The W123 crumbled like the original design was meant to do 30 years ago. Flawless. I was conscious during the whole crash and felt safe throughout.

I have emailed all related offices of the corporate headquarters of Mercedes-Benz and MBUsa to see if they are interested in the story. My crash reminds me of this old advertisement for the Australian market...

Werbung Mercedes Benz Australien - W126 - YouTube

For now, I would prefer to finish the expedition here than to fundraise money from individuals. I did it at the beginning of the expedition, and it feels utterly wrong to do it again. Unless I get sponsorship from Mercedes-Benz or some (other) miracle happens, I travel back to Spain and start working on my car export business.

My good friend in Venezuela is tracking down a white 300SL Gullwing... let's see how that goes. Depending on the outcome from this two options, the expedition can be considered over, or just got a whole lot more interesting :cool: ;)

I'm glad you weren't badly injured after that! It's a shame to lose such a nice wagon, but it was well-built enough that it protected you.

WHEW !
 

I'm glad you made it O.K. Miguel ;

Take some time off to recover .

Well that just shows how differently you are wired Miguel!

...felt safe throughout...

...WHAT????!!!!!!


Me thinks it will be Miguel stunt driver or Miguel human crash test dummy soon...

Yeah, wow. Glad yer ok man. Wagon protected you like it was meant to do.

Somehow, I think you'll come out of this none the worse for wear.
Get well.

Glad to see you are ok Miguel. Thank goodness you were not on a m/c.

With all respect to TX76513, I am glad I did not pick the Holden Jackaroo to embark into this expedition. I took some time yesterday to write a detailed account of the accident and my concerns for the future of this trip... at this point, I am on the fence about interrupting it and go back home to see the family and earn some money.

THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: The Most Dangerous Road

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NKZWjbAScn...0/IMG_0203.JPG

Whatever form the next few chapters take, I for one am looking forward to the continuing story!

I think my stubbornness and blind faith in my Mercedes kept me calm. Now you know what a hard head is good for: HITTING THINGS!
Seriously, doesn't anybody else feel invincible in their W123, or old Mercedes for that matter?

Absolutely! Including several W123s......

I wouldn't even trust my life driving anything else. Too risky.......;) :)

Mercedes Safety
 

Not invincible but surely very safe indeed .

Yeah they are well built but I doubt I'd be calm bouncing off of trucks and flying through the air - still it is one of those things isn't it? You never know what it is like until you try it...

".....bouncing off trucks and flying through the air" - summarily landing on your roof.......

-You bring up a good point. If you are bouncing off of trucks, trees, and flying down embankments landing on the roof of your car, resting on a concrete reservoir, you would probably want something designed with the utmost in crashworthiness - as say, a Mercedes-Benz'. -Totally unlike some of the vehicles aforementioned that have no crumple zones whatsoever - hope ya like those G-Forces - they be a b*&%h to survive. :D ;)

They're clearly at the top of the heap in crashworthiness........

A company (Mercedes-Benz) with 80,000 patents and growing.......what else would one expect ??

" those G-Forces "
 

This .

As I sat there in my back brace , cane nearby , reading Miguel's story of how a well meaning local idiot shattered the window he was rolling down then pulled him out &away from the wreck.... :eek:

This is how people get paralyzed or killed , I'm very lucky to be alive due to this same extreme stupidity by the moron who ran me over .

I hope it's only soft tissue damage and he'll be O.K. ere long .