another CRAYFORD seeks new home

[OzBenzHead]

G'day, folks. :-) I hope you and your Benzes are all thriving!

Yes, I'm still breathing; just getting on with life while I can.

Meanwhile ...

Der Rolfwagen seeks a new owner who'll restore him.

This is one of very few remaining unrestored / off-the-road W116 Crayford Estates -- a rare opportunity indeed.

There is neither engine nor transmission in the wagon.

It comes with a spare sedan which contains those mechanicals.

The interior -- apart from the carpets -- is good.

Yes, there is rust -- as usual in the Crayford bog areas and the sills -- but it doesn't have holes as big and scary as that silver one for sale in WA.

It also comes with spare doors (good ones -- no rust) and as many other spare parts, body and mechanical, as you can load into it or a trailer.

Among the spares is a pair of new rubber seals for the rear-side windows, and the custom-made glass for one of those. (It's pair-mate was smashed during transit -- it got to Brisbane in one piece from Germany, but was smashed between Bris and Lismore by some clumsy oaf who can't read "GLASS -- FRAGILE"!)

My health demands I rationalise and simplify, and I'm paying storage that I'd rather not have to bother with.

The vehicle is located in Lismore, northern NSW.

I am not putting a price on it -- make me offers.

Whoever makes the best offer by 14 December is the new owner.

If not adopted by that date, I'm afraid this rare vehicle will end up at the local breaker's yard.

Message me. If appropriate I shall then send you my phone number (it's "silent" / unlisted, so not in the directory, and not the one some of you may have from a couple of years ago).

The countdown is on: this is Day 28.

[OzBenzHead]

PS: Tried to post this in the For Sale section, but the system wouldn't allow it.

[martinkass]

do you have some pictures please - thanks

[martinkass]

Please send me your number or give me a call - Martin 0416 272 330

[Mercmad]

I'd love it myself.. with a Donor 6.9 , it would make a very unique car. No room,too many projects....

[Yuri]

Ron and Martin (with no disrespect for a number of other fellows on our forum for whom my statement also applies): you two are ideal candidates to be the next custodian of this piece of motoring history. I hope Gordon is able to pass it on to someone who will in time bring it back to serviceable condition. :occasion5:

So have a rethink, Ron...

Yuri

[Michel]

Without any disrespect to OzBenzHead, whom I consider a good friend, this vehicle requires a lot (read total) of restoration, very extensive rust repairs and body work.

It lived in my workshop for a little while and although it seems a very enticing project, Der Rolfwagen needs a lot more than tender loving car.

Personally, I would love to see it on the road.

So good luck to whoever gets it!

[Mercmad]

I already have one of Gordo's projects on hand ..

Which is slowly approaching completion actually.

I would suggest that anyone who has a rear ended W116 buy it. Paulo's green car would have been perfect. a great car written off due to severe rear end damage.
Then...unpick the Crayford(Ford Granada) bits and fit them to the better car . Swap the ID and it lives again. Crayford were punching out all sorts of conversions from a fairly small facility in those days and workmanship wasn't exactly to the standards of Mulliner Park Ward. Haste being of the essence. I reckon a very nice car could be built with the bones of this wagon.

[Mercmad]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mercedes-Ben ... _600wt_932

[GreaseMonkey]

I have other serious issues which are taking my time at the moment, but I may be able to make space for it.
My other concern is the cost of transport from Lismore to Shellharbour NSW - anyone got any ideas? And Gordon, is it on wheels, so it can be winched and rolled on and off?
Chris M.

[Michel]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mercedes-Ben ... _600wt_932

This car is in almost pristine condition.

Ya wouldn't want to touch it

[OzBenzHead]

I have other serious issues which are taking my time at the moment, but I may be able to make space for it.
My other concern is the cost of transport from Lismore to Shellharbour NSW - anyone got any ideas? And Gordon, is it on wheels, so it can be winched and rolled on and off?
Chris M.

Yes, Chris, it's still attached to its wheels. Towage varies, but bringing it up here a few years ago cost me $1200.

