My dad bought mine new in April of 1987, when I was 5. So I pretty much grew up with the car, and he gave it to me in summer of 2003 when I was 21 and in college. Even though I was only 5, I remember well when my dad first brought that car home ... it was a big-deal car back then. Still is ... although maybe only to me.:cool:

My father purchased blue/tan 83 240D through european delivery and picked it up in Germany and shipped it back. Then he sold the car to my grandparents in 1985 and he purchased a maroon/tan 300SD. In 1989 he sold the 300SD to my grandparents. He purchased a 1990 560SEL. In 1993 he then sold the 560SEL to my aunt and got a 93 500E. In 1998 He traded the 500E and purchased a 98 S500. 2 summers ago my grandparents were still driving the 300SD. The 240D had been parked in the carport ( for about a year) because the sunroof would not close all the way ( which I later found out was because the button had not been pressed long enough to close it fully). Afrer over a year of sitting I charged the battery and it started after a few trys. I donated the car to purple heart ( I now regret ) , and sold the 300SD for $4,500 to a man who flew in from Chicago and drove it home. My grandparents now have the 98 S500 which has moved about 800 miles in the past two years and has not moved much in the last 6 months. I wish we had kept the Diesels.

Noooooo! never miss the opportunity to promote the forum! I never miss one.

mine has been in the family since new... my grandparents picked it up brand new in 1977 in germany

great thread
 

Great thread, I like hearing the stories behind the cars.

Keep them coming.

This is from my shop forum gallery of my SL. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/vbpicgallery.php?do=view&g=1420

"In the summer of '85 my grandmother took delivery of her custom ordered mercedes in Houston. When I was 4 I was alone in the car, popped it in neutral and rolled it into a parked moving truck. (got in big trouble) The SL was grandmother's daily driver for fifteen years until by grandfather's health failed and she began driving his cadi full time. I got my hands on it in 2002 when I was 16; it sat unused in the garage for 2 years, but quickly brought back to life. I can't imagine ever getting rid of it. "

On the vin plate in the door it reads imported by Paul Hoover. (my father) All my Grandma wanted was the white with navy blue color combo. My dad was the one that checked nearly every option on the list, including ABS. I have him to thank for the AMG wheels too.

I remember the summer of 1995 my family had just moved into a new house, and my dad needed to move my sisters heavy wooden playhouse to a certain area in the backyard. His truck was too wide to pull the playhouse to its final resting place, so he BORROWED THE SL. Using tow straps, he pulled the playhouse (without a trailer) through the mud to its final resting place. I have never seen it that dirty before, but she took it like she had compteting in tractor pulls her entire life.

My father has named both the cars, out of jealousy I think. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for the SL, even though the motor runs perfectly, and Exxon Valdez for the Diesel because ONE TIME after an oil change it left ONE DROP of oil on his driveway. Like I said, he's jealous.