Motor Trend--classic - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BENZ-LGB · #1 03-19-2006, 08:51 PM

The March/April issue of MOTOR TREND--CLASSIC magazine has an excellent write up on the Benz uber-sedans: the 1971 300SEL 6.3; the 1987 450SEL 6.9; and, for course, the 92 500E. The article is excellent. I highly recommend it.

There is also a nice little write-up about the new Benz Classics Museum in so. California.

The new MOTOR TREND--CLASSIC magazine is really good and it covers a wide range of diffeent and very interesting cars.

MikeTangas · #2 03-20-2006, 08:51 PM

I will definitely check the news stand next time I get to the store. I think I'd like to read the write ups.

Thanks for posting.

davestlouis · #3 03-20-2006, 09:52 PM

I bought it today...not a whole lot of "meat" to the article. I guess it was OK for a broad-based audience but I would have liked more depth.

Benzadmiral · #4 05-24-2006, 09:14 AM

. . . has another MB article. This is about Clark ("Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn") Gable's 300SL, silver w/ red interior, bought new in 1955.

The article is more about Gable, how he felt about the car. and his life and times than it is about specs on the 300SL -- but it's well-written, and has lots of cool shots.

BENZ-LGB · #5 05-24-2006, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benzadmiral

. . . has another MB article. This is about Clark ("Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn") Gable's 300SL, silver w/ red interior, bought new in 1955.

The article is more about Gable, how he felt about the car. and his life and times than it is about specs on the 300SL -- but it's well-written, and has lots of cool shots.

Seems like everywhere I turn, there is an article about Benzes, especially old Benzes.

Maybe Benz is becoming the new fave-classic.

Jim B. · #6 05-24-2006, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BENZ-LGB

Seems like everywhere I turn, there is an article about Benzes, especially old Benzes.

Maybe Benz is becoming the new fave-classic.

If it's so, the best examples are probably
right in your own back yard, (Southern Cailfornia) best taken care of, some of them celeb owners, best MB shops, a car culture....

You are so busy with family etc. now, but I bet you could really enjoy a sporty coupe or convertible in your stable...hope you can get one real soon, you'd really enjoy it I am sure Ernesto

Visualize yourself in a red SL, maybe!!

Jim

suginami · #7 05-24-2006, 07:47 PM

Yeah, Ernesto needs a 107 SL!

Our mechanic, Enrique, had a pretty nice mid-seventies 450SL, black with a red interior, that he bought for next to nothing from a customer, fixed it up, and let it go for about $4,500.

I kick myself for not buying it...

BENZ-LGB · #8 05-24-2006, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

If it's so, the best examples are probably
right in your own back yard, (Southern Cailfornia) best taken care of, some of them celeb owners, best MB shops, a car culture....

You are so busy with family etc. now, but I bet you could really enjoy a sporty coupe or convertible in your stable...hope you can get one real soon, you'd really enjoy it I am sure Ernesto

Visualize yourself in a red SL, maybe!!

Jim

Jim you and Paul have no idea how much I want an SL. Enrique had an almondine red 1990 red SL with 73k miles. He wanted $14k, would have probably taken $13k.

Alas, he recently sold it. I didn't even want to ask.

Maybe an SL is what I need to mellow out.

This month's Mercedes Enthusiast has a special feature on all convertibles. The still peg the R129 as a great buy because they have not attained the classic status of the R107 (or the pagodas) and they claim that the new SLs are driving down the prices of the R129. I may have to go to England to get one, because in So. Calif. the prices are still fairly high.

iwrock · #9 05-24-2006, 10:22 PM

SL's are nice cars... They have the presence, power, and finesse other cars dont have.

O damn!!! I just remembered... My mechanic has a fully restored 190SL for sale. It is his hobby to restore the oldies. He wants 27k for it. A bit steep, but worth it!!! I would love to get a car like that.

