What to do with a 1965 Mercedes 190...

So,

I am in Omaha visitiung the in laws until Sunday. I love my in laws, but its three sisters and I can only talk fashion for so long before I start sounding stupid. Father in law is just awesome, but I am also not into sports and its the playoff for Hockey and Basketball as well as the college world series. I present limited interest as well.

So, I um "accidentally" bid on this;

1965 Mercedes 190

and less than two hours out, it looks like I might win. The car is 15 minutes away and I have until Sunday to figure out how I am getting it to Colorado, and what the hell I am gonna do with it.

I am off to dinner now, and the trouble I am in with the missus will reduce if I act like I have a plan. For transport if I can't rig it to run, I am thinking U-Haul with tow dolly. Then maybe rolling resto. But you're a smart lot, and have done many things that are dumber, so what ya got for sugesstions?

Pay just the shipping costs and I'll send you my 1965 Mercedes 190 parts "collection" that's cluttering up my garage?

Impulse buy??? I love those. I came >this< close to buying a 1969 Winnebago last Saturday for $400.00 but I couldn't figure out how to hide it in the yard. My wife would NOT understand...

The part of that eBay listing that got me was this: "This was my late son's car and was going to be his restoration project." Whatever you end up doing with it, Retrieval Day is something you'll want to get through quietly and respectfully.

So looks like you got some splainin to do Lucy.

Rock on! That car ooozes cool IMO.

Let's see ... $2010 - $202 = Lots of money for go-fast stuff.

Is that a diesel fintail? I love the look of the older benz.

Good luck and start saving your money now!

Stealthtercel wrote: The part of that eBay listing that got me was this: "This was my late son's car and was going to be his restoration project." Whatever you end up doing with it, Retrieval Day is something you'll want to get through quietly and respectfully.

You are quite right, noted, thanks for the reminder.

wherethefmi wrote: So looks like you got some splainin to do Lucy.

Umm yep. Looks like I am eurotrash again.

M030 wrote: Pay just the shipping costs and I'll send you my 1965 Mercedes 190 parts "collection" that's cluttering up my garage?

Email me, we need to talk after I figure a way to get this heap to Colorado.

Expect another post with that adventure. I feel like a dumbass, but at least here you all understand.

I must admit, $2010 Challenge is also quite tempting.

More importantly how does household 6 feel about it?!?

Edit: So we have a Burn Notice fan in the house I see

so, uhmm......what did the misses say?

her exact words please.

Babe rally car, damn that's an awesome babe car, get a team together and split the cost.

aussiesmg wrote: Babe rally car, damn that's an awesome babe car, get a team together and split the cost.

MMMMMM, me likey!

Yeah, the missus is annoyed, but I'm very blessed. Its that "This is what you do eye roll" kinda annoyed, rather than "Sleep on the couch" kinda mad. So I will dutifully act meek, she will pretend I am serious and then listen to me prattle on about how cool it will be.

So, went to pay for it. Quite a nice fellow. Older man, 3 Model As in the driveway, somewhere an old Triumph Bonnie under a tarp. Lots of odds and ends, the rear clip to a new Corvette hanging from the rafters.

Any illusion about driving it are gone, hopefully I can get a hitch on the wife's Mazda and get a trailer. I have 24 hours.

this 24 will be better than lemans!!!

Grtechguy wrote: so, uhmm......what did the misses say? her exact words please.

We are sitting around the dining room table Friday night. This is one of my favorite things about my in laws. They are a very traditional family in the sense of their relationships. We sit around the table, watch TV and now watch and play with the niece's and nephews. The girls prattle on. So I am on brother in laws Mac on the kitchen table and I am on Ebay, because I have searched craigslist and the $2K9 classifieds enough today. I find said mercedes and mention to the wife I want to bid on it (I really didn't expect to win.) She speaks to the youngest sister; "See what I have to deal with" and they both laugh. I point out that is not an actual NO, and I that I am gonna bid on it. She laughs again and says whatever. "OK, I am bidding...I am about to bid..I just bid."

