1974 mercedes 280 Bad grampa

I have been a fan of the magazine for years but decided after i got one of my dream cars id share as i go what im doing to it. it is a 1974 w114 mercedes benz 280 i bought it from a family that of what they told me had owned it for three generations got it for $1500 which i feel is not bad.

first pic of when we got it

so first thing i did was i scored some 16x8 inch rial mesh wheels at the yard $140 i cleaned them up and put them on the car

mounted and on with 205-55-16 tires

from there since i didnt think it looked bad ass enough i sourced out a volvo 240 lip from the yard $25

i tryied some yellow tint for the fogs this is how it looked but since then its been removed wasnt liking how it looked blacked out the grill insert black as well

some additional photos from bumpers being flushed and the tails being completely painted red

deleted my ac since it locked up buddy of mine wanted the old stuff gave me $80 more than what scrap would of been

so some may say what i did next ruined this car but if you where here in person the paint is no where near as nice in areas as it looks in pic whom ever painted it did a very bad job rust holes filled with bondo, improper prep before painting meaning no primer and painting over rust causing blistering paint so i did the trunk and hood with black rustoleam chalkboard paint plus my son can have fun drawing things on it

i will plan to post more soon currently trying to see about upgrading the brakes and suspension ive been hearing i can go slotted rotors in the front froma 1992 mercedes and calipers from a 1980 benz to give me a slight upgrade looks like ill be junk yard hopping to snag and trial fit things. ill be needing to do the shocks in the front the backs have been done and it brought the back down a bit with out modifying any of the spring im hopping that i can lower the front to be even with the back. I was thinking maybe get the w115 4 cylinder front springs to run on the front to lower it some. In my mind i would think 4 cylinders in a inline six car it would lower it but dont hurt to try it junkyard only wants $50 for the front springs but like i said updates will be posted as i go and do more

Here it's more of how well you did it rather than what you did. So far, nice job. Looking forward to the progress.

We are fans of you working on your car, looks like fun!

One of my best friends had a 73 W114 280 in high school (late 80s). It was good for 110 mph all day long and would go down the road as straight as an arrow. Fun car.

thanks for the positive responses i love this car and with each day i love it more and get lots of thumbs up and complements where ever i go

This opinion might be even more controversial but I would take the chalkboard paint over the whole thing. I know flat black is very 2010 but it, to me, looks like you got some replacement panels and just threw them on. The whole thing flat black would be cohesive and cool

I think it would look good if you continued the black on the front and rear panels and the cowl, too! Maybe even the rockers.

Flat black the grill surround too, looks off now with a black hood.

Paint it with the chalkboard paint, let the kids draw pics on it, then clear coat, ART CAR!

I'd scrape that decal off of the rear window personally. I've no prim and proper guy myself either, but that's pretty over the top.

Cousin_Eddie wrote: I'd scrape that decal off of the rear window personally. I've no prim and proper guy myself either, but that's pretty over the top.

I do agree about scraping off the first half of the decal myself. Leave the "Classy" part. Just didn't want be the first to say that.

well sticker is off now will have pics once its not raining. but some pics of interior which i will clean this weekend also installed so speakers in center console since car only had one working speaker also ordered new stickers for the rear quarter windows

In reply to Iusedtobefast:

i am considering doing the rest of the car in the paint once i finish the other bodywork and welding where the rust is

blinks240sx wrote:

Now these I could deal with.

so todays update got some non sealed headlights from a friend in trade for some volkswagen parts i had laying around one screw for the lights was not very easy to get out no idea how it got as bent as it was

will be having pics hopefully later of some rust repair that is due to be done

well we did some rust repair and patch job for the mean time till i get cash to buy the floor pan still need to paint but going to wait till i shave some things and fix some other areas

we welded before we did fiberglass

not pretty of a patch job but will do till i order the floor pan

bondo skim

i may under coat the floor pans till i get the new floor pans

need to sand it down and paint soon

well been a few days since i posted not much has changed still fixing rust in spots here and there. i got my respect your elders stickers in which will be on the car soon. open for ideas on colors to go possibly when body work is finished was thinking to be cheap just go black but hate how black shows everything if bodywork is not perfect so considering other color ideas till i have more cash to go and repaint it all

ok everyone havent really did much but this past weekend went out to watch an auto-x event and one of are friends decided to do some pics of the benz so i figured i would share i was not expecting it so car was dirty

dont mind the chalk on the trunk my son enjoyed himself a little to much

i also have found a color i think i may be choosing to do the car its kind of an blueish green maybe once i get a pic ill load it

if anyone is interested im selling this things have come up and i need to let it go

http://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/5618459442.html

Wish you were closer, I'd buy that in a New York minute.