Fresh Perspectives
by Wes Anderson
Learning by Doing as a Summer Intern
During the past two months, I had the pleasure to be the summer intern at Brooklyn Motoren Werke, which specializes in Mercedes-Benz restoration, service and parts sales. My previous year at McPherson College gave me a solid foundation and a generalized overview about the fundamentals of restoration, but learning in a facility specifically catering to Mercedes cars was a genuinely rewarding experience. I had the chance to get up close and personal with a handful of brilliant pieces of engineering and I learned much about this fabulous marque and its interesting nuances.
For example, Mercedes Benz spared no expense with the materials used in its cars, specifically with the 300 series sedans and sports cars from the 1950s. Precious metals such as brass and magnesium were used throughout and large amounts of light-weight aluminum can be found in many components. Not only did Mercedes use the finest materials available, those who devoted their engineering and craftsmanship skills assembled some truly incredible machines.
It’s great that Mercedes took the trouble to make the finest cars in the world, but this can make restorations rather challenging. Cars are only original once, and bringing them back to factory standards is easier said than done. An astonishing amount of man-hours were spent creating and assembling these cars when they were brand new, so the time needed to restore these cars will most certainly surpass the initial production phase. Just some food for thought.
Restoring an automobile may seem rather simple in principle, but doing a period-correct restoration isn’t an easy task. Restoring a car requires a wide range of skills acquired during a lifetime of practice. That being said, sometimes you have to step back and assess what you can and can’t adequately accomplish. There are professionals in each area, such as upholstery and trim, who are masters at their craft. So if one does not have the expertise in one field, outsourcing may be the best solution.
One technique to become more familiar with a car is to completely dismantle it. By taking it apart piece by piece, you get an understanding of the build techniques and the keen attention to detail that Mercedes is known for. As one of my projects, I spent several days dismantling a 1962 W189, which is the large 300 series sedan of the 1950s and early ’60s. The car that I took apart had been picked over previously for specific parts, but it was my task to remove any valuable pieces remaining. This particular car spent its entire life in the southern United States, so cancerous rust was minimal. This really made my job much easier because I wasn’t constantly fighting seized nuts and bolts. And because the rust was minimal, many rare, rust-prone pieces could be salvaged.
While baking in the scorching sun and quarrelling with the hostile flying insect community for which Wisconsin is known as I dismantled the object of my attention. I immediately – and carefully – documented and labeled the salvaged pieces according to the Mercedes-Benz parts system.
The parts reference books, particularly the older editions, are brilliant in themselves. Each part, described in both English and German, is drawn in a very detailed and enlarged view that demonstrates its relative size and assembly order. After browsing through page after page of intricate drawings, I really have gained respect for those who took the effort to produce these books. Personally, I think these older books are even more spectacular because they existed before the days of computer-aided design. Somebody physically replicated each part on paper and drew everything by hand. The results are truly astonishing works of art.
Not only did I leave my internship with a wealth of newly acquired knowledge and a renewed enthusiasm for Mercedes-Benz, but I also went home with another car. A forlorn 1968 280SEL was stored on the premises, waiting for a new home. Because I was looking for a gasoline project car – and I have a soft spot for W108s – I purchased the car as a daily-driver rolling-restoration project. It needs plenty of work, but I’m up for the challenge.
I would like to thank Albrecht Stachel and the entire staff at Brooklyn Moteren Werke in Brooklyn, Wisconsin, for this fantastic opportunity: Your incredible knowledge and wisdom made this a very meaningful experience that I will never forget. And to Star readers: If you’re looking for knowledgeable and courteous Mercedes-Benz service in the Midwest – or looking for a breathtaking driving destination when you’re in the area – stop by Brooklyn Moteren Werke; your precious Mercedes will be in good hands.
Wes Anderson is an active member of the mbca.org Forums and his local sections in Indiana and Kansas, where he is starting his sophomore year in the Automotive Restoration Program at McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas. The college is the only one in the country that offers an accredited four-year bachelor’s degree in automobile restoration. In his columns, Wes shares with us the principles and techniques he is learning in his courses and summer work.