I bought the Merc from a cat in Pheonix 4 years ago.  
Many are encouraging me to try to get hooked-up with Chip Foose, or other crews like "Chop, Cut, Rebuild" etc. to maybe help me out and who know my situation such as it is.

I'm a T4 paraplegic due to combat injuries I recieved in Vietnam in 1967. Generally independant and have full use of my upper-body and arms...  but must admit I do have my limitations at what I can do- like not being able to do most of the work the Merc needs to make it fully accessible for me and safe to drive!

I did have hand-controls installed...  but the fabrication work it took to get the controls to mate-up and work ( well... "almost" work! ) ended-up costing twice as much as the hand-controls themselves!! ( $1,400 ) Even then- the hand-controls were not fully engaging the brakes the way they should. I then had a power-assist installed hoping that would cinch the troubles... but STILL sometimes have troubles getting the car stopped and have to be REALLY careful!!! ( One night last year- taking my girlfriend and daughter to look at Christmas lights we almost got T-boned when I could'nt get brakes and rolled straight on thru an intersection on "red"!!! almost had a heart attack!!! ) The brakes are the most important ( and dangerous ) problem...  then too, lack of power-steering can also be a challenge when trying to one-arm the wheel...  which is almost all the time when needing the other hand on the controls. Lots of smaller troubles and things I hope to accomplish- like modifying the back seat so theres more room for me to stash my folded wheelchair behind me after I get in. ( ...as per my Chevy S-10 ext-cab that has a 3rd door that opens "suicide" - making for space to stash the wheelchair. ) Also door servos that dont always work...  but the kind of stuff that amplifies troubles when you're trying to deal with things from the wheelchair.  When I first bought the car it really looked like a easy-duzit slam-dunk...  but alas- lots of things needed just to make the car dependable and above all SAFE!!! And pretty much all of 'em things I cant do myself...  so I'm at the mercy of $hade-tree cats and/or shops that have already tapped me out- and still the problems and dangers persist. If I could crawl under, over and in the car..  man all this stuff would be long since done-  but alas. Went into boo-koo 2nd mortgage hock just to be able to buy the car...  and have had it going on 4 yrs now- and still unable to safely enjoy her the way I'd hoped and dreamed. Keep sayin'- "...if I win the lottery"; and time and chance just keeps slidin' past!

If any of you think you might know of some solutions-  please do let me know! Sure would love to have my beauty out on the highways like she deserves man-  and like I dreamed.  My email is: ephone6@mindspring.com - or call ( 805 ) 735 8125 or write at 113 S. U St. Apt-51  -  Thanks so much!

                                                                                        -  Butchie