Rescued from the junkyard | 1 year Mercedes restoration in 1hr23

This family car was destined for the junkyard. Scary structural rust problems and no budget for the level of repairs needed meant a little boy would have to say goodbye. But his uncle decided to try and save it. This is the story of what happened next.
https//:www.georgekarellas.com
Full classic car restoration in stop motion and timelapse.
With thanks for help from Edward Kelly Mercedes and Jimmy Sheehan

[@SPGDetailing]

Your videos are what the internet was invented for. Simply the best entertainment ever made.

[@goransalic1029]

the videos are great

[@2loudspeakers]

I got up on this lazy Sunday morning, and my wife and I sat down with tea and watched this start to end. We are in awe of your film making skills, your car restoration skills, your patience and perseverance! Wow! Amazing stuff.

[@Oceanism]

damn... is your wife single? 😅 i watch this hiding in the toilet.

[@pawenowak8642]

Nice wife! 😉

[@Guerrini2954]

True words!

[@HollerHunter]

I nominate you, sir, for a KZbin Academy Award.

[@b.r.g1286]

I hope this little boy may travel the world with his friend in the future!

[@kathharper]

The stop motion animation was what brought me to your videos in the first place - and the whole thing is mind-blowingly good when you combine that with your style of vehicle restoration. The skills needed to do all of this are related but the patience, organization, and well understood and planned order-of-operations needed to do both so well is definitiely next-level great. AND you tell a good story too... just WOW.

[@jwvandegronden]

well said!! It is so inspiring and aggravating at the same time, _Why can someone be that good?! And I can't even get my ass off the couch!_

[@jasonalexander7434]

Delete social media and streaming services. Free yourself from the couch :)@@jwvandegronden

[@DavidPlass]

@@jwvandegronden Same. It's enough to drive me to not work on the car... but as George says, "stay stuck in".

[@grkfrk04]

I watched this with my 3 year old son. He must’ve said “wow” 100 times

[@stuartofblyth]

"Restoration" videos are two a penny on KZbin. This isn't one of them. This is Art with a capital "A".

[@Japjongetje]

You had me at 'blanky'and 'sippy cup'. 🤣🤣

[@D3nn1s]

Damn i though i could just play that video in the background, but that intro really got to me. What a cool uncle :)

[@gene80shits]

got cramps in my legs and bursting for a piss... couldnt leave this video. brilliant.

[@terryatkinson899]

Sign of a great video 🤗

[@matthewj.fitzgibbons]

as someone who has restored a 1972 MB 220d and worked on a few W123's, i salute the author of this video. it's wonderful to relive the process! great work.

[@darrenjones5885]

There would have been hundreds of hours of work if the little boy’s friend wasn’t mostly self-repairing. Good to see it caught on camera by his uncle.

[@brianpatten]

Your content is simply the best of KZbin, George. You tell a story, film something a completely different way than others and fix a car to make it last.This is the tripod of awesomeness!

[@MaggieKeizai]

Another feature-length love letter to a faithful old car, showing it becoming shiny and new again. May they never stop coming.

[@timjones624]

Lovely video, George. I hope the little boy gets to drive his pal Schroeder one day.

[@soupclassicmotoring]

That’s his plan!

[@bruceschneider4928]

How wonderful that The Little Boy got to help Uncle George bring Schroeder back to life!

[@MichaelSteeves]

All those tiny patches! You have the patience of Job to get all those done.

[@4RingsRetro]

Coolest uncle ever!❤️ Not only have I already watched this before (twice!), I know this isn't going to be the last time. Utterly beautiful masterpiece, both the car and the film.❤

[@Security2U]

This video deserves a million views absolutely brilliant

[@SuneLangdal]

I have every device in the house playing this video right now 🙂 Wish you all the best

[@dan725]

Solid innerspace reference. One of my favorite movies as a kid hahah.

[@RunnerBalz]

I really love how you treat this car like a beeing with a soul

[@Hugothester]

Nah people do not understand the shear absurd amount of work this video took to be made, what an amazing work of art, thank you for creating this outstanding piece of footage and bringing a w123 back from the dead.

