Mercedes 300TD – Phase 1 begins

Work is now underway on our 1984 Mercedes 300TD. We first looked at the car back in October 2016 in a view to carrying out a sympathetic restoration. To freshen up the paintwork, improve the overall appearance and protect the exposed areas for many more miles and years to come.

As we reported back in October, the car is a US import, having spent the majority of it’s life in California. Whilst over in the states damage had occurred to the offside front which resulted in the wheel alignment not being right.

Our first job is to investigate the issues and to correct anything that needs rectifying. Once we are happy with this we’ll be able to concentrate on the rest of the bodywork and get her prepared ready for paint.

Here we have the very first pictures of the car arriving with us ready for the work to commence:

As part of phase 1. the Mexican TopHat wheels will also be fully refurbished; stripped back and powder coated.

The chrome work is in very good condition still.

Our objectives are to restore her to a standard that does not lose the character of the car. This vehicle has bags of personality and we want this to remain. Replacing all of the chrome with new, losing everything that shows off the age would be too much.

Once the body has been prepared and painted we will once again assess the finer detail; the chrome work, the plastics etc. A final decision will then be made as to whether to refit, replace or repair.

…The front grille will be replaced with new.