Brauner Benz article in the most recent Star Magazine - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ROLLGUY · #1 12-03-2018, 12:59 PM

My friend Blue Nelson came over to pick up his TD Celebration planned for a friends 500,000 mile 300TD (post #72), and showed me the most recent edition of Star Magazine (Mercedes Benz Club of America), and in it is an article on his "Brauner Benz". It is a must read for all you "Diesel Heads". Several months ago he drove the 200D to my place on the way to Albuquerque. He was headed to the Overland Expo, where thousands of people and vehicles purpose built for overland travel meet. There is an amazing story attached to this trip that is an entire thread in itself, but here are a few highlights. Blue called the organizer just days before the event, and wanted to participate, but the deadline had passed many weeks before. The organizer told him that there is no way that he could possibly participate, and that he would have to wait for next year. However, after he told the organizer about the car and it's history, he was told that "we happen to have an opening" (or words to that effect). After many miles of slow driving (and another incident that I am not at liberty to tell right now), he made it to the Expo.

https://www.overlandexpo.com/whats-new/2018/5/25/cool-ride-2018-west-grand-prize-winner

I am sure this is not the last time you will see or hear of the Brauner Benz. Who knows, maybe it will end up in the Mercedes Benz Museum in Germany?......Rich

ROLLGUY · #2 12-03-2018, 01:10 PM

I took some photos of the car when it was at my place. The last photo shows the floor where it had broken through from rust, and the seat frame was dragging on the ground. Blue found a piece or wood along the highway to prop it up so he could continue on his trip......Rich

ROLLGUY · #3 12-03-2018, 01:12 PM

Here is more info on the car:
www.brauner-benz.de

It is in German, but Look through the site by clicking on the word "Reiseberichte " at the top of the page, then just check out the various years. There are plenty of photos to check out.

Squiggle Dog · #4 12-03-2018, 01:26 PM

I read and enjoyed this article. I didn't realize this was the same guy.

eight88 · #5 12-03-2018, 03:10 PM

Great story. Would love to take a close look at it, inside and out. Sounds like a spot in a Mercedes museum is well deserved.

GregMN · #6 12-03-2018, 04:11 PM

https://www.flickr.com/photos/300tdorg/sets/72157617938585149/

2006 - West Africa (W123)
Europe, Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Conakry, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin

Tobulus · #7 12-03-2018, 04:23 PM

Shame is... It will never make it to our german Daimler Museum. I read all of Markus Besolds journey reports, they are great, but he plays a lot with far-right expressions. A lot of people over here called him a nazi at that time. No company in germany can take the risk of getting an image like that

ROLLGUY · #8 12-04-2018, 03:00 PM

I have a PDF of the article, but it is too large to upload here. If you would like to view it, PM your email, and I can forward the PDF.