My Mercedes Benz History

[pj67coll]

Thought It'd be neat to post my Mercedes ownership history for the world to peruse. The first three I had back in South Africa. My first was the 108 280S. Still my favourite I think. This car's steering column snapped which is how I learned about the necessity of torquing the steering box mounting bolts and checking the box frame of the chassis to which it mounts for rust...


Next was the 116 280S. Other than the nightmare Solex4A1 carb it ran really well. Bought it at 303000 Km's and sold it at 383000 Km's. Being out on the freeway in this car was like you were flying very low to the ground.


Next was my 1984 200. Not as refined as the S-Classes but a good car none-the less.


And finally. My current car in Phoenix AZ. 1981 240D. 385000 miles so far. I'm hoping to reach 420000 miles so it can get it's third high mileage award.


ANLAB. "...aint nothin like a Benz"

- Peter.

[Unleashed]

My dad's first were in SA too - on his 21st birthday he had saved enough cash to buy a 2 year old 108 230S, which he sold to his dad a few years down the line when he replaced it with a 108 280S, and then another for my mom too.

[kpb]

thanx for the history peter. What are the small lights/discs on the front of the 108?

Next two MBs will also have to be LHD so you will be fully balanced with three of each

[pj67coll]

Originally Posted by kpb

thanx for the history peter. What are the small lights/discs on the front of the 108?

Next two MBs will also have to be LHD so you will be fully balanced with three of each

Local SA requirement. Clear reflectors in the front, red in the back. SA Government retards figured auto manufacturers didn't know how to make their cars visible so you had to stick that kind of crap on them as well. The 116 has a small one just visible hanging underneath the right hand corner of the bumper. The one on the left broke off and I never bothered replacing it. If you look at the 200 closely you'll see the same clear reflectors as the 108 but built into the light cluster. I believe they were behind the glass.

Simliar concept of governmental interference with the US government retards requiring dirty great big indicator lumps to be stuck on the side of the vehicle for indicators.

- Peter.

[Jim B.]

Very impressive history of ownership, it shows good taste. I hope you stick only to W123, w124 or W126 in the future. That's all you would need, and good ones are still around.

No need for anything newer if you want that old school Mercedes build quality.

The TWO high mileage emblems are the HIGHEST praise for you and that car.
That is VERY impressive. I hope you make the third with no trouble.

[pj67coll]

Thank's JimB. I doubt I'll ever own anything newer than a 126.

- Peter.

[Arthur Dalton]

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Thank's JimB. I doubt I'll ever own anything newer than a 126.

- Peter.

...until you drive a good 124...

[pj67coll]

Originally Posted by Arthur Dalton

...until you drive a good 124...

Maybe. But they are starting to look too modern for me. And given my limited resources I'll likely stick to the ones I've always admired when I was growing up and my family could never aspire to.

- Peter.

[kpb]

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Maybe. But they are starting to look too modern for me. And given my limited resources I'll likely stick to the ones I've always admired when I was growing up and my family could never aspire to.

- Peter.

hey Peter -- I never aspired to a "modern" MB but I bought this 124 sortof on a lark when my 108 was dinged by a deer (still not repaired BTW). Purchased 10,000 miles ago, with 186xxx on the odo. Wow, it is nice. $2000 well-spent. few niggly things here and there to fix, but nice ride, swift enough for my driving,very smooth ride and rock-solid. Plus, it's not as honking big as the 126, which I also considered.

[ramonajim]

MB history? See my siggy

[300SDog]

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Maybe. But they are starting to look too modern for me. And given my limited resources I'll likely stick to the ones I've always admired when I was growing up.....

- Peter.

Then when you're older, over 50 like me, you will want to go back and own again all the Vintage MB's you've driven and loved since early days, pretty much wanting to own and operate practically nothing else.

And I agree on drawing the line at 123's - last of the true square body cars before they all started lookin like jelly beans. Hell, even when I'm 80 am expecting to be paddling around in nothing more modern than the 4-spd 240D.

BTW, excellent description of the 116: "On the freeway in this car was like you were flying very low to the ground." Exactly what I thought of my 4-spd 280SEL, an incredible land yacht that was a job to keep under 90+mph. The beast bottomed out 4th at/below 70-75. The fuel injected twincam M110 had a topend that never quit. Sold it after 6 months ownership for the simple reason it was too damned much car for me.

