OK, this is scary...I've been coming across more and more articles written by 'helpful people' who are beginning to advocate banning our classic cars from the road. After the VW scandal, the love affair with all things diesel in Europe is beginning to end.
https://www.thedrive.com/news/19540/if-electric-cars-are-the-future-what-about-our-classics
What does everyone think? I'd hate to be forced to 'electrify' my 300D to keep driving it. Older cars are greener because we keep them running. No Tesla Model S will be on the road in 10-15 years...not without all new processing and software and skateboard. In England, the move has started...
"Classic cars to be banned from UK motorways in next three decades"
https://www.autoclassics.com/posts/news/could-classic-cars-be-banned-in-next-30-years
These 'helpful people' seem to have their sights on anything they can take away from others, including our history...

Attached Thumbnails

 

Im no fan of people thinking theyre doing the world a favor by outlawing otherwise inanimate objects and villifying/marginalizing law abiding, harmless people.

But it seems like this post is fear-mongering.

The first link, not sure what "thedrive" is in terms of a site, but it does seem to have an agenda and an odd combination of defense (yet seemingly somewhat anti-defense), and then motorcycles and vehicles with an intent on selling stuff through its Amazon affiliate program.

The second link has nothing to do with SJWs, snowflakes, rabid environmentalists or the like... The discussion there was automation and the conversation was relative to the highways.

Ill use my w126 as a baseline, as anything else newer can be considered reasonably modern in outfitting and performance. In 20 years, taking my 1991 350SD on the highway is much like taking a 1971 300D on the highway today. Other than a niche reason, its highly unlikely that any practical number of users will be doing this for routine ops. How many 1991 cars are on the road today, let alone W123s, let alone cars from 1971? Few to none for a given time on a given road. So this just isnt an issue.

Further, the infrastructure for fully automated operations, completely, continuously, everywhere is just dubious at best. We can barely get new lanes built on highways without massive cost and often the need for tolls. To make computer controlled, automated highways? I can see an HOV type lane or section for automated only. I suspect the roads at large will be much like today.

Will fuel become more scarce? I have my doubts there too. Despite niche things like Tesla superchargers, the challenge that will NOT go away, no mattery how great battery tech becomes, is charging. No homes have large quantities of 3-phase power necessary for fast charging. On top of that, the grid doesnt have enough capability. It takes energy to cruise down the highway at 65 MPH, regardless of how the traction power is produced, and if something is combusted in the engine or at the power plant.

IMO, PHEVs are where it's at... Maybe fuel cell PHEVs in time. Im not seeing any rational, practical basis for moving from liquid fuels anytime soon, but I can envision strong requirements for hybridization and much higher fuel economy.

For our old diesels, well, fat, fried food eating Americans also arent going away anytime soon, so its most likely that biodiesel will also be available for the foreseeable future. Even if highly taxed and regulated, there's just too much it can do. Heavy trucks are an ideal opportunity for hybridization as you can optimize the engine's SFC and have lots of space and weight for a battery... Plus, they really can make max use of full torque at 0 rpm... But theyll optimize on fuel economy, its even less practical in terms of electrical infrastructure, to use full electric OTR trucks.

__________________
Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

Time for an LS conversion!

__________________
1981 240D Four on the floor, Orient Red over Parchment, bought with 154,000 but it's a daily driver and up to 180,000 miles, mostly original paint and all original interior.

Emissions in Europe have long been a problem, some 30 years ago I've read articles where landmarks are suffering from pollution.

Time and technology move on but no need to think gloom and doom is coming.

The Drive is car enthusiast centric media company started circa 2015 by Time Inc with video content on You Tube and I think NBC.

You are miss quoting the article, here is the actual title.

Quote:

Classic cars to be banned from UK motorways and other major roads in the next three decades?

In the US there is a defacto ban on " older " cars but we seem to be surviving. Just take a look at minimum speeds required on interstate highways. ( A Model T can't be driven in interstates for example due to it's 40 - 45 MPH top speed . )

Good I hope you **** your pants. Every month someone has to start this thread. Who gives a ****. It's one technology among many. What are you married to your diesel engine?

__________________
CENSORED due to not family friendly words

Yawn.....and now, back to our regularly scheduled thread: How come my 617 shakes? I've done bla, bla, bla and still can't find the problem.

__________________
85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

What is the point of getting a diesel Mercedes if you can't have a diesel engine in it? The diesel was a big part of the allure of this car.

Aside from the diesel engine, there are far better vehicles available for far less money.

__________________
Milan Brown 1979 240D, rebuilt OM617.952 turbo diesel, rebuilt 722.315 transmission (my only daily driver)

Instagram: @maximed93

Yunicks heat engine.

I wonder if that can carry over to diesel.

Not joking, may have to seriously do this in the far future, LS + 6 speed man tran.

__________________
1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

Ahh.. someone that knows who Smokey is!

I believe he was the 13th disciple in our garage..lol. I have read everything that I could find about him and from him. I still have an accumulation of old circle track magazines when he was writing for them.

Fortunately the talk of bans or taxes or whatever hasn't gone mainstream here in the U.S., but I feel for diesel owners in Europe and particularly Germany the internal combustion engine and especially the diesel are getting a bad rap. I've always maintained that keeping our classics going is green, given all the energy and resources that go into making a car don't have to be repeated...I just think we have to be especially vocal politically so 'helpful people' focus on other causes.

Here in the US, diesels image has been dinged by all of the modified pickups that are way over fueled. Around here sometimes you can't even see the intersection when they take off.

https://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/vintage-mercedes-forum/378762-69-230-build-w-lq4-swap.html