[@BigPaul62]

The 123 series is one of the finest motor vehicles ever made ( Ive had a few and my late dad had a 280TE) and I raise my hat to you for preserving this lovely old car.

[@bigwu100]

They are made to last. I've had two. Sold em both,but always on the look out for a clean one forsale. Love the way Germans build their autos, specifically Mercedes-Benz.

[@Aidan.17]

This isn't the typical car restoration channel that im used to this is literally art. The music and footage absolute gold. I'm literally meditating watching this.

[@TheChaztor]

The definition of a a labor of love.

[@yukiotakata]

WHAT CANT YOU DO George ??? Filmaker,Overall fixer AND a VERY GOOD storyteller . Of all projects until now ,the Surfing Merc is my favorite. The Rover may be the one who brought me here BUT thats something special about the Merc to me , i never got why until this video . This car have a past and thanks to George and everybody who helped in, a present AND a future in his family.

[@jwvandegronden]

and great uncle!

[@boriss.861]

What a lovely thing to do for your Sister and Nephew's! George (cheers Timbo1863) Thanks! What a difference with that new Mig Welder!

[@corvair1966]

Geez, I feel bad when I blink during your videos, knowing I just missed 2.5 hours of your effort! I rewind out of respect.

[@dan725]

LOL! I did the same! I reminded so many times!!

[@StevenLeib-v7m]

a sublime fairy tale to start this sunday morning. the catharsis of restoration imbued with family and the grand goal of reclaiming and bolstering the mother ship!

[@joec3626]

Wow a double video week, joy of joys! TQVM

[@johnmcallister2409]

Know nothing about cars or videography but can recognise a tour de force when I see one. Thanks George.

[@stephenbroaders]

Magical , a joy to behold 😎

[@zilizopendwa4644]

breakfast ingested and coffee in hand, this is the perfect Sunday morning video 👍🏾

[@DinneratDorsia]

Probably, no hesitation saying this, one of the 3 better YT resto channels. Thanks for this from Spain

[@mstrskgtrndy]

I hope this video gets all the success and recognition it deserves

[@philbarrance]

i have done all those things a million times after forty years being a mechanic but still i find it relaxing seeing someone else get the sore knuckles cuts and scrapes and probably cut head!

[@akoskerekes8504]

If ever there is a youtube hall of fame this will have to be no.1. The presentation, fechnical knowledge, imagination is unsurpassed

[@soupclassicmotoring]

Thank you :)

[@gertv6777]

Great work, I forgot how many times you had the front fenders off, thats got to be an E class world record

[@dankedney]

This project originally got me hooked on Soup during Covid times in 2020. Wonderful way to close the loop on it!

[@dlee3710]

I think, or tink you made this work of art to convince me to get off my ass and deal with my own 300d. Thanks George, great work!

[@soupclassicmotoring]

Good luck with it

[@Wingnut_Stickman]

Excellent video, thank you for sharing.

[@atomiclitterbox8526]

You da Man doesn't say You do Man well enough, so You IS da Man will have to do. Very satisfying to watch. Thanks!

[@MrMaxDelux]

Yes... another one in a week... love it... and an amazing video., story and true love of storytelling...

[@ryang5441]

Retrofitting cruise and recapping the computer were nice touches. Fantastic video.

[@kmet2000]

Sir, just because of your videos I went back to work on old rusty cars an bringing them on a better level. Thank you for what you did for me 👍

[@paulcarter2907]

Wow, you have a mighty mechanic/uncle/film maker..You should all be in Hollywood..Such skills, thank you...

[@Anderware]

It is sad that this -- possibly the finest video on youtube -- will never get the acclaim and recognition that it deserves. Phenomenal job both on the restoration and the filmmaking.

[@SlimTortoise]

Lovely work 🙂 I'm retired now, but I still enjoy doing jobs on the wife (Got to mention that she owns them too) and I car and camping car, but I take way to long as I'm cleaning painting and polishing everything I take off, Why not. Nobody sees it (maybe when it gets its two year test they do) but I know and that's what matters to me., Thank you sir for keeping these vehicles on the road.

