A long shot, but anyone know what happened to this SEC?

[slippery]

For some time now, I have been lusting after an immaculate/restored 560 SEC, but I want a certain 'look'. I know it probably isn't one that appeals to the purists, but I think it harks back to the days when there was such a car local to me that I lusted after, but couldn't afford at the time.

I recently came across this old Daily Wail article from another thread and right in the fore-ground is the silhouette of 'my' SEC, colour, de-chromed, lowered, subtle body-kit and nice wheels.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&...

Does anyone know if it got rescued? Can anyone identify the add-ons? Did any cars leave the factory de-chromed?

Feel free to post any lowered and de-chromed SEC porn you are in possession of!

[slippery]

Doing a bit more Googling, I found this...........





Prince Rainier of Monaco's own personal 500 SEC. He bought it new in 1983 and sent it for auction last year with only 8000kms on the clock. No idea if it sold or what it made.

[r129sl]

The Monaco car sold for a ton of cash, over 100,000Euros I seem to recall.

Your best bet is to find a good regular car and do a conversion project. A lot of AMG or AMG-replica parts are now available. The cars did not come from MB de-chromed and spoilered up and AMG was a separate tuning outfit in those days. Most UK AMG cars came through Strattons who did the work in house.

Now if you like the AMG cars, you'll love these:

Orient Red, my favourite: http://germancarsforsaleblog.com/mercedes-benz-500...


This BB thread is worth reading, too. It's hard not to love this guy's car nor to catch his infectious enthusiasm: http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w126-s-se-sec-sel-...




Finally, this is worth a look:
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/mbclub-projects/606...

[r129sl]

If you don't go down the widebody route, I expect it would be a fairly easy job to get one of these just so. More a matter of carefully dismantling, preparing, painting and reassembling than anything else. Front spoiler, side skirts, rear apron, wheels and exhaust are quite readily found.

[slippery]

Thanks! Whether it's an itch I'll ever get to scratch, who knows?!!
I do thankfully prefer the standard look as opposed to the wide body, so that would make life a bit simpler! Wouldnt one of these be great with a later 63AMG engine fitted, together with some updated suspension and brakes etc.? Now that would take things to a whole new level!

[r129sl]

Very difficult what with all of the electronic support those engines have. What has been done successfully is a transplant of the m119 32v DOHC V8 and the m120 48v DOHC V12. Both would require pretty serious commitment!



The DOHC AMG 6.0L cars put out 400hp anyway...

[iluvmercs]

Hi Stuart.

That SEC in the photo appears to have Lorinser alloys, so I would gess that is the body kit manufacturer, too. Althought the boot spoiler has a slight "Zender-look" about it.

Charles Ironside sold a 560SEC Lorinser with a full de-chrome many years ago, at the time being featured in Mercedes Enthusiast. A year or two ago it re-appeared on Ebay in a VERY sorry state. Not sure if it is the same car in article's photo, but CI's car was the same colour.
I don't think much of that car's yellow headlights though!

I doubt any SEC would have left the production line in a de-chromed state. I imagine that would be left to specialist orders from clients or for tuners to do.

Darren

[r129sl]

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...

[slippery]

r129sl said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...

Now that car doesn't do it for me at all. To me, some look just right and others just don't.

[slippery]

iluvmercs said:

Hi Stuart.

That SEC in the photo appears to have Lorinser alloys, so I would gess that is the body kit manufacturer, too. Althought the boot spoiler has a slight "Zender-look" about it.

Charles Ironside sold a 560SEC Lorinser with a full de-chrome many years ago, at the time being featured in Mercedes Enthusiast. A year or two ago it re-appeared on Ebay in a VERY sorry state. Not sure if it is the same car in article's photo, but CI's car was the same colour.
I don't think much of that car's yellow headlights though!

I doubt any SEC would have left the production line in a de-chromed state. I imagine that would be left to specialist orders from clients or for tuners to do.

Darren

I'm sure you'd love to see such a thing on the PHEA runs!

[stevevk]

Here's a pic a wide body 5.4

[slippery]

stevevk said:

Here's a pic a wide body 5.4

[dictys]

Here is a picture of my old one, it was sold to a guy in Reading eventually who painted it black, blacked out windows etc etc.......

[jith]

stevevk said:

Here's a pic a wide body 5.4

I'm not so sure about the wide body. Makes the car impractically wide to the point where you would have to be very careful in car parks, through entrances, narrow lanes, etc. But I seriously like the de-chromed look to the point where I might just do that with mine.

All SEC owners are aware of the chrome trims on the bumpers rusting through. I need to replace mine and the cost would actually be more than de-chroming the whole car!

J

[stevevk]

The 5.4 wide body is a totally different car, bigger wheels, lower, engines work, cams extractor, big pipe.....

[gerradiuk]

I am seriously contemplating one of these.

Important to me, handbrake on the right side, auto & easy in & out.
Just so stylish & low revs at 70 - 80 mph makes it a great thing to bumble about in.

Do these also suffer the rusty rear parcel shelf problem as the saloons ?

Also any other problems?

[slippery]

gerradiuk said:

Do these also suffer the rusty rear parcel shelf problem as the saloons ?

They do indeed.

[bmthnick1981]

dictys said:

Here is a picture of my old one, it was sold to a guy in Reading eventually who painted it black, blacked out windows etc etc.......

Pretty sure that's a Lorinser front skirt, seemed to be popular at the time.

[bmthnick1981]

Could make a nice project for you Slippery;

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Mercedes-560-SEC-W126-Coupe...

Even got the Lorinser wheels already! But... it is in Germany!

[slippery]

bmthnick1981 said:

Could make a nice project for you Slippery;

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Mercedes-560-SEC-W126-Coupe...

Even got the Lorinser wheels already! But... it is in Germany!

I started this thread a while back before I bought the TVR, so nothing will be happening just yet. The A8 is next in line to be replaced though and I think one of these, despite it's age, is robust enough to use as a daily. So it might happen yet.