Project Cars: 1996 Mercedes-Benz E320

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It started with a casual chat with my Melbourne-based mum at the end of COVID-19 lockdowns. Her partner’s old E-Class had been parked on the street for months, registration lapsed and gathering leaves at a prodigious rate. As lockdown restrictions eased, council patrols increased, culminating with the dreaded ‘This vehicle is unregistered. You have seven days to move it or it will be towed blah blah blah’ sticker slapped on the windscreen. Mum: ‘I think we’ll just sell it to a wrecker.’

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