1980 280GE LWB - Worth as Restore/Repair Project??
Hello all ....
It has been awhile since I have posted here. Now being an given a LWB 280GE LWB in need of restoration/repair to put it back on the road/off-road as it has been left standing for 5 years in the yard. Its current state is as far as I have seen it, the mechanicals seem fine thought probably all fuel lines needs replacing and tank needs a cleaning flush.
However, the bodywork needs a lot of work typically in the most common weak spots, i.e. all door sills, 3/4 panels, rear door, wheel arches, etc.. though my plan is to repair and modify it for off-road use and maybe towing too (track days, etc.), and not a perfect G vehicle.
My questions are, is it worth the time and effort and pocket to prepare it and put it back on the road? What kind of reasonable M110 engine modifications can be done to raise the power output (would like to raise the compression, though this may be a budget limiting move?
Any advice from you folks here will be much appreciated.
Thanks!
probably not worth it, you could spend a lot of money on body work and find that the mechanicals have also been neglected. The Paris Dakar ge280 only put out I think 210bhp so not much scope for increasing output and its nearly 30 years old so not really fair on the old girl anyway.
So my advice would be sit down and work out the costs and leave sentiment behind. The only caveat I place on this would be if it had been built in 1979 and has an early chassis number, then you might justify historical significance for throwing money at the vehicle.
By getting back on the road, I intended to say bring it back to life and use it primarily as an off-roader. I do agree, that I need to sit down and work out the costs necessary to bring it to life again. The bodywork I am not so concerned with, as body panels can be replaced and modified and paintwork is not an issue.
It is to be used as a fun off-roader, so a fun project to bring the G to life again. The VIN number 460-233-170-071-02 of 1980 and engine number 110-994-100-011-40, as stated on the Austrian registration document, would this example constitute as an example of historical significance (probably not)?
No. The VIN number means that it is the 7102 Mercedes G built so not an example of historic significance...
Funnily, it's got a Mercedes chassis number but it was marketed as a Puch, maybe as a result of being first solf in the former republic of Yugoslavia. So quite uncommon in this respect.
The datacard shows the following:
VIN WDB46023317007102
Model 280 GE
Chassis 46023317007102
Engine 110994 10 001140
Transmission 711101 10 001104
tCase 750601 10 007459
Order 6 0 597 01132
Approx. year not defined
Rims SUEDRAD
Cab 460582 10
Trail Q58
Steer 765502 10 580591
Dealer Steyr Puch (597)
Interior Unknown code (V22)
Paint
6880 agave green
Options
A70 differential lock, front axle (Ñ 1978)
A71 differential lock, rear axle (Ñ 1978)
C70 two-part rear bumper (Ñ 1978)
E63 becker radio set europa cassette kurier (Ñ 1978)
F46 headlamp wiper/washer (Ñ 1978)
F66 glove compartment, lockable (Ñ 1978)
G75 speedometer adapter
J33 clock
J38 tachometer
L12 halogen headlamps
L16 halogen fog lamps (Ñ 1978)
L18 rear fog lamp (Ñ 1978)
L66 additional interior lamp, above rear end door (Ñ 1978)
M74 radiator guard, engine undershield
Q58 tow-off coupling, front (Ñ 1978)
R85 spare wheel carrier on the outside of the rear panel door (Ñ 1978)
S30 driver's seat headrest (Ñ 1978)
S32 co-driver's seat headrest (Ñ 1978)
S64 seat bench safety belts (Ñ 1978)
V22 interior trim, upgraded version
V34 grab handle and instrument panel padded (Ñ 1978)
W41 rear panel door, one-wing, with window (Ñ 1978)
Y10 first aid box (Ñ 1978)
Y16 fire extinguisher (Ñ 1978)
Y44 warning triangle (Ñ 1978)
Y49 box with spare bulbs (Ñ 1978)
Z86 steyr-daimler-puch marketing area
Mortinson,
Thank you for the background check and information you have provide. It is much appreciated. So, in your opinion would it be worth it?
how good is the vehicle's interior? This is even more difficult to restore than the bodywork.
Without having seen it it's impossible to tell. But I gather that in the current economic downturn investing any meaningful amount of cash in repairing an old 460 is not worth it unless as said it's got historic significance, given the amount of Gs out there that can be bought for very little cash.
But if you believe the mechanicals are sound, perhaps it's only down to replacing brake and fuel lines and fluids and filters and you just have to remove bits of bodywork to make it lighter and fit a rollcage and go for the fun...
You might be better off getting in touch with this chap
http://www.gwoa.co.uk/index.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=5729
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By getting back on the road, I intended to say bring it back to life and use it primarily as an off-roader. I do agree, that I need to sit down and work out the costs necessary to bring it to life again. The bodywork I am not so concerned with, as body panels can be replaced and modified and paintwork is not an issue.
It is to be used as a fun off-roader, so a fun project to bring the G to life again. The VIN number 460-233-170-071-02 of 1980 and engine number 110-994-100-011-40, as stated on the Austrian registration document, would this example constitute as an example of historical significance (probably not)?