Part III. Since I became the next keeper of this lovely 1960 Mercedes-Benz R121.020 |190SL [a.k.a. Suzy Love ❤️], during November of 2018, I have gradually embarked on a multi step restoration process. For my Car Guys & Gals friends 👫 I post here the stories as they unfold in her current timeline. For the introductory post of this historic vehicle click here: https://byronriginos.com/2018/12/06/my-dancing-with-the-best-or-nothing , plus for the follow up post on the restoration project click here: https://byronriginos.com/2019/06/30/the-restoration-project-of-suzy-love/
The #190SL is ready to depart the workshop of #MercedesBenzClassic of Papapanagiotou Bros.
So from here on, we commence the story of Part III.
After several telephone calls with my chief mechanic Nikos, to ensure that the car would be ready, being already in Kea island at our summer home, I asked my pal Spilios to accompany me in the early ferry to Lavrion and then via taxi to Athens to pick up the R121, on the Thursday of 8th August 2019. We would drive the car back to Lavrion in time to catch the afternoon ferry back to Kea. Well as all good plans get a little sidetracked, upon our early morning arrival [ca. 08:30] at the shop, there were as anticipated a number of details to take care of before declaring the car fit for the road, especially with her planned venture to many islands, I had to be extra careful in my scrutinizing process, among them to ensure the safety of the car and that the new accessory of the vacuum operated Wolf horn was working properly. Time became our enemy that hot Agust morning in Athens, but we managed to push off in the early afternoon. 112
With the top down we had to venture to Kifissia, at our son DimitrisOK Market in view of a longish restocking list issued by my beloved spouse Ivi. The highlight of the photo being the Wow 🤩 expression on the face of the passerby ‼️Clip departing from the OK Maket!
Στην #KEA ζώντας μακριά από την απειλή του #COVID-19, ζώντας ευτυχισμένα στο τοπικό μου Γκαράζ, παρέα με καλούς φίλους και φιλενάδες όπως η ωραία ώριμη κυρία των 60 Μαΐων #Suzy_Love ❤️
Η χαρά μου δεν κρύβεται 🙏👌 αφού είμαι μακρυά από το πλήθος με τις απειλές του #COVID-19, αλλά κοντά στην αγαπημένη μου #Suzy_Love ❤️
Η Κοκό [aka 1997 Mercedes-Benz E200CA Cabriolet Typ. W124.0] και η Κικίτσα [aka 2007 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupé Typ. 997.1]
Thesaga of an Earth-angel crossing my life at the height of the #COVID19
As recited by Byron66 😉👌🏁🇬🇷
Η ιστορία που θα σας πω είναι 100% αυθεντική! Στο εύλογο ερώτημα αν υπάρχουν Άγγελοι επι της Γης, ειδικότερα την εποχή του #COVID19 & την πρόσφατη απώλεια του Racing Legend Sir Sterling Moss, OBE, η απάντηση μου είναι : ΝΑΙ ❗️✅
Όμως ας πάρουμε τα πράγματα από την αρχή όπου εμπλέκονται 4 φίλοι, με χρονολογική σειρα:
Ο Σπήλιος με ένα τηλεφώνημα και σύσταση του…
Ο Αλέξανδρος (aka ο γιατρόςτων Jaguars)
Ο Αλέκος, εκλεκτός φίλος και βαθυστόχαστος συλλέκτης Ιστορικών Οχημάτων-Ι.Ο.
Ο Ηλίας, στο σπάνιο ρόλο του Earth-Angel 🙏😇
Ένα απόγευμα στα μέσα του Μαρτίου 2020 που βρίσκομαι στον αγαπημένο μου χώρο του Γκαράζ μου [aka www.3cg.gr ] χτυπά το κινητό μου. Βλέπω από την αναγνώριση κλήσης το όνομα του Αλεξάνδρου, με τον οποίο έχω να μιλήσω τουλάχιστον 2-3 χρόνια.
«Έλα βρε Αλέξανδρε, τι κάνεις, χρόνια και ζαμάνια έχουμε να τα πούμε!»
Εντυπωσιάζεται από την προσφώνηση μου 😉 οπότε του λέω με δόση χιούμορ «Εμ τι νόμισες ότι δεν σε εχω εμφακελομένο😜»
Το πρώτο τηλεφώνημα τρεις βδομάδες πριν
από τον Γιατρό των Jaguars 📲
Κάπως έτσι ξεκινά η επανασυγκολληση μας. Μου αναφέρει περί Σπήλιου, που με συνέστησε σαν τον «Μερσεντεσάκια» της παρέας, από τον οποίο έλαβε το κινητό μου σχετικά με μια ιστορική Mercedes-Benz W111 Coupé, με πρόσθετη αναφορά ότι ανήκε στον Βασιλέα Παύλο 🤫..
