The Smile, The Knowing Nod
 

I love these little moments.... Driving down the road in my 83 240D, see a burgundy 300CD right in front of me. So I pull up beside the guy, wondering whether he has the same awareness of older Benzes on the road that I do. And sure enough: as I'm next to him, he smiles and nods, and I smile and nod....both of us having the satisfaction that we both "get it"...and I drive away.

I would never have those moments in a newer, better car.

Newer: YES, Better: doubtful !

I get it in my other cars too. My 1977 chevy stepside is nothing nice but i get the nod and thumbs up from other old pickup drivers. Also get it alot with other MINI drivers.

I will say none of my other cars get complements from women like the 1984 red CD.

I don`t get many nods or waves from the majority of other W123 drivers in this area. Many of these cars are owned by the wvo crowd, and they are not generally MB enthuiasts or old MB nut jobs like me.

Some times I wave and they look over like, I don`t know you or what is your problem?

There is one guy driving a Ivory 240D like ours and he waves and flashes his lights every time we pass. never talked to him yet.

A few times on the highway (away from Santa Cruz) we will pass another 123, and generally get a nod, smile or wave.

Last week we were east of Sacramento on I-80 going towards Reno. we were blowing through Auburn and see a dark blue 300D Turbo coming on the Hwy. I punch the 240 and come up along side the guy and we each smile and wave and give ea other the Thumbs up.

This reminds me when the VW Beatles were new. I bought a new 69, and back then every other VW owner would wave, honk and smile at each other. was a different time. they even had a monthly magazine, and there were stories people sent in as to what they did with their Beatle, and the loads it hauled, and places they went.


Charlie

Jeep drivers do it too. Almost a pain. Too many jeeps, and who doesn't want to look like a jerk by NOT waving. With so few old MB's out there, it is easy. I do let the other driver know I notice them, but they rarely seem interested.

Charmalu,

You can imagine what the waving and excitement might have been as we drove around in the coral colored 1957 VW subroof sedan that my folks bought new. You could go for a couple of weeks before seeing another one of any year. Especially since they hadn't been imported that many years by then !!

I thought there was a secret gesture or motion among us? :D

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7213/7...a28837ce_z.jpg

I once got a thumbs up or wave from a gentleman in a new E350. Goes to show the folks w/ new cars still appreciate our classics.

Yep, unless you've ever driven one, there's no way to know.

I have the only vintage mercedes that I know of in my area, but I used to get that all the time when I lived in Windsor.

What I get now is hour long conversations with total strangers who walk up and start asking about my car!

There are a LOT of old MBs in the Seattle area, so I don't get that as much here as I did in Michigan. And later-model MB owners see me as a smelly, noxious annoyance.

The car I own that gets the most attention is my Honda Civic Del Sol. It's one of the few out there that hasn't been modified in some way to make it 'cooler,' so ironically it stands out more than any of the ones with spoilers and body kits.

I was driving through a neighborhood in the Isle of palms SC in my 420 and as I turned right at an intersection a man standing at the corner shouts "Thats a sick Mercedes!". Was a good feeling.