[mramay]

With a heavy heart, I sent the FrankenBenz to a salvage facility. I've had this car since 1996 and (mostly) loved it. We won't talk about timing chain replacements and that first lower ball joint work. With some friends, we stripped her down to a mere shell. Couldn't figure out how to remover the sunroof motor, and left that 25 year old radio and speakers in it, but not much else left. Couldn't figure out how to get the windshield wipers off of it. Probably should have taken the windshield wiper motor assembly. Got all the keyed parts - steering column, doors, trunk lock, and even the glove box door.

An SEC weighs about 3850 pounds ready to go, the shell weighed 1612 pounds. Yep, my one car garage / parts storage locker has LOTS of parts in it. Bought the car for $21,000, sold the shell for $21.

Sad day, but my Lift is now available for my 560SEL and my other 560SEC. With a new AC unit in the garage, I expect my other SEC buddies here in Las Vegas will be over here shortly. 104F outside yesterday, 76F in the garage.

If anyone needs something, I'll see if I have it for you. While the FrankenBenz is gone, her parts will keep other SECs going.

 

[ianrandom]

Aaw. I get too attached to cars myself.

 

[slownrusty]

Sad to see another go to the crusher.

 

[AxelWulff]

Sorry to hear of the FrankenBenz's demise, but some projects just grind you down until you're out of options.

 

[luckymike]

With a heavy heart, I sent the FrankenBenz to a salvage facility. I've had this car since 1996 and (mostly) loved it. We won't talk about timing chain replacements and that first lower ball joint work. With some friends, we stripped her down to a mere shell. Couldn't figure out how to remover the sunroof motor, and left that 25 year old radio and speakers in it, but not much else left. Couldn't figure out how to get the windshield wipers off of it. Probably should have taken the windshield wiper motor assembly. Got all the keyed parts - steering column, doors, trunk lock, and even the glove box door.

An SEC weighs about 3850 pounds ready to go, the shell weighed 1612 pounds. Yep, my one car garage / parts storage locker has LOTS of parts in it. Bought the car for $21,000, sold the shell for $21.

Sad day, but my Lift is now available for my 560SEL and my other 560SEC. With a new AC unit in the garage, I expect my other SEC buddies here in Las Vegas will be over here shortly. 104F outside yesterday, 76F in the garage.

If anyone needs something, I'll see if I have it for you. While the FrankenBenz is gone, her parts will keep other SECs going.


View attachment 2636258

I've got to say, these cars even look awesome on a flatbed being towed away.

 

[Deplore]

Your tow truck driver has no problem dragging an empty shell onto the bed and taking it, meanwhile mine complains if the steering is too hard to turn, and doesn't even bother to show up if the car has anything less than 4 wheels.

 

[mramay]

Your tow truck driver has no problem dragging an empty shell onto the bed and taking it, meanwhile mine complains if the steering is too hard to turn, and doesn't even bother to show up if the car has anything less than 4 wheels.

I explained it to the dispatch guy so that when the truck showed up it wasn't a surprise. I had it on four of the wheel dollys, which helped for about five feet, then we took them out from under the car and he just dragged it up on the flatbed.

 

[nugent]

 

[liviu165]

With a heavy heart, I sent the FrankenBenz to a salvage facility.

Never an easy decision to make, but you're not alone, brother.

 

[magicbigdaddy]

Been there as well

 

[AxelWulff]

Been there as well
View attachment 2636727 View attachment 2636728

Mmmmm… vinyl roof!

I can accept a vinyl roof on a 70's Jaguar XJC, mainly because they all came from the factory with one, but on an SEC it's a hard no.

 

[jsebastian]

Very sorry to hear! I was wondering if there was a "straw that broke the camel's back moment" for you?

 

[mramay]

Spent forever trying to get rid of the bumpsteer brought on by trying to use a rack n pinion setup. Thought I had it, welded it all together, found the bumpsteer worse. @#$%^&*
Probably should have just welded in a Mustang II front suspension piece. The LS6 engine hit the MB steering gearbox.