[@jarleadolfsen9426]

Closest to artwork of any youtuber as far as I know! Simply Amazing!

[@chasephotos4780]

A lovely morning meditation with my coffee! Thanks!

[@philyates4814]

Best channel, hands down. Thank you sir

[@stirlingfromla]

Only have one question. Why does this guy only have 125,000 viewers? He should have millions.

[@chrisunderwood657]

That was not a video.... it was a work of art!

[@liambrady9852]

Two masterpieces in one week? WTF? Very much not complaining, just feeling overly spoiled now…….

[@timbo1863]

Thanks George…….nothing like one of your videos to lift the spirits

[@MrGrentch]

The quality of both the camera and the car work is truly outstanding. 😮👍👍

[@tedwingate]

I hope this gets some serious attention, you’ve done something very special here.

[@stephengirling7859]

Your vids may be few and far between but boy are they worth waiting for! I'm not the envious type and well happy with my lot but i do covet that car. Awesome stuff!

[@paulperratt3748]

The guys a genius, and its a good job he doesn't make more films or I'd never get anything done. This is what television was invented for. Brilliant!

[@Mister_G]

Well that 1 hour 23minutes passed VERY quickly! A cinematic masterpiece, George.

[@thomashudgins996]

I have to say that your videos are top notch entertainment. Excellent job. Loved this video. I halfway expected you to make the three point star yourself! lol... loved every second. Look forward to the next video.

[@littlewindy1]

Utterly the most incredible video l’ve seen on KZbin for a long, long time ….

[@dantarver622]

I'm only half way through but I'm declaring this a MASTERPIECE!!

[@soupclassicmotoring]

Thanks for hanging in there ")

[@MagnificentlyHighAlien]

What a beaut. My dad had a '79 w123 200 in savannah yellow and had it completely restaurated. Disgusting color, slow as hell, but my god I wish I could've driven it one day. Even a friend of mine remembers it fondly. Sadly, due to rheumatism my dad started having problems getting in and out of the car and couldn't really do much with it anymore. In the end he sold it off with a fist sized rust hole in the floorboard because it stood for 2 years. On a brighter note, he's had it for almost 10 years and did daily it for half that time, so it didn't go unused. Also when he first got the car, the neighbours of course had to take it for a spin. Within 2 months there were 4 w123's parked in the street.

[@ingolfschneider5026]

A brilliant video! Thanks for this summary of your years of fantastic work on this Mercedes!

[@GriffinCorpOne]

One of the best car youtubers! These videos could have their own master class.

[@stewartm8121]

For anyone who has spent any time under an old car, you'll appreciate the amount of work gone into this. I spent the last 2 weekends under my "70 MG just to replace the slave clutch, and boy, don't fancy that too often & and yet this guy has the skill and patience to also do the videography! Keep up the good work George. The Prince.

[@soupclassicmotoring]

Good on ya Princey, any underneath job is always a pain and that’s before dealing with clutch fluid. Bet it feels great now. Cheers pal

[@SongHitsFestival]

My dad had this exact car back in 1997-1999. I drove it when I was 13 years old here in Manila Philippines and it was so nice! Remembering my dad ❤

[@jeffkeogh5616]

Your assembly of the fuel pump and filter setup is a masterpiece.

[@rabk5702]

This is by far one of the best car refurb jobs on KZbin I have ever seen no long drawn out monologing pure no-nonsense video with close ups and stop motion well made. 😁😁👍👍

[@dan725]

This is such a beautiful story! We all have THAT car. That special car that’s been with us. :). Thank you for sharing your story and your beautiful car with us. This was truly beautifully done! This HAS to be seen BY EVERYONE. KZbin’s algorithm is officially STUPID if it can’t detect such a jewel in the rough.

[@OilNBolts1]

I've seen many movies that were nowhere near as good as this. Stay stuck in indeed, I tell myself this daily now. Fantastic. 😮

[@htownblue11]

The fuel filter reassembly part was insane. Just wow.