Other than that, the 600 is a cool car. I like it because it is fast and beautiful. It is a nice car to go and blow off steam. Nothing relieves stress like turning off ESP(ASR) and lighting em up..... Yeah. I got a picture of MY DAD doing doughnuts... Nothing like a 57 year old man burning rubber.

iwrock · #10 05-24-2006, 10:24 PM

Oh yes, and the old saying. My dads buddy has a Mini that is an oversized go-kart. He even calls it his big gokart.

Now when my dad talks about the 600, he calls it a gokart with a rocket in the back.... Yeah 400+ horsepower, and 400+ lb-ft of torque.

Jim B. · #11 05-25-2006, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BENZ-LGB

Jim you and Paul have no idea how much I want an SL. Enrique had an almondine red 1990 red SL with 73k miles. He wanted $14k, would have probably taken $13k.

Alas, he recently sold it. I didn't even want to ask.

Maybe an SL is what I need to mellow out.

This month's Mercedes Enthusiast has a special feature on all convertibles. The still peg the R129 as a great buy because they have not attained the classic status of the R107 (or the pagodas) and they claim that the new SLs are driving down the prices of the R129. I may have to go to England to get one, because in So. Calif. the prices are still fairly high.

Noooooooooo! Aiiiiiiiie, carajo Valgame DIOS!! No seas loco!!! No lo compra!!!!!! Stay out of England to buy a R129 car! Definate rust issues there with all that rain, Right hand drive conversions, DOT/EPA conversion issues and shipping will put probably put you $15k-$20k in costs over and above the cost of the car itself!!!

Quick rundown on www.foreignborn.com (Importation questions/procedures)

The R129 probably has the best combination of balance and zip as compared to the 6cyl. and 12 cyl. versions. The almandine red one Enrique had must have been torture to pass up. I feel that pain. That was my first choice of color too for the SEC, but none around. Since 1990 was the first year of the R129, the high quality of MB build quality and existence was still in existance, so chances are good theat you'd get a good car!

I still have the conviction the largest best and cheapest ones are to be found right in your area. When I was looking, for my first one ten years ago the salesman at European Motors (now MB of SF) showed me surveys showing the MOST new Mercedes were sold in 1. Los Angeles 2. Miami
so probably plenty of used ones those places.

Isn't MERCEDES ENTHUSIAST an English mag? By what you said, maybe you just read their article about convertibles, and thought, hmm, maybe I could find a nice one over there. I wouldn't do it. By all means, go there for vacation, have fun, go to a dealer in London (Park Lane is good), pick up a brochure or two, a copy of TOP GEAR, CAR or What Car? but DON"T even think of getting a car there. "No vale la pena, verdad?"

You'd mellow out in an SL too.

At least till you & CMAC have at it again
(sorry, couldnt resist)

Those SL panzerwagens I think will always be worth having; not so much as an appreciating investment, (though you would have been better off buying a new R107 than say, a Triumph Stag or something) but as a fun car to drive and enjoy....

Jim

BENZ-LGB · #12 05-25-2006, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Noooooooooo! Aiiiiiiiie, carajo Valgame DIOS!! No seas loco!!! No lo compra!!!!!! Stay out of England to buy a R129 car! Definate rust issues there with all that rain, Right hand drive conversions, DOT/EPA conversion issues and shipping will put probably put you $15k-$20k in costs over and above the cost of the car itself!!!

Quick rundown on www.foreignborn.com (Importation questions/procedures)

The R129 probably has the best combination of balance and zip as compared to the 6cyl. and 12 cyl. versions. The almandine red one Enrique had must have been torture to pass up. I feel that pain. That was my first choice of color too for the SEC, but none around. Since 1990 was the first year of the R129, the high quality of MB build quality and existence was still in existance, so chances are good theat you'd get a good car!

I still have the conviction the largest best and cheapest ones are to be found right in your area. When I was looking, for my first one ten years ago the salesman at European Motors (now MB of SF) showed me surveys showing the MOST new Mercedes were sold in 1. Los Angeles 2. Miami
so probably plenty of used ones those places.

