Spike's Boxing Day Sales Merc

[spike60]

On the run up to Christmas I went to see an old Merc, made an offer, got knocked back and received a text counter offer. Then on Boxing Day when I was in the area i texted back and we batted back and forth for a couple hours until he accepted my final offer.

 

This is it!

 

It's a 1985 SEC 500 Lorinser, same family for 30 years, garaged for 20 years, off the road for 15 years but with a current MOT.

Yesterday I went up to collect it and had minor chew trying to tax it, but other than slightly sticky rear caliper

 had a pleasant run back for about 30 miles until......

 

About halfway back it decided that was quite enough for it's first trip in years and I coasted onto a slip road off the A19, engine dead. 10 minutes of checking fuses etc brought nowt so for the first time ever I called the AA. The shame! The Traffic wombles appeared pronto and I got a call saying it was priority so would be uplifted with the hour. It was.

  When we got back the bugger started instantly and sat idling beautifully!

So this it

 

It's got 120k, despite the badge is a 500, and is good original condition (I think), has minimal grot for a 34 year old car, is wet in the boot and rear footwell and has the central locking pump missing. 

I know nowt about Lorinser so I don't know if just wheels and a body kit or whether there's more to it, it's too low to drive onto my old ramps. I was told it was Lorinser from new and it has a matching spare, any info much appreciated.

 

 

 

Proper AS colours inside though I'd prefer black myself!

 

 

Working seat belt butlers, amusing for about 2 mins then a nuisance. God knows how they've survived.

 

Any thoughts on the cut out followed by refusal to restart then an hour later running fine are appreciated, at the mo I aim to replace pump relay, fuel pump and filter with pattern ones. Conking out not that much  of a surprise after it's long lie in.

[320touring]

Proper car - nicely bought!

[Jim Bell]

Thats just outstanding man.

 

The white lad off Miami Vice, Tom Selleck and Grace Jones would all look right at home in there.

 

I've got a jealous.

[loserone]

Lavly

[500tops]

HAWT

[bangernomics]

Coolest waiting for breakdown peeps of the year award goes to......

[timolloyd]

Could it be stale fuel that causing issues, given its minimal mileage?

 

Nice buy btw!

[Cavcraft]

Oh my days, what a buy.

[Jim Bell]

Have you tried having a shit in the carb?

[lanciamatt]

Crank sensor failing, common fault if fails when hot.?

[nacho man]

Wowzers that is ace!

[Timewaster]

Lovely car.

 

Do you have a bin that steering wheel would fit in?

[spike60]

Personally I don't think the wheel is a offensive as the wooden ones Ilot of Mercs this age seem to have. The standard one off my old 300SE would do fine for me.

[Timewaster]

Personally I don't think the wheel is a offensive as the wooden ones Ilot of Mercs this age seem to have. The standard one off my old 300SE would do fine for me.

True, it's not the worst I've ever seen...

[J-T]

THAT is immense

 

And do not bin that steering wheel, it absolutely suits the 1984 POWERFUL COMPANY DIRECTOR image

[AndyW201]

Gnnnh! Staggered 16" Lorinser LO wheels!!!! The best aftermarket Merc wheels of ever.

Yep, Lorinser were a big styling company. Mainly wheels bodykits and lowering kits. This beauty definitely has the kit and the wjeels. Will likely have got the springs as well when new.

[omegod]

Oh that's hot as hell, r.e. the leak I'd be checking under the rear screen from the inside for rot.

 

Lorinser where one of the better Merc tarter uppers and the parts are quite valuable, steering wheel circa £300 i'd hazard a guess 

[Matty]

A beaut.

[spike60]

Oh that's hot as hell, r.e. the leak I'd be checking under the rear screen from the inside for rot.

 

Lorinser where one of the better Merc tarter uppers and the parts are quite valuable, steering wheel circa £300 i'd hazard a guess 

Thanks, I've had a 126 saloon so am aware of some of the rot bits. I've been there, got the T etc for anti roll mounts under the battery and wishbone(?) mounts inside the front arches. This looks fine inside the boot as did my saloon but you can only check so much on somebodies wet gravel drive. Still not been under it, it's too low for ramps etc.

[Lord Sterling]

Wow. You have one of the cars of my dreams...

[spike60]

THAT is immense

 

And do not bin that steering wheel, it absolutely suits the 1984 POWERFUL COMPANY DIRECTOR image

i'll shatter the illusion when I hop out in my raggy joggers going to work at the dock!

[spike60]

Wow. You have one of the cars of my dreams...

And of mine too, back in the day. 

[Tamworthbay]

Wow! This late in the year and a contender for Best Buy of the year, what a cracker.

[sierraman]

You can now look like a South American crack dealer on Miami Vice. Get a pastel blue deconstructed linen sports jacket, don’t shave for a few days and pack an Uzi.

[omegod]

I've got to say it again it's frigging gorgeous, massively well done 

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Best bit for me is the velour, from the days when Merc charged £1500 for velour, same as leather . Although presumably a 500SEC would have had leather as stNdard.

Definitely the best 126 rims, too.

[anonymous user]

If they charged extra for velour and extra for leather what the hell was the standard trim, old potato sacks?

[Skizzer]

If they charged extra for velour and extra for leather what the hell was the standard trim, old potato sacks?

‘MB-Tex’ - so yes, close enough.

 

I do like an SEC, me. Well done sir.

[somewhatfoolish]

That steering wheel is heroically offensive, but is of a piece with the rest of the 1980s 'conspicuous consumption chic'. I'd start by whipping all the relays and fuses out, cleaning all the non-shiny bits until shiny then reinserting. This really needs to be accompanied with a double-brested suit(or a blazer with lairy buttons) and Gucci loafers. How much extra bunce did the captain of british industry who bought this shell out for the Lorinser bits over a standard ordinary SEC?

[cort16]

Lovely, great buy. Rare to see one it dog dick red too.