[@piwex69]

At first I thought - not again, it was already exploited. But after the personal touches in the beginning, I binge watch the whole story again. Cause this Mercedes has a purpose and it has a meaning.

[@caspar2937]

Academy Award stuff. These video’s bring me so much joy. Thank you George.

[@duncan1234]

The drifting was purely in the name of science, right? ;-) Seriously... great video, thank you.

[@theogharoon]

Oh, the emotions this video is bringing out in me are undescribable My father brought home his W123 in April 1977. Drove it from Stuttgart to Norway where we were living. My younger brother was 2 years old at that time and I remember that he too used to stand up between the two front seats to observe the world. What a car. The only car that to this day makes my heart skip a beat.. Great video. Love the stop motion photography. Unique and well done

[@jasongargiulo3984]

Incredible video. Best channel out there.

[@al3jandr0g]

Always loved these mercedes videos, hope this gets to be the little boys first car 😊

[@soupclassicmotoring]

He say so regularly… thats why it had to be saved!

[@staric4863]

A pleasure to watch. I admire your determination.

[@davidphillips7255]

Back in the day Lucas was known as 'the Prince of Darkness'. Awesome video.

[@bastogne315]

Love the red on black plates ❤❤

[@profmathers00]

This is some of the best content on KZbin, full stop. Bravo.

[@dxb8788]

he brought something back to life from my childhood , this car impresses me more than a bugatti chiron

[@mickpurcell272]

Amazing work well done,keep the videos coming👍👍👍

[@superseven7947]

If there is such a thing as KZbin content awards then you deserve a few Oscars for this George👍.. Story... Production.. Just on a Totaly different level!!! 🏆🏆🏆🥇🥇🥇. For me There is a very nostalgic almost 70's feel to this as it brings back happy memories of a simpler time growing up in Ireland helping Dad with his car doing work outdoors, also being in the pit in the garage.. The sounds the smells of automotive relatated substances and all infused with an epic 70's soundtrack playing in the background of my memory ☘️ George You are a total legend!!! Best wishes from the North Coast 🌊🏄‍♂️☘️

[@soupclassicmotoring]

Thanks a million man. Not sure if this will mean anything to you but Miki Dora drove a Seven 😎

[@KylejvT]

I love these compilation videos of all your work combined, that combined with chilliest of music makes for brilliant Sunday relaxing.

[@tonysoprano7425]

Soup, you're the best!

[@Sharpened_Spoon]

This looks like such a huge undertaking in comparison to the jobs I have, so I’m finally changing the trans fluid in the bimmer today. Thanks for the inspiration 😅

[@neildonaldsonlotusexcelresto]

I cannot work out what is more impressive George, the work or the filming.

[@alexandroparin5762]

It's awesome! Ваши видео это огромная мотивация, Я очень люблю автомобили. На данный момент я строю BMW e36 и владею BMW X5 e53 на каждый день Ваши видео помогают настроиться на творческий процесс, доводить начатое до конца и не отчаиваться! Всегда с нетерпением жду новое видео. Особенно про Lotus Esprit Спасибо Вам огромное за проделанную работу.

[@arthurdardalis]

Absolutely amazing restoration, cannot believe how the Merc is so rusty everywhere

[@whymarko]

George, Im gobsmacked, ur a craftsman....Legend...respect

[@soupclassicmotoring]

Lovely thing to say Mark, thanks a mill :)

[@charlesputt8588]

These videos are so relaxing to sit back and watch on a lazy Sunday. Thanks for taking the time to film these, as the stop-motion takes a long damn time.

[@terryatkinson899]

@53.50 playing with fire 🤗 who that tinkers in d shed hasn't done that.... made me laugh anyway.

[@jasonshull3106]

Thank you, Sir

[@Vanswieten6395]

The patience this man has, I have still a lot to learn

[@pulsing1982]

brilliant story-telling!

[@jmanuelforero3850]

You forget that is stop motion, that everything that happens here takes lots of time....this is Disney level.... amazing story, amazing car and amazing video!!