 42 years before when I bought it – we both got a birthday present, I hope it feels the same. The car was registered to a Marjorie in Plymouth, with the mark T 234, until 1985 and then sold to the next owner who changed the registration

in 1990, most likely because it was more valuable than the car. AOD 246A was sold again in 1996, to a lady in the City of London, from whom I bought the car in 2003.

Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, on my first after winter outing, in April 2004, I bumped into a car and did considerable damage to the front of the SL. Now having an excuse, I started a renovation project which lasted until July 2009, taking everything apart, repairing, replacing and re-finishing it to factory specification. This included a complete engine and carburettor overhaul and whatever else was in or on the car, and building it up again from the repaired and protected painted chassis, all done at a workshop in Aldershot [Rees Brothers].

Taking the car for a drive on the continent in 2010 and queuing at Le

Havre, a number of fellow travellers came to inspect it and dated it to 1963 because of the registration. On checking, it became clear the DVLA had issued an incorrect registration. I pointed this out and finally, after a year, in July 2011, the car ended up with 591 YUD. I quiet liked it because in colloquial German dialect the ‘yud’ means ‘good’. So far so good.

I have taken the car to various Club events, and at Brooklands in 2017 it got me a Mercedes fleece as a prize from the Club.

The photo was taken this year at the building site for a new garage in Woking for my cars, by a gentleman who happened to drive by when I was taking the car out of the garage. He stopped and told me he must photograph the car, which he then did for a whole long, dark evening. I am very pleased with the car and the photos he took.’

Wolfgang Rauch’s 190SL

FEATURE


On Saturday morning May 27 last year my wife Gloria and I were loading our 1953 170SD with suitcases, coats and shoes on the

rear seat and footwell, while the small boot was taken up by a selection of used 170 spares to sell at the MVC (Mercedes-Benz Veteranen Club) meeting at Niedernhausen (June 2-5). By two o’clock we were heading east on the A120 towards Harwich to catch the night ferry to the Hook of Holland. We arrived in plenty of time to find a pub for a great fish and chip meal before loading onto the ferry at 9.00pm. On Sunday morning at 8.00am we were off the ferry and set the sat-nav for our German destination of Wetzlar. With 500 kilometres (300 miles) to drive, Sunday is a good day on Dutch and German roads as there are fewer heavy trucks on the roads, especially as my 170 is best at 50 to 55mph – it’s a diesel with top speed of 60mph. We arrived at 4.30pm after a couple of rest stops and a refuel. We offloaded

A trip to Germanyby Bob Coxshall

some cases at our friends Jurgen and Lillia Bergman’s house and then headed off for pizza and good German beer.

We had a few days to take it easy in Wetzlar, an old city on the River Lahn,

with an interesting cathedral within the old city walls. Wetzlar is also known for the production of Leica cameras and Zeiss optical lenses. Being on the river there are many walks, parks and restaurants. The

A 1937 540K on the MVC rally.

1934 290 cabriolet D.

Long-standing Members of our Club, Bob Coxshall and Roy Shakeshaft, by co-incidence found themselves on the same rally, organised by one of the German clubs. Here are their reports of it.

FEATURE


My father Robbie and I are no strangers to 1980s-90s Mercedes, however this latest addition to our fleet is a little

off piste. We’re usually drivers of the saloon models, such as 16-valve and AMG 190Es, this is just a little different...

In the W124 range, the estate models, referred to as the T or TE in pre-face-lift form, were seen by some as the ‘ugly ducklings’ of the range and probably not as coveted as the cabriolet and coupé

variants. However that’s not how I see it. When it came to adding another Mercedes to the collection in my eyes there were just a few options. We’ve recently acquired a 1992 500E – one of the definitive 1990s super saloons and of course a W124. Spending time with this beast allowed me to further appreciate the build superiority of the W124 model when compared to my 190E. Don’t get me wrong, the W201 is a fantastic car and still of course one of my favourites, but the W124 is just a little

1995 E280 estate by Rhys Mangat

Ugly duckling or collectable?

more ‘mature’, a little more powerful and a little more comfortable, so it’s a natural ‘upgrade’.

A big, practical estate car wouldn’t usually be the choice for someone my age, and to be honest I did also look at the coupé models, however there’s just something about the estates I really like, and when I found this one, on the ‘W124 Enthusiasts’ Facebook page, I just had to have it. Its originality, relatively low (112,000) mileage and huge amount of history further sealed the deal on the cool look of these 90s estates.

It is a really almost completely original, very late 1995 E280 with the six-cylinder, twin-cam, M104 2.8-litre engine, putting out just over 190bhp. Of course it’s no 500E, but at the same time it’s no slouch either, a nice balance between comfort, power and driveability. It’s so original it has all its warning stickers and original dealer stickers, it even has the original dealer MoT

This E280 bears very close inspection – even down to its under-bonnet stickers. It’s got quite a high spec...

