Sorry it's been so long!

I know it's been a while since my last post, but there have been some goings on at Vitis Vitae. I needed a new, larger vehicle to transport my Tasting glasses and supplies to conduct wine events, and I don't like minivans or SUV's. I searched all available choices and found the perfect vehicle. A 1983 Mercedes Benz 300SD - large 4 door sedan, room in the trunk for a multitude of boxes of glasses, and diesel operated. Absolutely perfect! The car was listed at a corner car lot as "mint" - probably peppermint, because it needed a lot of work, but I knew that, since fast talking car dealers aren't known for truth.

It has been a labour of love restoring Dieter - yes, he has a name - Dieter the Diesel! He needed new front discs for his brakes, valve cover gasket, rear stabilizer link, compression test, vacuum test, valve adjustment (twice!), new timing chain, fuel injection pump adjustment, complete re-timing, power seat switch, new front bumper chrome, door stop, front caliper replaced (seizing!), transmission adjustments, new tach modulator, new tires, some rust fixed - mainly around the sunroof, and side trim, stone chips touched up on the rest of the car. I'm into the car for about $10,000 in repairs and restoration, but this car has lasted 26 years with hardly anything being done, so with all these repairs, he should last another 26 years. The nice thing about Mercedes is when you fix them, they stay fixed! He's only got 321,000 km on him, so he's good for about another 680,000 km. He has qualified for his first level High Mileage Award from Mercedes, the next level is at 500,000 km.

If you see a beautiful silver classic (legally antique!) 300SD cruising around Guelph, It's Dieter.