This car has specially engraved wheel centres, these were privately made for car No 60 & 72 only by the first private owner of car No 60. This car was a late addition to the production line and is the last one recorded as going through the Middlebridge Electrical Dept following receipt of car No 78. [04.10]

Our car has uprated springs and fully adjustable shock absorbers; the central locking has been modified to enable you to lock and unlock the rear hatch simultaneously with the doors and can also be controlled from the rear of the car. The rear axle is currently away being refurbished and the front suspension is on its second rebuild, both times with poly-bushes. The Auto box was replaced with a brand new unit after only 13 months use (under warranty from the original suppliers) this was due to the original gearbox not having the recommended main bearing lubrication modification, which led to an inevitable total gearbox failure!

The car has also been completely refurbished internally with bespoke carpeting and full leather seating; grey carpets and seats have now replaced the original blue items. Prior to purchasing the car we visited the Middlebridge Factory to finalise the purchase details, the factory was totally spotless, you could eat your dinner off the floor - it was only the day before that HRH The Princess Royal had visited the Factory. We would have chosen a grey interior but as the would be used as a work-horse we chose the original colour of blue purely for practical purposes. Once we had finalised our car specification we were taken out for a relaxed dinner which was a lovely to finish off our visit to the Lilac Grove Factory.

The original wheels have been bead blasted and powder coated. Although, as stated above the car was the last rrecorded car to go through the MB electrical department it did suffer from a main headlight switch meltdown soon after purchase! I did later realise that the fog light / hazzard switch or the fan / heater switch could easily have replaced the headlight switch as they are all basically the same unit.

Unusually for a Middlebridge our car is still on her original paint and still looking good however we have noticed a few blemishes recently meaning we may be looking at a respray sooner rather than later. [07.12]

Many thanks for the write up, Mick G [07.12]

MESS Products: Front Grille Badge, Wheel Centres