1963 Mercedes 190 Fintail

[Nigelf22]

As a new member of this forum and new owner of a classic Mercedes I naturally have a few questions which I cannot find answers to through the Forum search engine...I assume it's not viable at present for the forum to be split into groups (Pontons, Fintails, all others )...

1. Is there a Mercedes "classic"-friendly garage in the northern home counties (Beds, Bucks, Herts, even N. London) that could give my 190 a mechanical checkover?

2. Are there any parts available from Halfords (CB points, plugs, distrib caps, bulbs, wiper blades etc) that are equivalent of the original?

3. can parts be ordered through Mercedes main dealers? Do they have a "classics" desk?

4. Any other 190 Fintail users out there...?

Sorry it's so long....
Nigelf22

 

[mjtray]

Welcome.....I've always had a soft spot for Fintails!

In answer to some of your questions;

Question 1: Can't recommend anybody for this age of car, but if you buy a copy of Mercedes Enthusiast from WH Smith, you should be able to find a couple of trade adverts for companies that specialise in older Mercs

Question 2: I doubt it

Question 3: Try contacting Jacksons Bournemouth Ltd...they are an MB dealer that specialises in parts for classic Merc's. TelNo: 01202-666330

Good luck

 

[Nigelf22]

Many thanks for your kind help.

I bought copies of various titles from WH Smith (inc Mercedes Enthusiast) at lunchtime today and I am now trawling....

I was hoping there may be some fellow Fintailers out there who might know a 190 friendly garage. Seems the unloved W100 doesn't have too many fans

I'll give the guys in Bournemouth a call.

Thanks again...

 

[Bruce]

The mechanics of any old car are quite simple. Rather than taking your car to a place where they have all of the most up to date equipment find somwhere where the owner is over 50 and has a passion for older cars.

I have found in the past these types of gareges give a better service and cost less.

Parts are still available through your local stealership but I would recomend try to find refurb parts or second hand (unless money is no object). You could try to buy a second fintail that has failed its MOT and strip it for parts.

I have had my '68 for just over a year and prefer driving it to many modern euro boxes.

Bruce

 

[Nigelf22]

Bruce - many thanks.

You hit the nail on the head in respect of the type of garage/owner I was looking for. I know that there is one out there somewhere...."Classic Car" mag staffers always seem to be able to find one no matter what they have just bought!

I've had my eye on an add for a stricken W100 coming up for auction in a couple of weeks and will go for that - it should give me the oportunity to refurb parts or find overhaulers thru the press and build up a stash.

I am also looking for period accessories but these seem few and far between for this model - maybe I should write to the archives department at Stuttgart for copy brochures etc! Do you know if they have a "heritage" dept? (Just a thought)

Cheers.

 

[nasher]

It's good to see another "Classic" Mercedes owner on the forum. My local Merc dealer in Swindon have been very good at ordering parts, and with the exception of getting the wrong air filter, they've been able to obtain every part I've asked for.

I've got a few spares in my garage which may be of interest. I'm taking my grey fintail for an MOT this weekend, which should be interesting!

 

[Nigelf22]

Thanks for the moral support...glad I'm not the only "Fintailer" around - I know there must be a few others but I wouldn't be suprised to find there is some kind of W100 secret society, membership by invitation only...

Good luck with the MOT!

 

[SCONEFINGER]

Hi
Not been on here for ages - nice to see the fintailers coming out of the woodwork.
I have a 64 220SEb with a floor change 4 speed and pwr steering in met. Dark Green and Gunmetal and a 65 200S auto in Hellblau.
Cannot help with the classic friendly garage unless your are in the North East.
Local stealership is a joke and treat me like shi**, the one up in the border is a little better but too far away.
As for parts-find a local independant motor shop, get to know them and they will bend over backwards to help. Our local shop has loads of old catalogs and he has cross referenced all the parts ie.plugs, filters, caps, dizzy caps and rotors etc. with other manufacturers and can now get anything i need, even got me a set of bilsteins for the 220 last month!!
While i'm on -has anyone got any 220 front and rear bumpers for sale???, got to be minters. I am getting close to my May deadline for getting the 220 back on the road!!

 

[Lauritz]

I own a 64er 190 fintail. I just moved to the Glasgow area from Switzerland and am going to look for a garage for services etc. in the next few days.

If anyone can recoment a "classic friendly" garage in the scotish middle-belt that would be great.

Concerning spare parts, as far as i know, Mercedes-Benz has a huge storage for classic car parts in germany and is also refabricating parts. It should therefore be possible to order any part from Germany at a local Mercedes dealership, probalby at horrid prices though.

 

[dishmop]

Rushden. (Wellinborough) next to juntion with A6 and the A45. Got a ****** great yard full of Mercedes.

H.A. LOCK. 01933 313077.

Halfords or similar will have plugs, possibly points. or find a good motor factor who supplies you local small garages. Do you have a WILCO nearby?