"When does the action end?" "Just under 2 hours." "You have a plan to get it home?" "Um...you look beautiful"

We head to dinner, and a few beers. Get home about 2. We wind down and as I crawl into bed, I remember the auction. I get up and head when she asks where I am going. "I gotta go check on something.." She gives me her version of the Marge Simpson groan, because she remembered

Oh crud. Crawl back into bed, try to go to sleep; "Well?" "I..um..won" "What?! How much?" "$202.50" "Chris Ward!" "I love you." Simpson groan.

The next morning she wakes me up with; "I can't believe you bought a car." The "another" is implied. But it is still kinda good natured. I spent the morning sucking up. She wanted a plan for how to get it back, we are having a hitch installed on her CX 9, which she needed anyway, and renting a car hauler. I am still getting good natured affection rejects of "Don't touch me." Before yeilding to a peck on the cheek or pat on the butt.

If you are looking for a magic formula I don't have it. It helps that these kinds of folly of mine are usually just a few hundred, and that she was in a pretty good mood from being with family. This will not be the end of it, and for the next two months, any purchase I want will be met with "you already spent that money." But she's a very patient woman.

Bottom line, I'm a blessed guy.

Mine exchanges cloth diaper purchases for well....... I get away with a lot too.

Mental wrote: She wanted a plan for how to get it back, we are having a hitch installed on her CX 9, which she needed anyway

"which she needed anyway"

she = the car, or she = the wife? I had to LOL.

forgot to add:

Needs Moar LS1!

I'm wrestling with that one.

It's a cool car. But rusted to hell. The son actually passed in a boating accident 10 years ago the couple came to grips with the need to let it go. Its all original, but will need a ton of welding.

Here's the bigger thing. I need to just finish one friggin thing. I probably should not have bought it, but I did. I have a garage full of bikes that all need one little thing or another. The last time I got a car finished for the challenge was 2005. I had a part in a Lemons effort in 7, but since then no less than 6 projects, either resto, $2KX challenges have passed through my garage, and in all but 2 cases, went to the junkyard.

For a guy that has worked for the same "company" for the past 18 years, been with the same woman for 10, I have very little deadication. Its very annoying. Just coming home from paying for the thing, I have concieved a 1/2 dozen different courses of action. I'm still not sure what I am gonna do, but I have to just finish something.

I mean, I'm an amatuer, and compared to some of you guys, I am not even that, but I should really have enough gumption to ever finish one of these pie in the sky projects? If I end up with this one, disassembled in my garage, and haul it to the junkyard, that may very well be the end for me. Just give it up, buy a Honda and become a bolt-on boy.

Of course, I could have picked a better time. 71/2 bikes, getting a house ready to rent, moving in Sept as well as the same professional obligations we all face.

Having typed that, I realize to the lot of you it sounds like whining, and it is. I just need to make some kinda of public proclimation. I have to finish this car. Rolling resto, Babe rally, $2K10, something. I gotta do something.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxz0pxF900k&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXd4liZ6Io8&feature=related

You should do something like the above with it, but maybe with a OM617 diesel and a floor shift 4 speed.

Doesn't sound like whining to me, sounds like there's a lot on your plate and sometimes automotive stuff gets put on the back burner. Free time is not Free.

Mental wrote: but I should really have enough gumption to ever finish one of these pie in the sky projects? If I end up with this one, disassembled in my garage, and haul it to the junkyard

This is exactly how I ended up with a big pile of W110 Mercedes parts in my garage. Got one for free... Bought a parts car... stripped the parts car, started working on the "good" one... Hey! An early Porsche 912 for $3000!! And it comes with a parts car Beetle - I really need that solid pan for my Beetle! (click, bid; click, bid...) Uh oh. What the hell am I going to do with that old Mercedes that looks like a Rambler now!? I need garage space.

I ended up giving the "good" one to a trade school and junking the parts car. My wife is patient too