[John Green]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mercedes-Ben ... _600wt_932

looks like a good solid car, you could make one the same colour as mine!!

[Mercmad]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mercedes-Ben ... _600wt_932

This car is in almost pristine condition.

Ya wouldn't want to touch it

But almost worthless. it would be the ideal base to rebuild Rolf back to like new and increase the value .

[Mercmad]

Well that sold for $1700 , but to give an idea what you might get with a little spit and polish..
http://www.autoscout24.de/Details.aspx?id=ltoitswy3nrc

[OzBenzHead]

Well that sold for $1700 , but to give an idea what you might get with a little spit and polish..
http://www.autoscout24.de/Details.aspx?id=ltoitswy3nrc

Would that be Alfred's wagon -- the former Crayford-California-McMullen works car, once blue (or red?) before he took it to Germany and went to town on it, including going a tad beyond original spec?

The rear-side (wagon) window rubbers appear the same as those Alfred sent me. They are from a Mk II Ford Granada Estate -- unadorned, dull black rubber with no bright inserts (or channels to accommodate same). The "correct" rubber has a channel for brightwork, and is from the Mk I Granada -- no longer available or replicated.

And those wagon-side window glasses were specially cast, too. I received half a pair, thanks to some klutz of a courier.

Nearly €40K! Whew!

[John Green]

It is indeed Aflreds car. Great chap but he has to sell it as he is getting on and health is not so good. I met with him in Berlin earlier this year. The car was in storage for the winter so covered in dust (and a terrible picture). You will also see quite a few pictures of this car at the Berlin Meilinwerk... It is possibly the best remaining body that I know of (in terms of rust and previous repairs).

DSCN0648-1.jpg

http://www.history-of-cars.com/images/m ... ate-16.jpg

[Mercmad]

http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/showD ... abNumber=1

[GreaseMonkey]

Thanks for posting that one. I have not seen this car previously. It is a 300 Diesel, and as the 300SD was sold in the USA, and with US spec headlights we can guess it came from there to Austria. It claims to be fully restored and with all options. One difference though is it appears to have an additional moulding and gutter strip around the rear side windows, similar to what would have been around the C-pillar on a sedan. The tailgate and hinge arrangement do look like the other Crayfords, but either this came with an add-on trim piece or has been customised later. Either way another to add to the list of known cars.
It is a shame Gordon's excellent website is no longer online, but at least John can add it to his register on his MB Spares website.
With that and Alfred Bergs well restored car both for sale at similar asking price it remains to be seen if either sell.
The VIN number looks like 116 120 12 013305, maybe someone can decipher more from that ?
What do you think John ?

Chris M.

[John Green]

I think I could not stand to drive it with that cream dash! Will add to registry tonight...

[Mercmad]

And not just any Diesel either,it's a turbo diesel which means it will get up and go almost as fast a 280 Wagon. It must have been sent to the UK for conversion from the USA because only the American market got the ON617952 engine.

[John Green]

http://www.mbspares.com.au/Registry/Cra ... 13305.aspx

Won't put this on the register but I suspect that it could be an old conversion stuck on a later chassis. Read the register listing to see why????

[John Green]

Found another one...

http://www.mbspares.com.au/Registry/Cra ... 56-22.aspx

How cool would that have been?

[GreaseMonkey]

Found another one...

http://www.mbspares.com.au/Registry/Cra ... 56-22.aspx

How cool would that have been?

The chap I sold my 116 wagon to in Malaysia claims his friend is restoring a Crayford W109 over there.
I have asked for further info or photos but nothing yet.
I will follow it up again.

