As some of you will be aware Theresa and I have been accepted to compete in the 2013 Shitbox Rally.

Last year we drove from Melbourne to Cairns in a 1960 Vauxhall Victor and raised $6,000 for the Cancer Council in doing so. you can find out more about our journey here on the forum or take a look at the photos and videos on the Shitbox Rally website http://www.shitboxrally.com.au/  (we're featured in the day 5 video)

for 2013 we wanted some more comfort and speed, but something just as old and unusual. We found a 1965 Mercedes that fitted the bill perfectly. Off the road for a long time but reportedly a good runner. Complete, minimal rust, and cheap. It will also be the first car I've owned which has power steering and an automatic gearbox, fancy fancy!

So far I've put most of the chrome back on and gotten it nearly running, hopefully it'll be moving under it's own steam soon!









To support us in supporting the Cancer Council please donate a few (tax deductible) dollars at http://fundraise.shitboxrally.com.au/suuscruising  or contact me directly about sponsorship opportunities!

These are both a classic and robust. It should serve you well for the trip.

Yogie

Congrats for making the effort!

Looks like a decent old Merc

It's a solid old girl, the lovely 'thunk' of the doors makes me smile every time I work on it.

Frustrating day. Good mate came around and lent a big hand, Carbies stripped, cleaned and reassembled, fuelpump stripped and reassembled, timing checked, everything right to be a runner after a full day's work and the starter motor started to play up. Hoping for now it's just the tired old wiring going to it, but hail stopped play for the day. And to think this was meant to be the easier project than the Victor...

lol keep at it !!!!!
i loved your old thread
what colour is this one going to be? or have you got a theme for it?
btw keep this one high and dry

Definitely have no plans to put this one in the loading dock! A couple of 60's inspired colour themes are being considered, as well as some regal decoration, keeping reasonably tight-lipped until it's on teh road

Good one, wow upmarket! keepi'n fingers crossed with the starter and hope it's a goer!
$6,000 for cancer council! must be a great reward!

"It will also be the first car I've owned which has power steering and an automatic gearbox, fancy fancy!"
-awesome

I know someone who rallies these already!!! I got license in a 230.

Sadly I'm beginning to think the Merc may not make it to the rally under budget. Got a couple of other unique options I will be looking at in the next little while, but I think the Merc may be up for sale again shortly

Are you in chirnside?

Ringwood now

I have been lookin around for an old Mercedes as the bug is not so liveable as a daily, but was not interested in taking in such a big project
How much will you be chasing and what works been done? Pm if you would like

you have pm

I'm tentative to announce it before I've driven it home, but fingers crossed we've got a replacement shitbox - a 1974 Daimler Sovereign 4.2L

Would have stuck with the Merc!!

Merc's for sale now. Carb rebuild and starter repairs would have blown the budget for the rally, but Daimler is going, driving...

For anyone keeping track we're still hoping to have our new rally car very soon. I have decided not to post full details until I can drive it home, which is why it has been quiet in here for a while. I have been going over it at the current owner's house for the last few weeks, we've added fresh fuel, fresh sparkplugs, the fuel is pumping happily up to the carbies, there is spark, the car will run on aerostart, but not on fuel. Having gone through everything else we are assuming blocked jets in the carbs (it ran OK for 5min on the first day and has refused to run on fuel since). Fingers crossed this Saturday will be the day I get to drive it home, can't wait to share some pics and get cracking!

Good luck mate

Hopefully she fires and you have a trouble free run home!

Thanks Sander

THE DAIMLER RUNS! It appears that all that was stopping it was water in the fuel Tentatively planning pick up for Saturday then the fun begins!

So who wants their business name on the side of a Daimler that's going to travel from Adelaide to Uluru to Fremantle? Will also hopefully be attending plenty of car shows and events in the lead up. PM me for details, all done in support of the Cancer Council.

PICKED UP THE DAIMLER TODAY!

Still have plenty of things to deal with: Rust, non working right hand taillight and parker, non working electric windows, hazards, sticky brake light switch, non working handbrake, back seat door stuck shut, non working interior fan....

So excited to have driven it and have it home though! looking forward to getting to work on it tomorrow.

Photobucket's playing up so I will post photos tomorrow

Photos working now!

Here she is as she arrived at home:






Proof of being an import:


Other type of proof of being an import:


European change in the console


Cleaned all the fusebox contacts today and got the RH taillight and parker working


Fitted a secondhand from-the-wrecker stereo and set the light colour to match the interior (because I could )





A bit of welding to be done, but she seems solid where she needs to be (structure and mechanical) Also discovered today that the wipers aren't working, and that isn't the fuse, as I've piggybacked the stereo of that (I think)

Nice work. If that thing makes the distance it should be very comfy! If not it will be very heavy to push.

VERY heavy to push. I can drive it into the driveway with 1 finger on teh steering wheel the power steering is so light, but I can barely move the wheel once the car is off!

I see the merc is still sittin in the yard! Good luck on the new purchase btw

Yes, thankfully no angry neighbours yet, Merc has been sold and paid for and is due to be collected by it's new owner this Saturday.

nice can't wait to see the paint job keep the post coming and how much is sponsorship worth to get a name on the car

Hi Grimbear. Paint should be something special. Sponsorship starts at $300, all but $110 of each sponsorship is tax deductible, and you will get a sticker approximately 30cm x 10cm on each side of the car for that. Sticker area increases rapidly with sponsorship amount and we do our best so spread the word about our sponsors. PM me for more information if you're keen.

What a weekend! had a 4 hour round trip to strip a bunch of spares for the daimler off a donor car for a price I couldn't say no to, managed to wedge all the parts safely in/on the Volvo for the drive home.

Replaced the front doors, went to replace the back doors but discovered that the donor doors are shorter so will patch the originals instead, repaired the donor bonnet and fitted it, wired speakers, got donor high beams working, stitch welded in a new drivers side front floor, prepped the passenger side floor for patching, fitted speakers to the rear.

Even tested the Jags engine and gearbox by using it to tow the old Mercedes out into the driveway to be taken away by the new owner!

Time for a well earned rest I think.

The donor after a few hours work (thanks guys for the help!)


All loaded up




Beautiful colour matching



fresh floor