As Clarkson said, that was Keith Moon who originally drove. the car into the swimming pool.

He was the drummer of the Rock Band "The Who", so famous in the seventies but as far as I know they still tour.

I have a friend in SF who is a TOTAL fan of the Who. She's a black woman who absolutely is into them. When it's announced they will go on tour, sh simply goes on vacation and buys tickets for every show, and flies to every city where they play. Apparently, she is not alone, and there is a hard core of followers/fans who do this, she has met some on them via the internet.

From what I understand, this RollsRolls Royce incident got HUGE play in England when it happened with Keith Moon. It was just so shocking!

The first time I was in London, in 1984 there was a pretty famous new band called "OASIS" there, they were advertised with posters for the band and it showed a picture of a Rolls Ryce in a swimming pool, the posters were all over the Underground (subway)

My friend's car had the license plate "WHOISH" - still does. And, in a reference that only a total fan of The Who could understand, because he drive the car into the swimming pool, her loicense plate frame reads "Keith Moon Driving School"

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

G'mornin' Folks,

I, personally, don't hate cars....however I enjoy a vehicle with some fine engineering. A pretty, shiny, sporty or muscle car is nice to look at, but a well engineered vehicle is a marvel to wonder over. Look at my list at the bottom of this page, it is a partial listing, but that old Granddaddy of a Power Wagon is neat, because she gets me anywhere I wanna go, in any kind of weather....a little slower than those modern 4x4's.....but with power take-off driven winch.....if she runs, she gets there.....with 100 HP flathead six!! My Benz is my road car.....pedal to the metal and no smoke!!! My F-150 is my local driver....sollidly reliable...300 Six, arguably the best engine Ford made since the flathead V8!! And my Tractor, an Eicher ES202, Puma II, one of the few in the USA......Air Cooled Diesel, 30HP, 4 stroke...will attach a coupla photos to this note.....she's old but runs well, and does all of the chores around here.....and I till my garden with a '59 Howard Rotavator, attached to the Eicher.....Mr. Howard invented the "rotary hoe", what is now known as a rototiller.....I have several old Gravely's dating from '47 to '75, and various attachments, the gearbox in a Gravely is interesting because of it's planetary gearing. If I could afford it, I would own a Steam Traction Engine......just love old machinery......

Oh yes, I forgot to mention, I also attend several NASCAR races every year, and I know the names of the Crew Cheif's associated with many of the Drivers.....

As I said....it's all about the engineering......









The two roundish things on the right side of the tractor engine are blowers. Belt driven, they force cool air over the cylinders. The transmission is a ZF 6 speed, same manufacturer as your Benz tranny. Injection, & Electrics by Bosch!!

SB

I also have a Dolmar Chainsaw and Dolmar Brush cutter, more good German stuff!!!

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Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG

My father bought that exact same Lincoln new, same color, when I was 3 or 4 years old. I think it had a 460. To a small child, the back seat of that thing felt like a typical living room. It was great for relaxing in on road trips, and the rumble of that absurdly large V8 was so relaxing. And if you threw up in it (like my sister did) you couldn't tell because it matched the interior .

I definitely understand about the huge American iron. One of the cars I've owned was a 1968 Dodge Polara with a 4bbl 383. Longer than a Suburban! I never found a parking space that it didn't stick out of. I once had 8 people riding in that car, all sitting side by side.

Another old American car that I have a soft spot for is the '57 Chevy. My mom drove one when I was a kid (4dr hardtop Bel Air, robin's egg blue, 283 with 3 speed moved from steering column to floor). American cars of the 50's are the coolest cruisers! None of the other kids moms had cars that cool! I had my introduction to wrenching on that car, thanks to my grandfather, who was a Chevy dealership mechanic from the early 50's to 1984. I plan to restore a '57 Bel Air and turn it into a daily driver when I've accumulated enough money to do it right.

