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- *Pricing varies depending on the installation rod selected, any design modifications, and the options chosen.
This fully Three Dimensional, 1957 300-SL Mercedes Weathervane began as a very special commission for an avid car collector in Napa, California. It took close to three months to build and is one of the premier weathervanes to come out of our studio. Thomas, our shop master, pioneered a number of new techniques in its fabrication.
Most of the weathervanes we make here at West Coast Weather Vanes are swell-bodied, meaning that while they also have dimension, their two separate sides are intentionally kept narrow so they are aerodynamic in the wind. 3D weathervanes are spectacular but they require greater internal structural support as they are wider, and therefore more wind resistant than their sleeker swell-bodied counterparts. They also take considerably longer to make.
We are often able to reduce the design fee for some of our more mechanical weathervane commissions if detailed schematic drawings are available. Also helpful are detailed photos of the actual vehicle. If customers can provide us with photos of insignia, detailing, interiors, etc., we are often able to make personalized enhancements. One often overlooked consideration is to get detailed photos of the undercarriage of the vehicle as this is an important view when looking up at a weathervane. If actual scaled down models are available, we often find them helpful guides during the construction process.
With our fully 3-D weathervanes, we usually offer our customers the option of Basic, Standard or Deluxe versions. With Basic 3-D designs, details are kept to a minimum. With Standard 3-D, more details are added to the exterior but the interior is left very basic. With Deluxe 3-D weathervanes, we also add full details to the interior, even though the interior is typically not visible when displayed on top of a roof. As a future collectible, however, the interior detail is a sought after characteristic.
This Mercedes Benz Weathervane was made as a Deluxe 3-D sculpture piece. The reasons customer often opt for Deluxe designs is because they know that while the weathervane may spend 40 or 50 years displayed on the roof of a building, there is a good chance that some future generation may bring it down off the roof and display it indoors as an example of American Folk Art. If viewed in a museum, for example, all the interior details will then be visible.
In addition to a number of detailed images of the weathervane, we’ve also included some work-in-progress photos to give you a feel for the level of expertise that goes into building a weathervane of this quality.