Been looking forward to sharing this with you guys, been busy with life nice to sit down for a few hours and upload some pics
Last year i was looking at widebody sec’s online and I was hit with a realization that chances are - I probably just was not going to ever own one and those internet pictures were going to be it for me. It did get me on the lookout again for an sec considering I’d settled into Chicago and life was in a groove again and I had the itch.
Late last year I got a text from a car buddy from Instagram asking for advise on a 560sec he was going to look at. I literally stopped in my tracks when I read the next text saying it was a widebody. um. widebody, really? I text back saying "send pics now!” This is what I received back
I told him everything I knew to look for and got added advise from Bob on here who I had met at a Chicago Benz meet earlier in the year.
My buddy ended up buying the car and from that day forward I set about trying to make a deal with him - it felt like this was the reason I sold my '91 560sec and I chased after it hard.
1-2 months after he bought it we made a deal. It had spent most of its time at his mechanic getting the once over until I had a truck pick it up and bring it to Chicago
Had it delivered to my work just before Christmas. Driver did a great job parking it...
You’ll notice the non-widebody front bumper
First night in Chicago
Out for 1st drive. No chance for a wash yet
Stored for the winter
She's still in storage due to pull it out in the next few weeks
Thanks. I have a thorough list of things it needs and a solution for front bumper is included. I am open to both routes as a solution.
First 2 priorities are replacing fuel lines (safety first) and other mechanical needs.
1. Fuel lines. Received all new rubber fuel line parts last week
2. Rear SLS. Will adjust the height on rear also, sitting too high currently and rear ride is harsh. New accumulators going in, MB fluid and filter arrived last week.
It has all new fluids otherwise, new shocks up front, new tires and it had a few other miscellaneous needs taken care of just before my purchase
I was pretty excited to see it still wore the widebody pentas. In addition to the wheels it has the AMG trunk spoiler and widebody panels, that is all the AMG parts. I have yet to check the cams as it's still in storage but so far mechanically it appears to be US Spec 560
The widebody panels are stamped AMG and the rear quarters are steel.
I tracked down the oldest previous owner in Virginia and he said he bought the car from a Police auction in 1989/1990. He advised the panels, wheels, spoiler and Nardi wheel were on it when he purchased it. I guess some guy in '88 had a lot of money to get it all kitted out and got busted for something.
I have service history that traces it from that point to today so about 98% of it's life. I have no paperwork of what shop did the widebody.
Here is a bad picture of the front fender AMG stamp
More tasty pics of Eds new Widebody just after he got it.
Great stablemate to the brilliant daily driver now with the weekend warrior WB cruiser it will be fun times ahead on the weekends - enjoy and keep the pics rolling in -
Perhaps Ed once you get the stance and front bumper sorted a photo shoot with both Mercs side by side would be great
bondavi I think you sleuthed this was the car I picked up right?
Had 1 morning before storage to take it to the DMV. slipped all over the place in that slop on the ground. CA plates were on just so I didn't drive a car with NO plates at all
Temp plates
Looks like its neglected in that pic above - I gave her a wash the next day and moved the boxes out of the way
I've been hanging to get on here and post it up properly but with a lot of work travel all over the place and my fiancé moving out from CA to Chicago and wedding planning I've been so busy! she's in new orleans on her bachelorette party this weekend so I've been able to come back down to earth and chill out
I've put about 45 miles on it since I bought it due to winter (it's stored at my buddies garage about 40 mins away - I live in the city)
can't wait to fire it up again and really drive it this summer
CONGRATS!! That thing only has 35k miles, that in itself is something else.
Recall there was a comment made that ALL wide bodies must have had engine upgrades. Maybe your car has an euro 10:1 or ECE under the US underpinnings, but either way you're miles and miles ahead with everything else.
Did the PO know what they had, I mean it sounds like you literally stole it!
Yes on the steel fender rears - you can see the fender lips are thicker and more pronounced - there's another one like it with steel rears here. Now dial that SLS and lower that rear butt proper :thumbsup:
Yes, the miles were an added bonus. I have full service history tracing those 35k miles and verified by the carfax also.
I've not heard the comment about needing an engine mod - but I guess we will see shortly. It drives nice but nothing that would lead me to think it's hotted up. 2nd gear start and the way it drives feels much like my last US 560sec. Albeit a little crisper most likely due to mileage
PO is a super nice guy and really learning a lot and getting involved in the Mercedes scene. I wish I was doing what he's doing in my early 20's. We've talked a lot about w108's as he picked one up last year and I passed on a lot of info based on my experience with my 280se.
