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Saddam's Car; a Mercedes

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/08022005_bb_saddamscar.html

Saddam's Car
DANBURY, CT-August 2, 2005 — First Sergeant William von Zehle thinks he has the mother of all Mercedes, Saddam Hussein's car.

The Connecticut soldier bought the car for about $5,000 when he was serving in Baghdad. The armored Mercedes even has flame throwers that shoot out the sides for crowd control.

Von Zehle says he did some research on his pimped-up ride and found just three of armored 560 models were sold to the Iraqi government in 1988. He says that means only one thing – Saddam.

Von Zehle had the Mercedes shipped back home where it sits in his garage. He hasn't registered the car yet and says it needs some work.

He says he has to replace a broken front passenger window. But the bulletproof glass costs more than $14,000.

(Copyright 2005 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

I wonder if he had to jump through hoops to get the car past EPA or DOT. ;)

There's a similar 500SEL at the Imperial in Reno. Glass is 3" thick with armor all the way around. The shocks and tires must have been pushed to the limit with all that weight. :eek:

Sixto: Yep that's the one. Too bad all that trunk space was wasted on shoe transportation at the expense of the people. :rolleyes:

There's one at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas that was supposedly Marcos' car.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Think he'll become a forum member? I want to see pictures of this flame throwing W126.
-Joe

Quote:

Originally Posted by H-townbenzoboy

Think he'll become a forum member? I want to see pictures of this flame throwing W126.
-Joe

Would come in handy for DC area traffic.... :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by w126

Staff Reporter
Asian Wall St. Journal
October 16~17, 1998

North Korean children might be munching roots. and tubers, but their "Dear Leader" makes sure he rides around in style.

Daimler-Benz executive Elke Lippold was stunned while visiting Pyongyang last month to see S-Class Mercedes-Benz limousines gliding down the bleak streets of the impoverished country’s capital. Some of the cars, which cost about $100,000 each, were the company’s latest models. When he remarked on the plush vehicles to his hosts, they reportedly asked him if he could sell them 200 more. "They wanted the new S Class, they didn’t want the old model," Mr. Lippold later told Detroit’s Automotive News.

Such a fleet would cost roughly $20 million, about a fifth of the $103 million that United Nations agencies have pledged in food aid to the country this year. Four years of floods and govern-meat mismanagement have ruined North Korea’s frail economy and led to widespread starvation — and annual appeals from its leaders for help from abroad. The car-buying "makes it harder for those who are going to put hands in their pockets" to dish out cash, said Namanga Ngongi, the U.N. World Food Program deputy head, when asked about the limos.

It isn’t the first time North Korea’s leadership has been criticized for callous indulgence at the expense of Its people. Kim Jong II is famous for buying loyalty from his cadres with cases of fine cognac, fast cars and beautiful women. The country already has an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 Mercedes-Benz cars, which Daimler-Benz helps keep running with periodic shipments of spare parts. On a recent visit, Beijing-based journalist Anne Gruttner saw at least 100 Mercedes-Benz limos--parked behind the viewing stands on which Mr. Kim and his generals were watching the country’s anniversary celebrations."

You know why the UN isn't saying anything....they are looking for the Puffy hair madman to slip them some kickbacks since the Saddam gravytrain has dried up.