Practically Classics Forum

So any idea what he's got planned for this new Merc project then?
I wonder: Could it be more than coincidence that the Space Shuttle fleet has just been retired too? All those nice juicy rocket engines going spare...

mahone wrote:So any idea what he's got planned for this new Merc project then?
I wonder: Could it be more than coincidence that the Space Shuttle fleet has just been retired too? All those nice juicy rocket engines going spare...

where would you fit the booster rockets?

Well after some of his not-exactly-OEM recent projects I bet there's a few purists who'd tell him just where to stick the boosters...

Though as the American space programme and the W124 are both shining examples of German engineering at it's finest, I'd say it'd be the perfect tribute. If Werner Von Braun had stuck with his original employers we'd probably all be driving round in rocket-powered Mercs by now...

But seriously: it makes me realise I do kind of miss Matt Jones on the mag; his restos often had a pleasantly unhinged streak to them. I hope he is going off on another one...

i always liked matt & his taste in cars..

His final staff car saga is in the October issue. Fingers crossed he will at least post a blog on here of any new projects he is working on.

rich. wrote:

mahone wrote:So any idea what he's got planned for this new Merc project then?
I wonder: Could it be more than coincidence that the Space Shuttle fleet has just been retired too? All those nice juicy rocket engines going spare...

where would you fit the booster rockets?

Didn't I mention it's an estate? He did mention some of his plans, but I feel it's not my place to divulge, especially as nothing's set in stone - I'm not sure if he's actually even SEEN the car himself yet!

[quote]Didn't I mention it's an estate?[/quote

Better and better! Maybe his new friend Clarkson, May and Thingie can lend a hand with the rebuild....

But I see the W123 V8 didn't find a buyer. I'm surprised...

I love what he did to this car, but I really hate the W123. Now if he did this to a W114 it would be a different story. The W114 conversion should be pretty easy as they use the same sub frames front and rear as the W107 SLC's which already had v8's fitted from the factory.

If people are getting enthused, I may know of a scruffy yet very solid W126 that could be hitting the market, and it already has a 3.8 V8... It may even be a pre-emissions control version with the higher BHP. I'll find out more in a couple of weeks.