FEATURE


I was recently invited to road test the brand new X-Class thanks to Sam and Russell Morgan and Ciceley

Commercials.The X-Class is a new departure for

Mercedes-Benz, in a fast growing market sector. With over 50,000 pick-ups sold in the UK alone last year, you can see why the boys from Sindelfingen wanted a slice of this very lucrative pie! The concept pictures promised much, with a pretty road based model and a bruising off-road version with large tyres and a winch. We got neither!

This latest Mercedes model was unveiled to the public and the world’s motoring press in Cape Town, South Africa in July 2017.

The project is a joint one, shared with Renault and Nissan, and is based on the Nissan Navara and the soon to be released Renault Alaskan. The ladder chassis is from the Navara, the motor is a Renault-sourced 2.3-litre turbo diesel with two power choices – single turbo 161bhp found in the X220d and twin turbo 187bhp fitted to the X250d. The flagship will be a Mercedes sourced three-litre V6 (praise the Lord),

released sometime this year. It is to be assembled at Nissan and Renault plants in France and Argentina.

Basically then, what we have here is a Nissan Navara rolled in glitter and demanding a six-grand premium over its DNA-matching siblings. Not a good start.

I must say I’m not too keen on this shared project malarkey. It saves money on type approval, (Fiat’s Fullback shares Mitsubishi’s engines etc) and might open up Far Eastern markets with the tie-in, but surely Daimler AG has the resources

X-Class by Paul Kelly


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TECHNICALCORNER


Even some specialist restorers would hesitate before they decided to tackle the restoration of a W100 – the mighty 600. This is

probably the most complicated car that Mercedes-Benz has ever built – certainly

W100 rebuild by Peter Hampson

it was well before the time of electronics, so all the special luxury touches rely on a fantastic system of hydraulics which, operating at 150 bar pressure (2,176psi), powers the windows, seats, sunroof, boot and revolutionary ‘soft’ door closing. A

6.3-litre V8 was needed as 50hp is required just to drive the hydraulics, leaving 250hp to power the actual car.

History of the 600The 600 was first introduced in 1963 with production ceasing in 1981. In total 2,677 cars were built in several different formats. Most common was the short wheelbase ‘Grosser’, a four-door saloon, of which 2,000 were made. It could be had with a divider (if a chauffeur was involved,) but most were owner-driver. The long wheelbase, of which 487 were built, had a divider and two extra rear facing seats backed onto the divider. There was also

Gary Mavers’ 600.

The interior before Gary started work. The state of the instruments.


SPARESREGISTERA FREE Service For ALL MEMBERS

FOR SALEBreaking W123 280 coupé; 1998 C250 CDI estate; 2000 W208 CLK

cabriolet; W124 300D multi-valve estate, good vented wing; W126 420SEL, good engine and box; W108 280SE. Parts off the shelf for W111 coupés and Fintails, W108, W123, W201 190 series, W124, W126, W202 C-Class and W210 E-Class. Please phone or text on 07710 672986 or e-mail [email protected] Dave West Yorkshire.

Workshop manuals, parts catalogues, special tools, owners’ handbooks and sales literature too numerous to list. These are all original (not reproductions), factory-printed books for all post-war models up to 1984. Contact me with your requirements. Geoff Marshall 07414 538004 [email protected]

Breaking W124 1989 300E Complete. 1989 W124 260E panels. 1985 W201 2.0 complete. 1990 W124 300D complete. Set of four wheels and tyres from SLK. Charlie 01787 461751 07909 171330 Essex.

Becker Mexico Radio/cassette, electronic 837, recently serviced. James 07593 993296 Co Durham.

W203 Four five-spoke alloy wheels, part number A2034010702. ET37. 7J x 16H2. Tyres good. £50, collection only, from Huntingdon. Michael 01487 710342 [email protected]

Mercedes-Benz detachable tow-bar Will fit ML, part number WDC1631132 A373020, comes with two brand new keys. £195 ono. Nigel Rooney 07936 151814 [email protected]

AMG/RIAL Fully refurbished 16-inch alloy wheels as fitted to the early AMG W126 S-Class saloons, SEC and options on R/C107. Genuine direct period replacements for steel or ‘Mexican Hat’ wheels, ready to fit with no modifications needed. Chris 01460 271749 [email protected]

R171 SLK Perspex full size, clear wind-deflector, from Just Roadster, brand new, £70. 2014 SLK Moltex water-proof and breathable car cover, size B (425 x 155 x 150) vgc £90 ono. Mr Albert Johns 01179 564335 [email protected]

W114/115. Shed, full to overflowing, including engine, chrome, interior/exterior trim, glass, panels, bonnet, boot-lid (saloon), electrics, wheel rims, lights, dashboard... I may have just what you need. [email protected] 01485 570286 King’s Lynn, Norfolk.