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1982 300D, black w/ palomino leather, 203K
2001 E320, champagne, 105K (Mom's)
1999 Dodge Dakota, squeaky & battered, 142K

I never thought I'd see Boattail Rivieras discussed in this forum! Here's the shop of my garage. The side that the Riv is on is just big enough to close the door. I'm smitten with diesel MB bug now but when I jump in the Riv for the occasional run it's a blast (literally with a 455 and posi!). In keeping with my biofuels study, I'll be building an alcohol motor for the Riv when this engine finally dies

-Sugi

1980 300TD
1981 300D
1983 240D manual
1971 Buick Riviera GS
1994 Toyota P/U

Attached Images

300TD and 71 GS Riviera.jpg (38.9 KB, 267 views)

got anymore pics of that Riv... i love the rear end on that thing and the glass... id kick ass in black

its all in the machinery which is why i luv a 300d anyday

Well, certainly not in my case. I've been into cars since I was a todler. Anything I considered "neat" could easilly become my new obsession.

There are certain types of cars that have never interested me. Mainly the detroit iron muscle/pony cars of the 60's & 70s. The more interesting cars have always been the ones which caught my interest.

In my circle of friends, when I was a kid, my taste in cars was considered odd. And I must say that it was all learned from observations, rather than influenced by said peers. My parents always drove domestic, moving up to Cadillacs from 1966 thru the early 80s. I was the one that introduced my parents to Mercedes diesels in 1980. At the time, I was obsessed with all things Mercedes, and German in general.

One of the reasons I moved to diesels was the economical operation and longevity. Throughout my teens and 20s I owned a series of VW and Mercedes diesels. (One diesel Audi 5000, too.) In those days I was so obsessed with cars and restless, that I bought a different car every few months. The first year I got my drivers license I drove about 40k miles. For the next 15 years or so, no matter how mnany vehicles I owned at the time, at the end of the year I had always driven around 40k miles. I especially liked the freedom my VW Rabbit diesel gave me. At 45 mpg, I could drive halfway across the country on a whim.

At present my 240D is more of a hobby than a daily driver. I love the sound diesels make. Especially the 617 engine. I get so nostalgic, their sound can almost bring tears to my eyes.

For the record. I rarely miss a car show.

I too am a fan of old tractors. My "big" tractor is a 1952 Allis Chalmers CA (My Allis) My little tractor is a Cub Cadet 125. Neither tractor offers up anything but simple, no-frills, durable engineering - but I love them just the same. New tractors offer lots of nice accessories (as in live hydraulics with deep reservoirs), but they seem overly complicated for what I need to do. The thing I like most about old tractors is that everything is right there in front of you - there's minimal sheet metal, and that's there only to keep the rain off the drive train or mud off the operator.

When I go to tractor shows, I am most interested in Doodle Bugs (home made tractors). Backyard engineering can be really resourceful.

I have a almost cherry 83 380 SEL and a crusty 79 300SD. I enjoy the dark side better. Reminds me of airplanes ... ignition on, prime, rotate ... you have to think and become a part of the operation.
Oh, I do have a few memories of Lotus rockets, formula Fords, a race perpaired Alfa and believe the American cars like Cobra, early T-Birds, Studies and origional Corvettes died from American love of stupidity. Newer power cars are out of my $ reach.
I now dream of casting a cross flow head for the 300 SD and some of the modifications on this site.
WVO & old MBs is the only way some of us can enjoy these fine cars. Something about getting 25-30 MPG on cheap fuel that I make, in a car that I salvaged, in a car I can keep running, is only toped by the luxury of a MB. I believe the old advertizing said "Understated Prestige".
If I want low $ per mile, I'll drive my Escort (1999 2L, 5 speed manual, wagon, slightly tweaked, almost invisable to the authorities) that can lay rubber in three gears while still getting a possible 35 MPG, but the old girl just dances along and keeps a smile on my face.
I do not have to drive to work so the MB is saved for trips and is a great ride for a cruiser.
I have found myself looking into other diesels ... lawn mower, generator ... but I think the 'alternative' fuel has hooked me and the MB just came along for the ride!
May I live long enough to be able to find a current MB with only 200K miles, one owner, records ...

Nice job on that Allis, did you restore it yourself??

I go to a tractor show on occasion, however I do watch the RFD channel on Dish Network....they have some great programming on old tractors, steam traction engines, and steam railroading.....eventually I will get my old Eicher into "restored" condition.....am missing 1 sheet metal part, I will probably have to go to an Eicherfruende gathering in Germany in order to find one, maybe.....the fun is also in the search....

SB

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Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG

I don't think I dislike cars-- It is quite the opposite, actually.

The diesel engine was not even something I wanted until *after* Shlomo fell into my lap. What I wanted was a larger, more robust automobile than my then daily driver Dodge neon coupé. The diesel part was an afterthought.

