Ok so here is the question is this actually a 1938 mercedes ch***is or is it something different... I take delivery of it tomorrow and just thought I'd put up some teaser pics until I can get a better look at it.
Gonna get a better look at it (Bought it having only seen these pics). If its worth to much to hack up I guess I'll sell it to a purist otherwise I have every intention of taking the parts I like...
I really don't know anything about it but the price was right. I take it you know more about these James?
They made several models of Mercedes in the late 30's from ther smaller 4cyl 170's and 200's up to the 770's like what Hitler used to have. That's the baby Benz of the day. These baby Benz's never really bring much $$ unless they are an open car and restored well. You can find whole cars (sedans coupes) for about $6,000-$10,000 needing resto. so they are not big buck cars, but they still are expensive to restore. That one may be a little later, maybe like late 40's though. EVen though they were very similar. Mercedes names have typically been their engine displacement. So the Mercedes 170 would be a 1.7 liter adn the 770 would be a 7.7 liter. It's like that even today. You chasis will have a independant rear suspension which may be cool under a street rod and keep people guessing. http://www.motorbase.com/vehicle/by-id/-1301310608/
Whats up with the drivetrain looks like its got a unique rear end... Must be a few parts worth puttin on a rod
Looks like a low-pivot swing axle typical of Mercedes up until the mid 1960's.The tube style frame is typical of the base model Mercedes of the era.I did some work on a 37 540K recently and it had a very substantial ladder type frame.It had been modified a bit with a newer 6 cylinder(77 280SE)and Corvette independent front and rear suspension.Probably will be the most expensive "hot rod" ever.Owner bought it without an engine and transmission and looked for years for a correct one.Finally found one for "only" $675,000 dollars.Decided he'd modify it a bit.Hopefully it will be finished and at Detroit next year.
i think its newer than 52... I have been working on this one.. which I think is a 51 or 52 170... http://public.fotki.com/sawzallshop/portfolio-2/benz_restoration/dsc02935.html notice that the engine is a flat head additionally the front and rear suspension on this one has leaf springs.. also.. the fancy flex tube on your exhaust system is indicative of a later vehicle. be glad you dont have the body.. the one I am working on is wood structure with steel over.. they are difficult, and costly to restore
I wondered about that... All the pics I could find of 30's era merced's looked a whole lot different but I could never get a good pic of the ch***is so I didn't know. Any good search engine for the vin?
You should register at Benzworld.org It's the site I used a lot when I was still driving the 560SEL...and they have forums for different models.
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