245L 1975, let’s start dancing!

[Othen]

This continues to be a fascinating thread - thank you.

I wonder, do you have an idea of the project costs (that you wouldn't mind disclosing)?

Excellent photos as well.

Alan

[mentepazza]

Thanks Alan. Didn’t do the math yet. That’s dangerous🤣. Too much for sure.

Still not happy with many details: I would like to find new bumper (which seems incredibly rare) and that seat needs to go to the upholsterer. The shape is not correct nor the foam.
The console behind the hand brake is not original, it comes from a polar.
The boot floor has got a hole for extra tank of petrol (hand made by the previous owner 😳😳&#128563.
Putting it back together it’s all about the details now.

[DW42]

The seat stuffing in 1975 will have been horse hair or coir. Your upholsterer will be able to get it. My wife does some furniture re-upholstery, and when we lived in the UK JA Milton were great for good quality supplies and support. The seat grid looks the same as on later 240 series cars, and if yours is beyond repair you can still get replacements from Wagonmeister in the US. I rebuilt the front seats on my 1992 estate, and it was difficult to get the foam shaped right. I used an electric carving knife (for meat) to shape the new foam, and reused the foam that was still good but reinforced it by gluing cut up old jeans onto it. Wagonmeister also sells lower seat foam, but is wasn't in my budget! Your 240 is looking fantastic.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by mentepazza

Thanks Alan. Didn’t do the math yet. That’s dangerous🤣. Too much for sure.

Still not happy with many details: I would like to find new bumper (which seems incredibly rare) and that seat needs to go to the upholsterer. The shape is not correct nor the foam.
The console behind the hand brake is not original, it comes from a polar.
The boot floor has got a hole for extra tank of petrol (hand made by the previous owner 😳😳&#128563.
Putting it back together it’s all about the details now.

With a car that good you just have to get the details right, but clearly it is a labour of love, so it will be worth it in the end.

You are probably right about the project cost - it might be best not to do the maths, it will be too much anyway so just enjoy a lovely car :-)

Alan

[mentepazza]

Thanks DW42 for the insight. Very appreciate it. Wagonmeister offer a good replica of the lower cushion but 200 bucks sounds very expensive 😳.
Here is the finished seat (bit delusional):

[DW42]

Hi Mentepazza -- that looks a bit lumpy! The foam really has to be close to the correct shape. If you want to have a go at creating replacements, unfortunately you need a seat base and back section that are the correct shape to copy. You then need to find somewhere that sells foam. Where I live, there's a place called FoamWorld. What else would a foam warehouse be called? They have a huge bin section of the store that's all cut-offs from big bits of foam. Of course, the first thing I had to do was jump in it when nobody was looking. After brushing myself off and looking innocent, the proprietor found me a piece the right size and density (much firmer than I expected). I then set to work as a sculptor with an electric carving knife and created a forgery of the real thing. It wasn't as neat, but has held up well for 3 years+. Including the spray glue, the whole job cost less than $50 (although the passenger seat needed no new foam).

[mentepazza]

Thanks very much for the suggestions. I’ll have to think about it and see what I can do.
Meantime dashboard is going back in:

[heckflosse]

Hi, first I must say your car looks stunning. Did you get the rear side windows fitted by a specialist? I am struggling to fit those aluminium finishers on my estate, a 79 265, and would appreciate any advice.
Keep up the good work, Jim

[mentepazza]

Originally Posted by heckflosse

Hi, first I must say your car looks stunning. Did you get the rear side windows fitted by a specialist? I am struggling to fit those aluminium finishers on my estate, a 79 265, and would appreciate any advice.
Keep up the good work, Jim

Thanks Jim!

Rear side windows is pretty straightforward. No specialist needed. What is exactly you are struggling with? Have you got a photo of the trim? maybe be the trim is different?

[heckflosse]

Originally Posted by mentepazza

Thanks Jim!

Rear side windows is pretty straightforward. No specialist needed. What is exactly you are struggling with? Have you got a photo of the trim? maybe be the trim is different?

Thanks. Fitting the window to the car is easy. I am struggling to get the finisher into the rubber .
I need to get a screen fitted anyway which is not a DIY job so will try and get the chap to sort the rear windows at the same time. Jim