Favorite all time Benz of mine? That's hard to say but probly the '63 190c although the '74 280/8 is darned close second.

[snp8990]

Hi,
I dug up some pictures of my old 1965 220B that I had in Tanzania,Africa.We had two of these (one brown,other beige)the beige one is pictured.We also had a mini moke,a '77 or '78 240D (english red over almost white seats),a kombi and a few fiats.
Where in South Africa did you live?

[pj67coll]

Originally Posted by snp8990

Where in South Africa did you live?

Durban. Lived there all my life till I emigrated to the USA and settled in Phoenix. Durban is possibly the worlds worst location for rust.

- Peter.

[snp8990]

Hi,
I lived in Tanzania basically for the majority of my life,which is in East Africa.This was back in the 60's through the 80's.

[truckinik]

Wow, you guys have all had, and have nice cars. I've owned, and currently own a lot of nice ones also. I love the tan 123 car with the reflectors behind the bezel glass...Nice little car.
Here's a list of what I've got in my stable currently. I have very high standards, and all are mint, or very close to it. I don't generally bother with them if they aren't unless I feel like a project. Most have low miles, and even the highest mileage I've got is only 138,ooo U.S. miles. with the exception of one p.v. and the fleet of tractor trailers of course..

(Three) 1979 300CD's, NON-TURBO, all in silver with black leather interiors.
One of them, I put a 383 stroker, small block Chevy w/six speed manual trans.
car has 500+ hp and a lot of other fun add ons....85k, 77k, and originally 101k before engine.

1981 300CD, Also silver w/black leather. Turbo. 67k

1984 300CD, blue/silver w/blue leather. Turbo. 113k

1985 300CD, Silver w/black leather, Turbo. 44k.

1989 300CE, Silver w/black leather, only 31k. Showroom mint,perfect car...First $15,000.oo takes her away.

1989 Lamborghini,Countach,QV 5000S Aniversary Edition....2300 miles, My Italian Junk...p.o.s. and for sale soon. Silver w/black leather.

1988 560SEC,AMG,EURO. 4500 Kilometers...,Baby #1 Silver w/black leather.

1970 Chevy Nova plain jane car w/a whole lotta mods. (RUNS A BEST OF A 9.80) In the quarter mile, on street tires. Featured in Super Chevy magazine on several occasions. Baby #2 Dark Green metalic w/black vinyl.

1970 Chevy Nova "Yenko" Sport. One of only 140 produced, and 7 known to still exist. Only 13,860 miles...Un-molested, even tires/wiperblades are original.
Museum quality show piece....Worth big bucks. Baby#3 Light Tan w/black vinyl interior.

1983 Olds Custom Cruiser fullsize stationwagon. Diesel..only high mileage car, but entirely new driveline anyways after the tired old engine died w/409,000 miles on it. Burnt Bronze w/deep chocolate valour interior.

1988 Chevy one ton wrecker w/Century twin line hydrolic boom, and hydrolic wheel lift. 454/4 speed truck. Fire Engine Red w/black vinyl.

1987 Ford F150 Bigfoot Cruiser 4x4 w/factory 460/4 spd..cool truck, 85k
Bigfoot Blue Metalic w/blue valour, Lariat interior.

2000 Kawasaki, Vulcan 1600 classic motorcycle. Candy Apple/Silver two tone. 38k

2007 Harley Davidson Fatboy. Pearl White w/blue accents, and black tires...lol. I've never even sat on it yet. Sitting in my garage, on the shipping crate. I bought it in October at Bike-toberfest in Daytona Florida. I had the dealer re-crate it, and load it onto my tractor trailer to get it home safely. I dropped it off at home and haven't had time, or weather yet to bother with it. MILES ARE ALL ZERO'S ACROSS THE BOARD....LOL

And last but not at all least, whole fleet of 2000-2007 Freightliner Century Class Tractors/Trailers to go with them of course. All in white, some have striping, and details. All have Grey, and either blue or Brown interiors. Most blue though.

This is a list of what I currently HAVE, and OWN w/no liens. The list of what I've owned, or am financing in some way is a lot bigger, if I listed everything it would be a huge post. I had to use some sort of elimination strategy, in order to prevent that. so I eliminated what either the bank still owns, and what I've parted with. What can I say...?