Κανονίζω να περάσω αργότερα από το σπίτι/έκθεση/Garage του στην Κηφισιά, οδηγώντας την δικιά μας Mercedes W116 350 SE 👌. Μου δείχνει την W111, σε fair project κατάσταση, αναφέροντας του ότι τα γνωρίζω καλά τα μοντέλα αυτά εφόσον πριν 7 χρόνια είχα προβεί σε ένα ground-up restoration project για την Πριγκίπισσα Μιχαέλα [όλη η ιστορία του ιδιαίτερου Ι.Ο. Εδώ] : https://byronriginos.com/category/byrons-cars/m-b-250se-coupe/
Η υπέροχη Mercedes-Benz 250SE Coupé W111.024 που ανήκε στον Πρίγκιπα Μιχάηλ [aka Michele de Gréce]
Κατά την επίσκεψη του Γιατρού των Jaguar βλέπει το Simca 8 Sport του 1950 και το ερωτεύεται αμέσως. Η υπόλοιπη κουβέντα μας περιστρέφεται γύρω από ένα άγονο negotiation για την πιθανή ανταλλαγή του Simca μου με την Mercedes W111 του Βασιλέα Παύλου.
Το Simca 8 Sport Coupé του 1950, υπήρξε ο καταλύτης της ιστορίας μας 👌
Εδώ καλό θα είναι να αναφέρω την ιστορία μας με τον Αλέξανδρο. Ξεκινά πριν τα 30 χρόνια. Την εποχή εκείνη οι τρεις καλοί φίλοι, ο Θανάσης, ο Σπήλιος και εγώ αγοράσαμε δια του 3 την Jaguar Mk VII του 1950. Την απέκτησα κατά 100% 20 χρόνια πριν ενώ την έχω ακόμα, αν και χρειάζεται κάποιες μικρές βελτιώσεις…
Since I became the next keeper of this 1960 Mercedes-Benz R121.020 |190SL [a.k.a. Suzy Love ❤️], during November of 2018, I have gradually embarked on a multi step restoration process. For my Car Guys & Gals friends 👫 I post here the story as it unfolds in her timeline. For the introductory post of this historic vehicle click here: https://byronriginos.com/2018/12/06/my-dancing-with-the-best-or-nothing
I. Selecting the right partner for the mechanical jobs at hand
As an appetizer enjoy this short video 👏👌😍
Most of the suspension and engine mount rubbers needed replacement 😮
There was a positive talk within our www.3cg.gr ecosystem about the PAPAPANAGIOTOU Brothers, as being the good experts in all things Mercedes-Benz and classics in particular. Hence a visit to their establishment in Neos Kosmos was appropriate. Below some photos of our early encounters and getting to know each other (i.e. master mechanic and older brother Nikos, plus Vagias and Costas).
My SL during an early visit to PAPAPANAGIOTOU Brothers workshop Another visiting time Master mechanic Nikos PAPAPANAGIOTOU @work ✅🏁
II. Getting the jobsdone✅
After a thorough inspection of the car, a list of spare parts was made. Flash back: Since my other “ground up” restoration project several years back, involving a 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250 SE Coupè [W111.020] , I had established a good relationship with one of Germany’s well known Mercedes spare parts supplier, the firm Niemöller . Hence sourcing spares for the R121.020 was not like rediscovering a wheel. To make a long story short, up to this writing ✍️, four Purchase Orders have been placed approximately for €4,500, not to mention about another €1,000 invested for spares and services from the local Greek market. Lest I forget, the €83 for the RetroSound accessories.
The bulk of these orders arrived just before Easter time while the pressure was on to have the car ready for our longtime planned adventure trip to Toscana, Italy 🇮🇹 commencing on 3rd May. More here: https://3cg.gr/2019/03/06/toscana-drive- may-2019/
One task which required immediate attention were the twin Solex carbs. Nikos required some fast & dirty solution, whereupon I asked an old friend and well known carb specialist to step in. John Palmos-The Motorman delivered the reconditioned carbs in a short notice and oversaw their refitting and final tuning 👏👌👍😎😍
The twin PHH Solex carbs before work is done ✅ The twin PHH Solex carbs before work is done ✅
The finished Solex’s refitted 👌😎
The twin PHH Solex carbs before work is done ✅ The finished Solex’s refitted 👌😎
After some negotiating with Nikos, we agreed that the car would be safe and reliable for the trip to Italy (added ca. 2,300 kilometers on the odometer, without a mechanical glitch), and upon my return the jobs would continue. Fast forward to today, the car is back in the shop for completion of the various jobs, which briefly include:
Front end, removal, reconditioning and fitting all new parts required
Rear end, removal, reconditioning and fitting all new parts required
Transmission, removal, reconditioning and fitting all new parts required
Propeller shaft, removal, reconditioning and fitting all new parts required
Differential, removal, reconditioning and fitting all new parts required
Realignment of the front end and checking the camber of the rear wheels
Fitting of the new & fun intake Wolf horn
The Wolf 🐺 whistle works on the vacuum that the engine creates. It’s a fun automotive accessory which I have installed in my 1931 Ford Model A 👍😉👌
Fitting of the new windshield rubber seals
Fitting of the new spark plug lead wires
Removing the corroded front cross tube and fitting a new part (see picture below).
Plus a number of other details… The front cross member (tube), a critical part which required a replacement.
The corroded front cross member; one of the few nasty surprises of my 190SL ❗️
III. Some additional photos
All fittings are reconditioned and electrostatic-ally painted goldfish-yellow Ready for refitting of the main front suspension member
The corroded front cross member tube 😢
The central anchoring point of the crossmember tube
The Byron E. Riginos Blog 