วีดีโอ

It’s an easy car to love - enjoy it! These Swiss roads are pretty special too.

Thanks, mate!

Absolutely, fabulous museum that was - Museo Enzo Ferrari in Modena.

@swissroadtrip wow, such beautiful and elegant machinery. if I ever go to Italy again, I'll check it out, if not, at least I lived it through your video, thanks.

You’re very welcome. Follow for more.

That’s very kind of you, thanks. Do feel free to check out the other E-Type video on the channel.

Thank you, much appreciated.

Thank you, much appreciated. I’ve never had wire wheels on a car, but imagine they’re not nearly as easy to maintain as the pressed steel wheels (original chrome from 1973). The centre caps are hard to come by, mind you. There’s another video “driving review” on the E-Type, if you’re interested. Take care.

@@swissroadtrip - thank you, I will take a look.

Thank you! Cheers!

Very kind, thank you.

Cool, lots of pics of it on Intagram too @swiss.road.trip

The engine temperature was never an issue, it’s more the heat coming from the engine & transmission that makes the cockpit hot. No A/C, so we insulated the transmission tunnel & open the windows.

Thanks, much appreciated. There’s also an ‘owners review’ video on the E-Type, if you’re interested. If you’re heading to Venice via Geneva, then go Besançon, Pontarlier, Lausanne and over the Grand St Bernard pass to Aosta (Chamonix - Courmayeur goes through a long, expensive tunnel). If you’re going Basel, Lucerne then Lugano & Como are fab but perhaps less so in Oct so I’d suggest Davos, Stelvio and Lago di Garda. Check the weather forecasts beforehand & think about all-weather tyres. Enjoy.

Thank you kindly, very good of you to say. Glad you enjoyed it.

Glad to hear you enjoyed the video - they do take quite a while to film and edit. There’s another video on the E-Type entitled ‘driving review’, which you might also wish to check ou, along with videos of some of my other cars. Enjoy.

Nope, but my E-Type had an aftermarket dictaphone fitted in it back in the 1970’s (didn’t work so I took it out).

Hi Ted, thanks for the comment. Sorry, but I’m not keen on sharing my name on social media.

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed the video. There are actually very few one-way roads in Switzerland, but quite a lot of narrow lanes with passing places every now and again (sometimes you have to stop and reverse back to a wider section). It’s like that in England a lot too, so we’re used to it. I see you watched the “driving review” video on the E-Type - there’s also an “owner’s review” video on the E-Type if you’re interested. Not to mention other videos on my other cars on the channel - enjoy.

My E-Type was laid up for 15 years before I got it. We drove it for a while and then had the engine rebuilt and all of the coolant hoses changed (and flexible brake lines & fuel hoses too). Not worth the risk keeping ancient / brittle / corroded hoses even on a 20-25 yr old car like my ‘99 SL320.

Thank you for watching the SL320 driving review video. The steering wheel adjustment works fine on my car, thanks, never had any problems with that. If you check out the SL320 “owner’s review” video then ca. 6min 30secs into the video I demonstrate the steering wheel adjustment and how the settings are linked to the seat adjustments. I shall bear your suggestions in mind should I ever have a problem with the wheel adjustment.

Yes, they do look lovely thanks.

Thank you, much appreciated.

Cool, I’ll bet it’s much faster than mine. Have you ever had a problem with your fuel pump relay getting really hot and the car stalling as a result? Mine does at present.

@@swissroadtrip no sir. The only issues I have had are the “known” issues - motor mounts, top hydraulic cylinders, valve cover gaskets, trans connector, front shock tower bushings. The motor and trans are bullet proof on these cars and as long as folks are aware of the known issues, these are beautiful and reliable cars. Oh, and I did needed to replace the blower motor resistor. The part was only $28 for the resistor, but that took me too long to do because I wanted to be super careful to not break a vacuum line. Hope all is well with yours.

I’ve got a 1999 SL 500 with under 38,000 original miles and runs and drives like a true Mercedes! Triple black and is definitely a cruiser.

Well, it’s a bit poorly at the moment, but I’m having some jobs done. The A/C condenser is being rebuilt, the lower control arms have been replaced, anti-sway bar bushes replaced, gearbox ATF flush & refill, some coroded brake lines are being replaced. Stalling still an issue, sadly.

My Maserati GranSport is triple black too, but gets really dusty in the Swiss Alps, which is why I went for a silver SL. Your SL has super low miles for a 24 year old car! Is that down to light use or was it laid up for a while?

Thank you, much appreciated. No overdrive, 4-speed manual gearbox. Check out the E-Type driving review video as well. Just published a video on my Merc the other day as well, if you’re interested. Do feel free to like & subscribe.

Hi Mike, thanks for the comment - check out the ‘owner’s review’ video of the SL320. I need a new condenser as well (part no. A1298300270) but they’re hard to find. Go to theslshop.com - they sell them for £759.60 plus VAT (I gather ca. £1,300 installed). The condenser is located in front of the radiator, so there shouldn’t be a need to remove the dashboard to replace it (unless there are other A/C issues that need addressing). Glad you enjoyed the video and the views - don’t forget to subscribe to the channel and like the videos, please.

That’s a good starting point for an SL320, but the best cars are more like £18-20k upwards. Check out the SL Shop in Stratford-Upon-Avon as they always have several in stock. That’s where I bought mine.

They have quite a timeless design, I find, hope you enjoyed the video.

