This is the Lübeck project, a Memories III that didn’t quite make the turn, veered into the ditch, and rolled into the pasture. Fortunately, no one was injured, but with 60,810 km on the odometer, it was a very abrupt end for a car that was in good condition.
The owner’s husband was able to surprise her with yet another Memories III. That car, however, had about 100,000 km more on the odometer. That’s why the entire drivetrain (engine, transmission, driveshaft, and differential) was removed from the wrecked car and stored for later use. The remainder, as shown in the photos above, was put up for sale as a rolling chassis.
Since I had been looking for a complete Memories III interior in good condition for quite some time, I didn’t hesitate for a moment to contact the seller. We agreed on the price fairly quickly, and I transferred the money that very morning. The following weekend, I went with my oldest daughter to pick up the car near Lübeck.
The entire interior was still in good condition. The wooden gearshift and handbrake lever were missing at first, but turned up after some persistence. Still, it’s a shame that a car with so few kilometers has to be written off like that. However, it won’t be the first—or the last. For me, it was a blessing, because I had finally found the right donor for the interior.
It took me many weeks to dismantle the car, but the proceeds from the parts I didn’t need were greater than the costs I incurred. So, in effect, I ended up with a free interior to replace the Impuls interior I was using at the time.