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About us
About us
Based in Cornwall, close to Newquay Richard has run his surfing company for the past 25 or so years and focused on what is the top end of the surfing market. Over the years and being a frequent traveller to California it didn’t take long for Richard to start seeing beautiful and almost perfect vintage Mercedes driving the California freeways and like a true European export they recognised each other and back in 2002 Richard bought his first. A 1981 240 Diesel Saloon (later bought by the BBC to drive around the world), then followed a 1976 Mercedes 220, then a 280SE, then a 200. Over the years these well-built German cars held a real connection in terms of communicating the style and ethos of the Nineplus brand, simple, classic, timeless and of renowned quality.
What was probably the height of German hand built engineering that ended in the late 1970’s, these older cars were nut & bolt engines and were some of the most well build cars of their days but throughout this heyday of the 1960’s and rising towards the top of these Mercedes models was the W113 model, also known as the Pagoda (due to the slight bow in the removable hardtop that resembled a Japanese temple) the model ran from 1963 (Geneva motor show release) until it was replaced with the R107 model in 1972. Designed by Paul Brack & Bela Barenyi and built upon the success of the 190SL & the iconic 300SL (Gullwing) it became an instant hit and throughout it various models (230, 250 & 280SL) and its total production of 48,912 units it was the car for the rich and famous of the day. Richard bought his first W113 model and after shipping it from the US started a complete restoration of the car down the every little screw & bolt. Since wanting to start a workshop to focus on Mercedes cars Richard didn’t know that this course of action would help him learn how to locate the numerous replacement parts, recondition & restore what was salvageable and recognise what was not.
Starting a workshop to help others enjoy the same integral focus on rigorous restoration, At Nineplus we focus on rebuilding the cars back to their original showroom condition at a reasonable cost and focus on a ‘love for the Craft’ over trying to just make profit. Why? Because we love it.
Although we can service, rebuilt or just clean the cars up our focus in the business is to take the cars datacard (sometimes lost and can be obtained from Mercedes directly) and then follow the cars path back to its original factory condition and specification. Using the various numbers on both of the datacard on the cars chassis and also its paper copy all the components of the car can be located and a car can be ‘reset’ or ‘Zurucksetzen’ in German back to the start. Sometimes that’s the interior, sometimes the engine but normally it’s the whole car and around an 18 month process. But at the end its gives you a car that’s worth it money and safe for years to come, a daily driver should you wish and a rebirth that pushes it towards future generations.
Often described as ‘one of the most beautiful cars ever produced’ the Mercedes Pagoda is one of the rare classic cars that after nearly 60 years finds it easy to pass down the generations and is accepted as a symbol of cool and style. Its both extremely simple yet sophisticated at the same time. Its leaves people thinking, wow – that car is so beautiful wherever its seen and here in Cornwall we work to continue their rich heritage and legacy.
Get in touch, we look forward to hearing from you.