Thanks! I thought they looked really good when I bought the car years ago and never contemplated changing them - not least because they’ve been on the car since 1973! The little hubcaps are actually quite nice too.

Thanks for your comment, pleased you liked the video. I ran with the stock exhaust for many years, but it was so quiet that you couldn’t barely hear the engine at idle so I had stainless headers fitted (the cast iron manifolds were pretty ugly, it has to be said). The car sits low to the ground at stock ride height and the (massive) back-box resonator got caught on a drive in France and ripped the exhaust off. At that point, I’d had enough and had the aftermarket resonators fitted which sound great and really let the V12 breath. At the end of the day, it’s a modification that can be easily changed back to stock so I don’t regret it at all. Sometimes when you own a car for 14 years it’s nice to experiment a little and make the odd change.

Glad you enjoyed the video and liked the car, thank you.

Lifetime thank you to you uncle, If possible will try to visit your car garage switzerland,

Thank you, that’s very kind of you. It does take me quite a while to make these videos, so your feedback is much appreciated!

Thank you! The straight pipes were a bit too much, but the after-market resonators did the trick! Mind you, the headers helped too.

Thank you, very kind! It even came with a tapedeck & dictaphone (!) but I never managed to get those working. I’ve been very careful not to alter the car in a way that can’t easily be put ‘right’ - such as the exhaust.

Silver with navy blue - that’s a colour combination I haven’t seen on a SIII E-Type, but it sound lovely. There’s a second video on the E-Type on the channel if you’re interested. Glad you enjoyed this one!

@@swissroadtrip it ended up getting shipped to Holland. From England to Canada and back overseas to Holland. I will definitely watch that second video.

What could be better than two of my favourite things - classic cars and Switzerland

Mine was purchased new in Watford and then lived in London with me and remained UK registered from new.

Glad you enjoy the combination ... me too!

Thanks, mate, much appreciated!

The camshafts are stock, the exhaust isn’t. I fitted stainless headers and free-flow resonators.

At 6’4” tall I only fit in the 5cm extended wheel base SIII, so that was always the only one for me. Also fancied having a V12 and I prefer the 70’s flared fenders to the SI and SII. The larger grill opening is a bit ungainly perhaps but the V12 radiator needs it. The Webasto full-length sunroof also looks good (to me) either open or closed. There’s another E-Type video on my channel if you’re interested.

@@swissroadtrip i enjoyed your videos! and it's a great machine!

Thanks for the feedback. I’ve also made videos of my 911 and my Merc 320SL, if you’re interested. Enjoy the model car, particularly if it’s from your dad.

I got the Corgi V12 E Type 2+2, still have it, in yellow.

My uncle had multiple Caddy’s (‘59 included), so I grew up with them. My thumbnail was a painting I had done for my garage (see also @swiss.road.trip on Instagram). I have another E-Type video I’ll be posting soon so keep an eye out. Glad you enjoyed it!

Not many, under 60,000 km

Lots of people bought wire wheels post purchase (and needed hubs fitting too), not to mention the 4 exhaust tips. I liked the fact that mine came with original pressed steel wheels and also only two exhaust tips.

@@swissroadtrip Fair enough too. I had not seen them.

The series 3 came standard with grey painted pressed wheels with chrome wheel trim rings. Chrome pressed steel wheels and Chrome wire wheels were optional extras.

Yes, the car was purchased in May 1973 and five chrome plated pressed steel wheels were purchased in Sept 1973 for £93.50. Chrome still looks super!

I prefer the period chrome pressed steel wheels. I have them on my XJC. The wire wheels look too contrived on the Series 3 E Type.

Thank you, very kind!

Enjoy it, make sure it’s a good one. They’re quite complex cars, so breakdowns can be tricky to diagnose and repair (in my experience).

Still lots of skiing to do first! Snow forecast for next week.

Funnily enough, my 3.4t is working fine but the SL320 stalled on me just this morning! Bought a replacement fuel cap at Halfords, seems fine now. Must now order proper R129 cap online.

Thanks! Not much wind noise or buffetting at all really, good aero. Roof pretty much fills the frunk so I leave it on when travelling. Rear seats are a good space for bags etc. as seat back folds down to form a luggage platform of sorts.

@@swissroadtrip Didn’t know seats folded in the Targa, we’ve got a 991 now having had three 997s. Very practical cars, love them. I’m looking for an air cooled but can’t decide on which model.

I wouldn’t say the folding seats give more room, but they do provide a flat surface to put a bag or suitcase on. My ‘71 VW camper is aircooled with lots of storage space … they look good with Porsche parts too! ;-)

Thanks for watching!

Thank you, they are lovely in real life (inside & out), and so much smaller than modern 911’s.

My name is Billy Holtzman I'm currently from Antioch Illinois My real father' had a Porsche 911 turbo SC when I was a little boy

Turbo’s are cool, for sure!

Thanks, I’ve always loved the G-bumper 911

Yes, it was quite silly of me to position the trolley where I had done. It is quite a big awkward thing and made largely of glass (!) so I’m pleased we didn’t break it (or the car). To be fair, we did film our first try at removing the top - the footage would’ve ended up in the bin had it gone wrong!

You’re very welcome, glad you enjoyed it.

Thank you, very kind. We are just custodians of these vehicles. I do my best to keep my cars in top condition.

I hope younger people do get to enjoy these classics. But first, one has to appreciate the classics as opposed to being treated like a kid’s toy to show off in, abuse, and mistreat.

Yes, quite, if you abuse them they’ll soon break down and they’re not cheap to repair.