Authenticity. What does it mean to a restorer and collector of classic automobiles? Because the original chassis number 0001/52 (the first) of the eleven W194 racers was destroyed shortly after it was used to introduce the car to the press in 1952, Passarelli Restorations has purposefully reconstructed our racer to reflect the 60 years that have passed since its introduction. Our W194 is reconstructed from the perspective of this car as if it had survived.
On occasion, we have been asked why some of the parts on the W194 look “less than new”. The answer is the amazing attention to detail and perfection, the quest to reconstruct an automobile that is authentic is every possible way. This means using authentic parts and some restored parts, however all are within new specifications with regard to wear and tolerances. These are components that have the patina 60 years imparts. Some of the W194 parts are used, coming from the very same (now vintage) Mercedes Benz automobiles that were manufacured in 1951 and 1952. Some are “new old stock”, meaning they were manufactured when the car was being built and have been sitting on the shelves of the factory, suppliers or other collectors for over 60 years. On occasion, when none of these options are available for necessary components, Passarelli Restorations will do exactly what the Mercedes Benz engineers did in 1951 – go to the machine shop and hand craft one-of-a-kind parts. In all, more than 80% of this W194 reconstruction is vintage components. So if you see some of the parts on this car that don’t look showroom fresh, that’s because you are seeing a car that is essentially over 60 years old. So give this aging beauty a bit of leeway in how she looks! Even the final coachwork will be constructed and painted with the correct vintage techniques and will incorporate the patina of an older paint of nitro cellulose lacquer; not so shiny and perfect as most concours level cars but with the aged look of a true racing legend.
On occasion, we have been asked why some of the parts on the W194 look “less than new”. The answer is the amazing attention to detail and perfection, the quest to reconstruct an automobile that is authentic is every possible way. This means using authentic parts and some restored parts, however all are within new specifications with regard to wear and tolerances. These are components that have the patina 60 years imparts. Some of the W194 parts are used, coming from the very same (now vintage) Mercedes Benz automobiles that were manufacured in 1951 and 1952. Some are “new old stock”, meaning they were manufactured when the car was being built and have been sitting on the shelves of the factory, suppliers or other collectors for over 60 years. On occasion, when none of these options are available for necessary components, Passarelli Restorations will do exactly what the Mercedes Benz engineers did in 1951 – go to the machine shop and hand craft one-of-a-kind parts. In all, more than 80% of this W194 reconstruction is vintage components. So if you see some of the parts on this car that don’t look showroom fresh, that’s because you are seeing a car that is essentially over 60 years old. So give this aging beauty a bit of leeway in how she looks! Even the final coachwork will be constructed and painted with the correct vintage techniques and will incorporate the patina of an older paint of nitro cellulose lacquer; not so shiny and perfect as most concours level cars but with the aged look of a true racing legend.