Can't wait to get this thing sitting right - it's the most important aspect to the car's look no doubt
CONGRATS!! That thing only has 35k miles, that in itself is something else.
Recall there was a comment made that ALL wide bodies must have had engine upgrades. Maybe your car has an euro 10:1 or ECE under the US underpinnings, but either way you're miles and miles ahead with everything else.
Did the PO know what they had, I mean it sounds like you literally stole it!
Yes on the steel fender rears - you can see the fender lips are thicker and more pronounced - there's another one like it with steel rears here. Now dial that SLS and lower that rear butt proper :thumbsup:
I met a great guy that used to work at Westmont, he felt the way the fenders were done were different to how they did it at Chicago - PO was told it was done in Florida I believe
Congrats bud. Keeping a good car good in Chicago will be a challenge. Love that city but the cold weather is brutal.
Person who bought this car new must have been very rich. I hate associating cars with drugs, but this one screams drug dealer for some reason. It's just too vulgar for anyone earning honest money.
Today it's an icon. I'd love to travel back in time and hear people's reactions. I'd say most didn't know anything about it, but those who did, knew damn well what's up.
The owner I spoke to did mention it was a drug runner who had it taken away. It sure would have taken a big ol stack of money to get the work done. I think the element that stands out to me is the Gold Nardi and Gold pinstripe - seems very fitting for the 80s
Wow..great car! and congrats. The dark color does not detract from the non-widebody front bumper. With a paint correction your car would look amazing (hope you share some high res pictures). The picture where the car hauler parked it into mulch and over the curb perturbs me.
Congrats bud. Keeping a good car good in Chicago will be a challenge. Love that city but the cold weather is brutal.
Person who bought this car new must have been very rich. I hate associating cars with drugs, but this one screams drug dealer for some reason. It's just too vulgar for anyone earning honest money.
Today it's an icon. I'd love to travel back in time and hear people's reactions. I'd say most didn't know anything about it, but those who did, knew damn well what's up.
Wow..great car! and congrats. The dark color does not detract from the non-widebody front bumper. With a paint correction your car would look amazing (hope you share some high res pictures). The picture where the car hauler parked it into mulch and over the curb perturbs me.
Bondavi,
Hartmut Fiel told me that AMG never built a Widebody without Engine mods. Either in Germany, or elsewhere. Was also told the same thing by the owner of BHMA.
Alas, My Widebody Cabriolet has no documentation either, having been sold through a Police Impound Auction in Las Vegas. I feel lucky just to have one original key so I can lock it up!
Don't be fooled - the paint still needs a paint correction and the front quarter panel needs a repaint (I have a receipt showing the panel was repainted a few years ago and they didn't prep it too well, so it has some touch up over an area where the paint flaked off)
The gold pinstripe on close inspection is a sticker pinstripe however UNDERNEATH is a painted one.
yeah you know the feeling. made for a nice early xmas gift. I'm just lucky my fiance is supportive of my car addiction. she took off on a solo euro trip last year for 5 weeks so try and keep her doing the things she loves too.... edit: I would have joined her but 5 weeks is a little outside my yearly PTO! Lucky nurses
FINALLY I CAN SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THIS GREAT CAR!!! The more I heard about it the better it sounded. I know you had been looking for a replacement SEC for awhile , but you hit the mother load. I always say everything happens for a reason and put good Karma out there, good Karma will come your way! I am so glad you got this car you deserve it and I know it will be well taken car of and enjoyed for years to come.
Bob
FINALLY I CAN SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THIS GREAT CAR!!! The more I heard about it the the better, I know you had been looking for a replacement SEC for awhile , but you hit the mother load. I always say everything happens for a reason and put good Karma out there good Karma will come your way! I am so glad you got this car you deserve it and I know it will be well taken car of and enjoyed for years to come.
Bob
Thanks Bob. The feeling I got when I went and started her up for a mid winter spin around the block was pretty neat. She fired right up after sitting about 8 weeks - she idles really nice (better than my last one) and it feels good to be back in a w126
Parts are already accruing in the apartment. It is a sickness fellas
The burning question is - sub $20k steal? If so, you certainly did very, very well.
A 35k mile stock 560SEC would have fetched close to that, if not more and this widebody seems to have fallen under the radar of a few people out there who have been looking for one. :thumbsup:
yes you can easly paint that car and flip for atleast double over here in europe minium,
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