OT-Visit to Rudi's World
03-30-2012, 06:06 PM
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OT-Visit to Rudi's World
Our local PCA chapter (www.virpca.org) organized a visit last weekend to Rudi Koniczek’s facility (www.rudiandcompany.com).
Rudi is one of the top(if not the top) restorers of Mercedes-Benz 300SL’s. He has been doing this for years, maintaining a very low profile locally.
The first thing we saw was the “showroom”. Two 300 SL Gull wings, a 300 SL Roadster, a Ferrari Lusso, a Lagonda Touring car, and for amusement a Honda 600 roadster.
Next door is the shop. Three more 300 SL’s in various phases of restoration, a Dino 246 Spider, and the frame of a AC Bristol. In the finishing room were two 300SL Roadsters.
After about an hour of viewing and listening to Rudi explain how and to what level they do things ( the cars are effectively new when they leave) he said we’ll now go off-site to the “vaults”
OHMYGOD.
That’s a Dino, that’s Daytona Spider, that’s another Daytona Spider, oh that’s only a Daytona Coupe, what’s this THREEE Testa Rossas ???????
OHMYGOD OHMYGOD a ’65 250 GTO (I think)and tucked in the corner a ’64(I think) 250 GTO. Over on the other wall numerous Jags… I kind of ignored the mere XK 1X0s and E-types and focused on the pretty blue D-type.
I never got an actual total count ( being completely gobsmacked ). In fact I could barely operate my camera. I'd have love to set up better lights but the thought of somebody knocking over a lightstand into one of these still scares me.
I could spend days there.
Jim (still completely gobsmacked)
Rudi is one of the top(if not the top) restorers of Mercedes-Benz 300SL’s. He has been doing this for years, maintaining a very low profile locally.
The first thing we saw was the “showroom”. Two 300 SL Gull wings, a 300 SL Roadster, a Ferrari Lusso, a Lagonda Touring car, and for amusement a Honda 600 roadster.
Next door is the shop. Three more 300 SL’s in various phases of restoration, a Dino 246 Spider, and the frame of a AC Bristol. In the finishing room were two 300SL Roadsters.
After about an hour of viewing and listening to Rudi explain how and to what level they do things ( the cars are effectively new when they leave) he said we’ll now go off-site to the “vaults”
OHMYGOD.
That’s a Dino, that’s Daytona Spider, that’s another Daytona Spider, oh that’s only a Daytona Coupe, what’s this THREEE Testa Rossas ???????
OHMYGOD OHMYGOD a ’65 250 GTO (I think)and tucked in the corner a ’64(I think) 250 GTO. Over on the other wall numerous Jags… I kind of ignored the mere XK 1X0s and E-types and focused on the pretty blue D-type.
I never got an actual total count ( being completely gobsmacked ). In fact I could barely operate my camera. I'd have love to set up better lights but the thought of somebody knocking over a lightstand into one of these still scares me.
I could spend days there.
Jim (still completely gobsmacked)
03-30-2012, 07:27 PM
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Another interesting story is that he help find the "lost" Alloy body Gull wing. I didn't see it at the shop but he is doing the restoration.
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2...ate-barn-find/
Jim
Last edited by JGB; 03-30-2012 at 07:32 PM. Reason: typo
03-30-2012, 08:48 PM
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wow, what a collection of cars!
seems kinda out of place in that dingy vault, is the floor even finished? imagine all those cars in a nice private showroom how much better they would look.
seems kinda out of place in that dingy vault, is the floor even finished? imagine all those cars in a nice private showroom how much better they would look.
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03-30-2012, 11:25 PM
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03-31-2012, 01:26 PM
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Thanks for posting, Jim. There sure are a lot of enthusiasts on the Island.
The alloy 300SL has to be the most interesting barn find since the Bugatti Atalante Coupe in England, a few years ago.
The alloy 300SL has to be the most interesting barn find since the Bugatti Atalante Coupe in England, a few years ago.
