Ricci's Garage: the 560 SEL is nearly ready - now to fit the classic AMG parts

Internationally renowned photographer Mark has been working with TG for many, many years. When not taking photos he’s buying inappropriate cars. Here he shares his addiction with the world

“Have you had your boiler serviced at all? The pressure’s reading quite low, which could suggest there’s either a leak or it needs repressuring.” This suggestion came from Charlie, a tradesman pricing up various repairs in our home due to subsidence. “I’ll have to check the paperwork,” I told him.

This of course was a lie. The boiler was replaced five years ago and the idea of servicing it only became a consideration immediately after the words left Charlie’s mouth. Unfortunately, this paints a fairly terrible picture of my current priorities. Because I can tell you exactly what each of my cars currently lacks – and what needs servicing – despite having not used most of ’em in months. But a boiler that our house depends on? Not a clue.

Project cars are a wonderful thing. They usually start off cheaper because there’s something wrong with them, and that makes it incredibly easy to justify. Especially if you rent an old barn to stash cars while they’re not roadworthy. But anyone who’s ever taken on a project knows this attitude is short-lived and completely inaccurate.

The timing of this update coincides with the return of my W126 560 SEL Mercedes, a car I bought nearly a year ago and immediately whisked down to Angus at Carnaby Motors in Essex. Truth be told, I didn’t really give Angus any kind of brief other than to find – and sort – anything which needed doing. The work Angus and his team have done is utterly spectacular. I’d love to say it’s a credit to the Mercedes engineering of the Eighties, but in reality, it’s Angus’s tenacity to leave no stone unturned. Pardon the cliche, but I’m convinced it drives better now than it did when it left the factory.

That might be because the ‘good’ base car I bought still needed a lot of work. Like a whole new ignition system. New brakes and brake hoses. The entire suspension system needed rebuilding and the transmission servicing too. A new rear differential was sourced, calibration of the KE-jetronic injection system undertaken, a full engine service, new fuel pump (and relay), new engine mounts, new shocks/springs and a cheeky realignment of the door which refused to close unless using 1,000Nm of force.

In my defence, after two failed W126 projects before it the plan for this particular car was to do it properly. Even if that meant it taking infinitely longer and costing more than the other two cars combined. Which it is. But the next stage is going to be the most fun. Because that involves bolting all the wonderful premerger AMG goodies onto it before letting Andy at Spike’s Vintage Restorations work his magic with the paint fun.

This isn’t as simple as a quick blow over. Everything needs to be period correct for how the AMG 560 SELs looked during that era, which means every piece of chrome is going body coloured. The three-piece wheels are being split apart, polished and the centres repainted, and any rust or corrosion tackled too. I was told in the advert that this was rust free, so you’ll have to excuse me while I go and say a little prayer to the oxidisation gods. Otherwise I’ll see you in another 12 months when my house is dilapidated and the Benz is finally shiny.