W202 C-Class 1993-2000 Witter tow-bar plus attachments and electrics for W202 £30. Two wing mirrors – shell only, no mirror. Buyer must collect. Jon 020 8691 8539 [email protected]

R107 SL Overall tailored cover, light blue with dark blue piping, includes soft-top protection cover and bag. Cost £250 from the SL Shop. Perfect condition £150. 07980 311106 shawbatchford@btopen world.com Worcestershire.

1997 W210 E230 Elegance estate Breaking for spares, good wings, engine and gearbox. Mike 07733 221592 (evenings) Southampton.

1992 W124 300D Brand new Behr radiator, has been dropped in transit but professionally repaired. Might fit other models without air conditioning. Can send e-mail pictures. £35. Collection only. Roy Jackson 07834 340347 [email protected] London outskirts.

W111 saloon Front, right-hand (off-side) double-decker bumper section, very good condition, original chrome, no dents or scrapes. Can e-mail photos. £250. 01992 302238 [email protected] Hertford.

R230 SL Set of four wheels, good condition, four excellent tyres £450. Will also fit R129 and other models. 07793 718007 [email protected]

Sales brochures R107 1985-89 £25. R129 SL (hardback) £25. Limited Edition covering Atlantic, Almandine and Silver Arrows £10. R230 SL (hardback) £20. R170 SLK (face-lift edition) £20. R171 SLK £15. W201 190E £10. W202 C-Class £5. All prices include post (within UK) and packing. Michael 01932 245711.

W208 CLK cabriolet Mesh deflector screen in zip cover, little used VGC (cost new £660) £300 ono. Alec 01297 624191 Devon.

Book By Brian Long on 2004-11 W171 SLK, as new £25 plus post and packing. Price list for 2004 SLK £5 plus post and packing. Albert 01179 564335 [email protected]

W215 CL 2003-06 Owner’s manual, crease on front and back cover, Comand manual, Linguatronic instructions and CD, in wallet, no damage or marks £25 including UK post and packing. Derek 01225 864570 [email protected]

W126 300SE Nearside headlamp lens, Bosch H4 MA002 826 54 90, boxed, unused, new cost £49 will take £30. Set of four dark blue over mats, used, good condition £20 ono. Driver’s rubber mat, used £5. Alec 01297 624191 Devon.

Set of four Pirelli tyres Nearly new, including good condition five-spoke alloys, 195/65 x R15 £275. Aslam 07951 251363 [email protected] London.

Approximately 470 Mercedes brochures Send two second class stamps for list. Also many Mercedes books and other motor books, magazines etc. Alec Duncan, 4 Albion Close, Seaton, Devon EX12 2XS.

R107 Supertex indoor cover in red £40 plus postage. Over Voltage Protection relay, bought used but working. New window switch. Mike Griffith 07900 431617 [email protected]

Free magazines Many hundreds of back copies of the Gazette, Mercedes Enthusiast, Classic Mercedes, Star (MB Club USA) dating back over 20 years. New owner collects (north east Hampshire), otherwise bonfire. Mark 07977 401134.

R107 SL Original Mercedes-Benz nearside front wing in very good condition, used but no dents or rust, in primer ready to paint and fit, collection only (due to size and easy to damage) from Yorkshire/Lancashire border £200.00. Tony 07552 922400 [email protected]

W113 Air louvre grille surround, new indicator switch, used speedo head (MPH but left-hand-drive), headlamps and covers, rear lamp lenses and surrounds, rev counter and fuel gauge. David 01773 835462 [email protected]

W203 saloon Pair of Mercedes-Benz Alustyle basic roof carrier bars to fit C-Class from 2000 to 2007, good condition, complete with instructions and keys £50. Charles 0141 639 4457 [email protected] Glasgow.

Set of four brand new Dunlop tyres 245/55 R17. Bought by mistake, still got the label marks and guide lines on them. Paid £160 each for them will accept £560 for the set ono. Buyer collects. Eric 01933 413823 [email protected]

W124 AMG 3-style GRP rear bumper by AIK in Latvia. Suits face-lift cars – coupé, saloon and cabriolet. New, unused. Cost over £200 with delivery – will take £99 only. Photos available. Jude 07981 062374 [email protected] Surrey.

W116 Six door glasses. mixed front and rear. Gary [email protected]

W203 C-Class roof bars For 2000-2006 saloon, original Mercedes. Load factor quoted as 100kg, 146cm long with locks and keys. Previously used on 2005 saloon. £40 if collected from Hampshire or will post at cost. [email protected] or text 07884 353877.