It turns out that the diesel engine is one of two things in the rather mundane w123 that gives it enough character to keep it around! The handling is the other-- beyond that, it's just two bars of ivory soap stacked on wheels. I never knew 67 horses could be so sprightly, so engaging and so damned obnoxious! My other cars(both gassers) give me what I am missing in the diesel-- all of my boys compliment one another very well.

If I want silence at idle, good take-off, better fuel economy, to shift gears myself and a really big a/c system... I'll drive the neon.

If I want to be obnoxious, late and have a sweaty ass in july... I'll drive the diesel.

If I want to get run over on the interstate and die in the melee, all while smiling, shifting and worrying about my #3 cylinder dropping a valve and causing catastrophic engine damage... I'll drive the VW.

I don't understand why anyone needs huge engines. How I do the math, my 3 cars equal out to one 5.6L car, except the average between them is 30mpg, not 15. I choose to break the horsepower and displacement up into different driving experiences instead of lumping my consumption all into one giant fire-breathing beast.

This post has been brought to you by: the letters A, D and D.

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http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...Untitled-1.jpg

The more popular alcohol is methanol, but some run ethanol. Methanol is even less energy dense than ethanol, but the energy density is not indicative of the power -- that is compensated for by adding more fuel.

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'83 240D with 617.952 and 2.88
'01 VW Beetle TDI
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD
'89 Toyota 4x4, needs 2L-T
'78 280Z with L28ET - 12.86@110
Oil Burner Kartel #35

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1...oD/bioclip.jpg

The question I usually get is - "Why do you drive a Mercedes?"

I wanted a car that could use almost anything as fuel, with ample access to inexpensive parts, with a huge knowledgeable following that likes to talk about them, and is easy to work on (since I do almost all my own work).

They look at me funny and say, "But you drive a Mercedes..."

"Yeah."

Pure ignorance.

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JWJ
1983 MB 300D - > 430,000 miles - Deep Blue - Bilstein Comforts - 0-60 in 24 seconds - 27MPG
1985 MB 300TD (wagon) - > 275,000 miles - Manila Beige - Thule rack - 0-60 in 18 seconds - 22 - 25MPG
Biodiesel, Mobil Delvac 1, and Viton fuel lines!

Exactly (PS I started this thread, didnt know it grew so BIG.)
Also its kind of a classy handsome unique car, not like today's identical cars
Redefining it, I don't dislike Cars, I HATE them. I also LOVE them, its a strange thing. No greater High than fixing them but when i actually see nice cars, classic cars, Porsche's, Ferrari's, Antique cars, I am about as interested as looking at old shoes...........WIERD!!!!!!!!!

I'm not really into the diesel vs gasser, Chevy vs Ford, Euro vs American vs Asian disputes. As a life-long gear-head, if it's interesting, I can appreciate it. Most automakers build, or have built in the past, something interesting in terms of styling or engineering or performance, though for economy and ease of repair, I've mostly owned older import cars. Some of my more unusual past vehicles included a '62 Hillman Super-Minx convertible, '68 Opel Kadett, '71 Audi Super 90 wagon, '68 Ford Cortina GT, '67 Sunbeam Alpine, and a '73 Renault R6 TL hatchback. My first Benz was a '61 Ponton 180b, which was almost as slow as it's 'modern' successor and my first diesel- an '82 240D. I also currently drive a '60 Fintail 220S and a '98 Nissan Altima and they each have their own virtues and vices. While it's drum brakes, manual steering and mediocre fuel mileage are negatives, my Fintail still has a level of smoothness and refinement of engine and ride, that even my modern Nissan lacks. On the other hand, despite it's modified jellybean styling and profusion of modern gadgets, my Nissan has had a combination of reliability, performance and economy that made it my daily-driver, until I got the diesel. Now when I'm in a hurry, or for most long trips, I still use the Nissan. But for most local driving, even though it's slow and clattery, I now prefer the 240D. With it's better fuel mileage, brakes and power steering, the diesel is certainly more practical than my Fintail, and the 240D's ride is much superion to my Altima, with an ability to take speed-humps/bumps at speeds that could wreck the Nissan.
But not even my twin-cam Nissan engine is smoother than that old 220S straight-six!

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW