How fast have you gotten your vintage MB's up to?

[300SDog]

I tried searching: Jean Claude Martel.... Mercedes 300SL.... New Jersey Turnpike variations and ended up back here at this thread in the Vintage Forum. Need a public library with NYTimes micro-fisch that goes back that far. But its kinda cool to know we've got this history making event logged here, makes the place famous.

Should be some Autobahn people among our European membership stopping in here. Have heard monster stories about test vehicles painted with white stripe and headlights flashin going millions of miles per hour over ther.

[theskiflyer]

We finally got my 72' 280 SEL 4.5 firing on all cylinders! My dad had it going around 100 mph, it didn't fell like we were going more than 60, it was very smooth. I am 17 and had it up to about 85 last night, which probably is not a very good idea. Im sure it would do 130 with no problem.

[sreams]

Now, with the newer rims on the '71 300SEL 3.5 (and thus the shudder gone)... I took it to just over 200kph for a little while. That's about 125mph, and it certainly had more to go. The thing rode as steady as a missile. I love this car.

-S

[snp8990]

Originally Posted by pyrOman

95 just last week while "test" driving the '70 280s after a minor adjustment. An idiot punk assed yuppie in a beemer sees me coming but decides to take my lane anyways at 55. Didn't hit his ass but did put a flat spot on one of my tires since it locked up!

Now there's a "reminder" about sixty feet long every time I go by that section of the road!

Yes same here. I was driving my 68' 230S Fintail and an idiot in an X3(Its a 3 series on steriods) cut right in front of me. I WAS PISSED! I slowed down and let him get in front of me, then I slammed the accelerator and cut him off, just like he did. Anyway the fastest Ive hit in my Finnie is 95 the day I was driving home. It felt like I could have gone way faster, but I my turn was coming up soon.

[nckmsn]

i can do 0-60 in 5.2 seconds in my 1965 190d

[GaryF]

Originally Posted by 240DieselDog

I tried searching: Jean Claude Martel.... Mercedes 300SL.... New Jersey Turnpike variations and ended up back here at this thread in the Vintage Forum. Need a public library with NYTimes micro-fisch that goes back that far. But its kinda cool to know we've got this history making event logged here, makes the place famous.

Should be some Autobahn people among our European membership stopping in here. Have heard monster stories about test vehicles painted with white stripe and headlights flashin going millions of miles per hour over ther.

The following is from a recent classic mag for a 300SL. Taking into account the fact that this was 50 years ago you have to ask a couple of questions about engineering progress since then !

2996cc alloy head straight 6, with Bosch mechanical fuel injection
250bhp @ 6200 rpm
228lb ft @ 5000 rpm
0-60mph 7-8.8 secs, depending on axle ratio
Top Speed 140-155mph

[snp8990]

Originally Posted by nckmsn

i can do 0-60 in 5.2 seconds in my 1965 190d

How much horsepower does your 190D give? Do you know what my 1968 230S has on a stock engine? Ive always wanted to know.I think I was reading on a website that it has somewhere around 120?? does that sound correct.

[findude]

I once tested, with a stop-watch on a level freeway ramp, a 1958 190D. 0-60 in 59 seconds!

I later had a 1967 230S (manual) that would go 90 mph for hours. The revs were up a bit, but it wasn't working hard.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Originally Posted by findude

I once tested, with a stop-watch on a level freeway ramp, a 1958 190D. 0-60 in 59 seconds!

I later had a 1967 230S (manual) that would go 90 mph for hours. The revs were up a bit, but it wasn't working hard.

Published figures for manual-shift 190D give 0 - 100 Km/hr (62 mph) at 29 seconds, but max speed of 78 mph for the '58, 81 for the '65.

230S manual-shift 0 - 100 Km/hr at 13 seconds, max 109 mph. Hp 120 DIN or 135 SAE.

I had 'Miss Daisy', my '60 Fintail 220S just over 80 a few years ago, but in respect for her age and unrestored condition, I try not to push her that hard anymore. The factory figures for my Fintail are 0 - 100 km/hr at 15 seconds and top speed of 103 mph, with hp of 110 DIN or 124 SAE. These figures that were considered respectable in 1960, could be beat by most econo-boxes today, but I still consider Miss Daisy's current perfomance more than adequate.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[findude]

This car was already 20+ years old when I tested it and was not running well. To put it in proper perspective, it also had bullet holes in the doors. . . . I don't doubt it would be a good bit "faster" in top condition.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Originally Posted by findude

This car was already 20+ years old when I tested it and was not running well. To put it in proper perspective, it also had bullet holes in the doors. . . . I don't doubt it would be a good bit "faster" in top condition.

Better bullet holes than rust holes!

With only 40 hp, the original 180D took almost 40 seconds to struggle to 60 mph, but it averaged almost 30 mpg!

Happy Motoring, Mark

[rg2098]

Lets see;

300D - around 110
250 - around 2 pushing up the driveway, let you know when she leaves the garage

[SumDude]

95mph in my 300D and that was just cruzin'. i didn't want to go any faster because i started to see a CHP car up ahead. I just let go of the gas and it slowed right down to 70.