MB Spares Newsletter No.145
April 2018 The end of an era.
As most of our Newsletter subscribers will know we have had both our spare parts business and workshop on the market for some time. Whilst it was announced in in early November last year, we had been marketing the business for some time before that. Being a very specialised business does limit the marketing base for such a sale and to date we have not been successful.
As of the 29th of March 2018 we will be winding down our
spare parts business and concentrating on our workshop and restoration
business. No new enquiries for spare parts will be quoted, however will be
honouring any quotes done in the last three months and completing the many
orders that are currently in progress.
This will come as a shock to some of our more regular
customers, to whom we are very grateful for your loyalty over the years. Being
a small family business operating in an extremely specialised market, we have
realised just how lucky we were to have had the services of some of our key
staff over the years. Our efforts to find replacement staff with the required
skill set have been challenging to say the least, especially with the knowledge
that we were doing our best to sell the business. Over 24 years we have managed
to successfully support many Australasian Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts helping
them restore and then enjoy either their classic or everyday Mercedes-Benz. But as they say in the classic’s “all good
things must come to an end”.
The market for spare parts is growing in unison with the
ever expanding range of new Mercedes-Benz models, add this to the current surge
in the classic car market and the additional increase in demand is beyond us.
Our health and sanity are not worth a few extra oil filter sales and we wish to
have more time to persue our own interests.
Whilst we have now effectively closed down the spare parts
arm of the business, the
intellectual property is still for sale and would be a great kick starter
to anyone interested in moving into the industry.
The workshop is business as usual, we are still booked out
around a month in advance with work coming in from all over Australia and look
forward to offering a better level of service to our workshop customers.
John & Sandra Green.
Birth of a legend.
On the 29th of March 1968 the world was
introduced to the 300SEL 6.3, the crazy marriage of the 300SEl and the M100.
The following is from the Mercedes-Benz classic press release:
Mercedes-Benz caused a
sensation 50 years ago today at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1968 with the
300 SEL 6.3 (W 109). Because the Stuttgart brand’s V8-powered top-of-the-range
luxury model delivered the performance of a sports car: acceleration from 0 to
100 km/h in 6.5 seconds, and a top speed of 220 km/h, was outstanding at the
time. Not to mention the extensive standard equipment and the inimitable
comfort of a Mercedes-Benz.
The 300 SEL 6.3
originated as an idea by Mercedes-Benz test engineer Erich Waxenberger. In the
1960s he recognised the potential of the V8 engine in the Model 600 for the W
109 series. Initially without the knowledge of the head of passenger car
development, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, he constructed a test car. Uhlenhaut could not
be kept in the dark for long, however: sitting in his office, he heard the
subdued growl of the prototype’s engine as it passed by, and immediately summoned
Waxenberger for a report – whereupon he consented to further development work.
Those who knew Uhlenhaut could imagine him smiling discreetly as he signed the
official development order.
Workshop jobs
Rather fittingly the last classic Mercedes-Benz that we have
finished a mechanical overhaul on was a 300SEL 6.3 for a local Canberra customer.
13 years of storage saw the usual items
fail, mainly rubber and nylon components, of which the 300SEL 6.3 has plenty.
Other jobs included getting a 1958 220S back on the road
after a few years storage. We are still progressing with the 190SL and the
300d.
You can follow the progress of what we are doing on our Facebook page.
Cars for sale
Two of the MB Spares & Service long term fleet are now
for sale. Our ML270 and our R320CDI. A little embarrassingly they have both
been replaced one car. A Ford Everest 😊.
The ML270 is a very unique vehicle with plenty of options
including the ultra rare TJM alloy bulbar. You
can check it out here.
The R320CDI has been our family car for the last four years
offering faithful service and ready to move onto another family. It is not
quite ready for sale, but will be listed
here when ready.
Our Sydney associates also have a range of cars for sale,
which are listed on the website.
Takata airbags.
Yes, there are some Mercedes-Benz models that have the
airbags currently under an urgent recall. You can use this link to
check if your car has one.
So that’s it for this Newsletter, stay safe and enjoy your Benz.
John and Sandra Green.