Isn't MERCEDES ENTHUSIAST an English mag? By what you said, maybe you just read their article about convertibles, and thought, hmm, maybe I could find a nice one over there. I wouldn't do it. By all means, go there for vacation, have fun, go to a dealer in London (Park Lane is good), pick up a brochure or two, a copy of TOP GEAR, CAR or What Car? but DON"T even think of getting a car there. "No vale la pena, verdad?"

You'd mellow out in an SL too.

At least till you & CMAC have at it again
(sorry, couldnt resist)

Those SL panzerwagens I think will always be worth having; not so much as an appreciating investment, (though you would have been better off buying a new R107 than say, a Triumph Stag or something) but as a fun car to drive and enjoy....

Jim

I knew you wouldn't resist...that's why I put it there.

The SLs are nice no doubt. With an SL in my stable no one would be able to harsh my mellow (I got that expression from one of my college daughters, seems to be going around campus nowadays).

My perfect Benz collection would also include an SEC -- one just like yours, even down to the color. Those are great looking cars. Much better looking than the W140 coupes or the current S class coupes. But then again, I think that the W126 (like my former 1991 420SEL) is one of the most gorgeous cars ever built by Benz. I still regret selling mine.

My coll

gerryvz · #13 05-28-2006, 12:50 PM

After owning a 6.3, 6.9, and other "limited production" sedans, and years of careful consideration, I've settled on the following permanent cars for my collection:

1994 E500
1989 560SEC
1988 560SL

Best of all worlds, far less hassle than more modern cars, classic looks and design, unsurpassed quality of materials and build, good safety equipment (airbags, ABS, etc.), mucho reliability, excellent parts availability, and great value retention from here on forward.

Any 129 is still depreciating, and you have TREMENDOUS complexity both from an electronics and a mechanicals point of view. One bill to repair a malfunctioning SL convertible top mechanism is enough to make you reconsider owning the car. These things are not cheap to own. And from the 500E, with which the 500SL shares its engine and largely its electronics, I can tell you that the electronics are not cheap either.

It's not worth it to own an MB after the demise of the 124 after the 1995 model year.

Cheers,
Gerry

BENZ-LGB · #14 05-28-2006, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gerryvz

After owning a 6.3, 6.9, and other "limited production" sedans, and years of careful consideration, I've settled on the following permanent cars for my collection:

1994 E500
1989 560SEC
1988 560SL

Best of all worlds, far less hassle than more modern cars, classic looks and design, unsurpassed quality of materials and build, good safety equipment (airbags, ABS, etc.), mucho reliability, excellent parts availability, and great value retention from here on forward.

Any 129 is still depreciating, and you have TREMENDOUS complexity both from an electronics and a mechanicals point of view. One bill to repair a malfunctioning SL convertible top mechanism is enough to make you reconsider owning the car. These things are not cheap to own. And from the 500E, with which the 500SL shares its engine and largely its electronics, I can tell you that the electronics are not cheap either.

It's not worth it to own an MB after the demise of the 124 after the 1995 model year.

Cheers,
Gerry

I just bought a book on the history of the SL form beginning to current model line.

It is interesting to note that the R129 incorporates many of the design elements of the W124. Sacco took many design elements from the W124 and incorporated them into the R129.

Even the multi-link rear suspension from the W124 was incorporated into the R129.

The R129 represented a major leap (forward? backward?) from the previous SL line. Benz felt like it had to play catch up when replacing the R107 so they loaded it up with a bunch of gee-whiz gizmos. Some were good

Some weren't so good

I think that the Pagodas are gorgeous. And I like the R129, but the only thing keeping me from getting one is my concern about the reliability of all the gizmos and gadgets.

BENZ-LGB · #15 05-28-2006, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benzadmiral

. . . has another MB article. This is about Clark ("Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn") Gable's 300SL, silver w/ red interior, bought new in 1955.

The article is more about Gable, how he felt about the car. and his life and times than it is about specs on the 300SL -- but it's well-written, and has lots of cool shots.

I just read the article. Not heavy on the technical stuff, but nice on the nostalgia part.