I disagree with your theory about the 300SD though. there are several reasons why it qualifies.
First, were not all the cars converted after being bought, therefore 'used' and converted later? Certainly the well known Rolf Harris car was. Then it is known that Crayford licensed a couple of sub-contractors in the USA to build cars, and certainly this could explain slight differences, like the gutter trim not seen on others. As to the introduction of the 123 range, yes they would have served a purpose but nowhere near the comfort, luxury or indeed, exclusivity of a 116, and a prospective buyer in '79 may not have been aware of, or cared about the impending W126.
This may even have been a reason for a dealer to convert a 116 still in stock that might otherwise been hard to sell.
Lastly, we know that as these cars were all expensive, they could only have been bought by those to whom mere money was no concern and therefore all other reasoning is irrelevant.
I think it far more likely that this was converted in period than later, although now there may be a renewed interest in these rarities and the W116 range in general, such a project could be worth doing now.
Chris M.

[GreaseMonkey]

Gordon,
did you get a taker for the 'Rolfwagen'?
Any news that can be made public?
Even though I can't really afford such a project right now, I would like to know it's in safe hands.

Chris M.

[OzBenzHead]

Chris: Arrangements have been made, but the logistics are still up in the air, what with coordinating towies with my schedule. However, having taken an offer on good faith, I expect the transfer to happen by end of calendar year (hopes!).

As soon as there is real news -- or a change of mind (which I don't expect now) -- I'll let everyone know. It seems at this stage, however, that der Rolfwagen is not destined for the scrapyard.

[Mercmad]

Found another one...

http://www.mbspares.com.au/Registry/Cra ... 56-22.aspx

How cool would that have been?

The chap I sold my 116 wagon to in Malaysia claims his friend is restoring a Crayford W109 over there.
I have asked for further info or photos but nothing yet.
I will follow it up again.


Chris M.

This is very interesting as very very few CrayFord W109's were done.
A w109 was seriously expensive car when new.And this would have to have been in W100 territory price wise.

[OzBenzHead]

Dear friends, colleagues, and other interested Crayford tragics ...

Der Rolfwagen has gone to its new home -- and that's not the crusher!

Martin Kass is Rolf's new custodian. Thank you, Martin, and thanks to those others who expressed interest or support. I shall rest easier now that I don't have to feel guilty about dumping Rolf at the breaker's yard. Now I just have to finish clearing out two sheds and squeezing everything I have left into one other shed.

GbH

[AMG]

What a relief. :occasion5:

Happy Endings für die rolfenwagen!!

[GreaseMonkey]

Well done Gordon and Martin, glad the Rolfwagen is in safe hands.
If Martin wants to email me I may have some useful info.
Chris M.

[npk]

Still working on wasabe...

Currently looking for rear windscreen n quarter glass left n right rubber seals.

Let me know if they are still available.

Thanks in advance.

Npk

-....

The chap I sold my 116 wagon to in Malaysia claims his friend is restoring a Crayford W109 over there.
I have asked for further info or photos but nothing yet.
I will follow it up again.

I disagree with your theory about the 300SD though. there are several reasons why it qualifies.
First, were not all the cars converted after being bought, therefore 'used' and converted later? Certainly the well known Rolf Harris car was. Then it is known that Crayford licensed a couple of sub-contractors in the USA to build cars, and certainly this could explain slight differences, like the gutter trim not seen on others. As to the introduction of the 123 range, yes they would have served a purpose but nowhere near the comfort, luxury or indeed, exclusivity of a 116, and a prospective buyer in '79 may not have been aware of, or cared about the impending W126.
This may even have been a reason for a dealer to convert a 116 still in stock that might otherwise been hard to sell.
Lastly, we know that as these cars were all expensive, they could only have been bought by those to whom mere money was no concern and therefore all other reasoning is irrelevant.
I think it far more likely that this was converted in period than later, although now there may be a renewed interest in these rarities and the W116 range in general, such a project could be worth doing now.
Chris M.
[/quote]

[John Green]

Still working on wasabe...

Currently looking for rear windscreen n quarter glass left n right rubber seals.

Let me know if they are still available.

Thanks in advance.

They are the same seals as a Ford Taunus or Granda, can't remember which one. A set popped up on eBay here in Aus a few years back, but I would have thought you would have better luck with the Ford clubs in the UK?