Becker Map Pilot Sat-nav cartridge. Used in my 2012 C-Class. Fits into slot in glove compartment and works off screen. Can be updated on PC. Cost new £495, will sell for £100, postage included. [email protected]

W136 170V Pair of front wings, good condition. Please phone for price. Also W136 engine. Mr Kay 01442 215254 Hemel Hempstead.

W124 Estate tow-bar assembly, original MB with ball (no electrics) £25. Set of Thule roof bars £20. W113 or R/C107 6.5 x 14 Mexican hat (bundt) wheel £45. 07427 026012 or [email protected] Torquay.

WANTED SLK320 or 230 Kompressor In any condition although preferred running

as engine and running gear required for project. No MoT required and bodywork could be damaged. David 07904 283060 [email protected]

W115 230/4 saloon Front bumper rubber insert part number 115 885 0421 or 114 885 0121. Bob Brown 020 8393 2638 Epsom.

W210 1990 E-class estate Good doors and front wings, will travel to collect, must be in fair to good condition. Raymond Muszynski 0131 226 6563 [email protected] Edinburgh.

W124 300D 1992-93 Factory workshop manual and wiring diagrams (not Haynes). Also any air conditioning information. Gary 07766 798358 or 01484 422085.

1993 W140 300SEL Boot floor panel to weld and replace my car’s rusty boot floor panel. Also a vacuum pump for the soft-close door mechanism. Ahmed 07956 569116 [email protected]

W123 CE tow-bar attachment With or without electrics. Kelly 07900 676433 [email protected] Northern Ireland.

2001 SLK320 SLK slatted front grille AMG? As pictured in Forum report of March 2018. Terry 01566 773844.

All Spares Register entries should be limited to 40 words maximum and sent to Bob Coxshall, 55 The Avenue, Bengeo, Hertford SG14 3DS to arrive by the 26th of the month preceding publication. All correspondence should be by post or e-mail to [email protected] In emergencies only, telephone 01992 302238.

REGIONALREPORTS


It is very exciting that we are heading towards Anglia – North’s flagship event, Ely Cathedral Family Day. Last year we had a phenomenal turnout of vehicles from all over the country and as far south as Dorset to bask in beautiful sunshine in the shadow of the wonderful Ely Cathedral.

Ely Cathedral car display and picnic – Saturday June 9

We always pride ourselves in hosting events which can be equally enjoyed by families and couples as well as by car enthusiasts. You don’t have to be interested in cricket to enjoy the spectacle at the Oval or Lords, and you can go one step further at Ely by being part of a spectacle as opposed to being a spectator.

If Ely Cathedral Green is the cake then our cars are the icing on it, carefully spread across the whole delicious confection, adding the flavour for the day. And what a day this will be, with over 100 cars invited onto the green, parked according to their regions with historic cars facing the cathedral itself. Last year, there were Pagoda SLs, 190SLs, 300SLs and even George Harrison’s former SEL, as well as a selection of other models from the 1940s right up to the latest.

There is no age limit at this event and you are all invited to take part and enjoy all that Ely has to offer, from the beautiful riverside to Oliver Cromwell’s House, a wonderful

Scenes from Ely in 2017.

high street with its interesting shops, cafés and restaurants and of course Ely Cathedral itself and the stained glass museum.

To apply for a place at this event (which is on a, first-come, first-served basis), please contact Roger Hinton ([email protected] or 01603 741989). The cost will be £9 per person and this includes entry to the cathedral (there is a concession for over 60s reducing this to £6). This year you can either bring a picnic or enjoy lunch at one of the local, excellent restaurants, tea rooms or pubs. Places are limited so please get in touch with Roger as soon as possible.

Caister Castle Classic Car Collection (and lunch) – Saturday May 19

Its less than pristine 300SL.

Terry and Christine Boby’s 220 cabriolet B next to the ex-George Harrison’s SEL.

The article about Caister Castle and its car collection by Paul Kelly in the February Gazette was an excellent advertisement for this event. Caister Castle’s is said to be one of the largest private collections of vehicles in the UK and has an eclectic and interesting range of cars, including what Paul described as a very tatty 300SL Gullwing, which is worth seeing because most Gullwings are so well restored they

look better than when they came out of the factory.

Gangsters’ cars, bubble cars, classic cars and vintage cars – all on our doorstep! Followed by a sumptuous lunch. The entry fee is £15 per person but we expect to get a 10 per cent discount on this. We will meet at 9.30am at the Boathouse, Ormsby Broad for coffee and where we will also return for

The Caister Museum.

ANGLIA – NORTH

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