I found a GD300 on my ranch - Now What?
I recently purchased an avocado ranch in Santa Barbara, California that included tractors, tools, etc., as well as a very nice looking RHD 300GD soft top with 25,000 miles on it (1986 i believe). According to local ranch lore, it was owned by a friend of one of the previous owners who left it here with plans to drive it around the world. She left for a trip to South America and never came back to reclaim her G-Wagen. And so it sat under a tin roof for over 18 years, untilI only recently when I trailered it to a mechanic friend of mine. He was unable to turn the engine over, even with a wrench and he also informed me that the seals on the tranny are quite brittle. He thinks this G is a lost cause
Any ideas from the Group as to what I should do with this G? My mechanic thinks he can sell it to a hollywood prop master to be used as a prop in Movies. Is it worth it to start replacing engine, tranny, etc, should I just convert the thing to electric? Any constructive help with this project G will be most appreciated.
-Rancher Nate
Certainly this G is worthy of restoration and even if you concede that there are significant works to be done, the parts are readily available. Many mechanicals are the same or similar to the sedan range and while restoration would need to go further than the motor and tranny it would be a worth doing in my opinion.
Please do not sell it for the use of a prop master. I would happily buy it rather than see it destroyed for some yet to be thought of epic. In G terms a RHD soft top is quite rare.
This forum and the equivalent US forum have the knowledge and resources to advise you if you decide to proceed - although I would guess that a RHD vehicle is not as useful in the states as it might be in the UK, South Africa, or here in Australia.
Anyway if you decide it is too big a job and want to sell it, let me know before you do anything! Please feel free to Email me at jmkenny@ozemail.com.au if you want to sell or if I can help you furtherwith your restoration.
John
I would definitely consider restoring it, especially with only 25,000 miles. A prop master won't give you much for it, and once restored it would be worth a fair bit.
Try going to http://benzworld.org/forums/forums/forum-view.asp?fid=30 for local help on garages and parts.
Strange that it is a RHD though....
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