War a Tragedy For Many Classic Mercedes - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

regsatx · #1 08-02-2006, 01:29 AM

First of all, the Israel-Lebanon war is a tragedy for all involved. However, I don't know if anyone else has noticed this but on the news reports from Lebanon, a multitude of grand old Benzes are shown either being driven about the bombed out cities or as casualties themselves...i.e. on fire, or crushed by knocked down buildings, or simply in rubble.
I've seen many beautiful (and they all look like highly functional daily drivers) 115s and 116s, a bunch of 126s and 123s, and even older models I don't even know the designation for. Lebanon surely must have a huge MB fan base...or do they just know good cars.
I have noted that in Iraq...one often sees older BMWs, especially E-34s, but not very many MBs.
Very curious!

Reg in Texas
85 300SD, 250k
Astral Silver and my daily driver

Boardmonger · #2 08-02-2006, 02:02 AM

Very true and very sad. In sunday's paper they showed and bombed and still running w115 with a really nice looking w123 in the background. I suppose it is another showcase of mercedes durability. How many other cars can take on a bombing and still run?

Lostyankee · #3 08-02-2006, 02:47 AM

Lebanon used to be a banking HQ of the world.
Yup, I watch footage of a 126/building graft.
Just shows how stupid humans can be.

spe3 · #4 08-02-2006, 07:54 AM

I was just looking at the Times front page. Looks like an 116 and a 115 still doing service.

"pre-owned" mercedes have long been moved from europe, mainly germany, overland to the middle east after they have outlived their usefulness in the industrial societies of western europe. At one time in the early eighties I lived two blocks from the Theresien Wiesse in Munich. Most people know this as the place where Oktoberfest takes place once a year. During the rest of the year, once or twice a week caravans of vehicles would assemble on the Theresien Wiesse. Men sometimes wearing eastern style robes and head gear lined up their newly aquired used diesel trucks, vans, flatbeds, and cars(usually filled with parts and tires) for the long journey through Austria, Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey, and on to destinations in the middle east. Its nice to see that these machines live on. I have been driving my 123 since 1986 and will continue to do so indefinitely here on long island. God willing I will never have to use it to evacuate my family from a war zone like those poor devils, but if I ever do I wouldn't want to do it in any other vehicle.

Hatterasguy · #5 08-02-2006, 11:47 AM

I remember seeing a pic where some of our soliders found what looked like a 300SEL, took out he windows and interior and mounted a 50cal on the roof.

Now the car was pretty tired looking anyway so what a way to go for a car!

Its a testiment to how hard it is to kill these things. Desert abuse doesn't do it, a 2k pound bunker buster is usualy needed to send a good MB to the junk yard.

Rahulio1989300E · #6 08-02-2006, 12:07 PM

Yeah, I saw a blue W124 picking up a family with 2 little children! Next best think to a tank besides one of those huge diesel trucks I suppose.

dunl · #7 08-02-2006, 01:06 PM

I don't mind discussing the cars we see, but when it turns to politics it's not intersting anymore. I left one board a few years ago when Iraq was invaded, simply because the discussions all started to center on politics, not what the board was intended for.

I'd like to see us continue to discuss the cars. Just my 2 cents (about 0.0177527 UDS).

Edited: You are correct.

#8 08-02-2006, 01:11 PM

I have seen a few W115's and W123's in the news clippings. I wonder how many miles those old Merc's have.

dunl · #9 08-02-2006, 01:17 PM

I would think that swaps are quite common for motors and parts, as the
abundance of vehicles would seem to make finding what you need very easy.

Families tend to be really close over there. Imagine how many swaps are probably done by a guy with his dad, father-in-law, couple of brother-in-laws, and couple of brothers himself. You could get a LOT done on your car with about 12 guys who all know about Mercedes.

Hatterasguy · #10 08-02-2006, 01:32 PM

no-blue-screen and Mismost I sudjest you remove or edit your posts in this thread. I am not the mod of this forum but I know what he is going to do when he sees those.

Edit: You are correct.

bgkast · #11 08-02-2006, 01:39 PM

Maybe I can get an engine from a bombed car over there.

dynalow · #12 08-02-2006, 06:02 PM

In the summer of 1966, when I was in the Navy, my ship had a liberty call in Beirut. After a long afternoon playing drinking games (Budweiser) with guys from my division at the Hilton Hotel, one of my shipmates & I returned to the departure/landing area in a cab owned by some poor Lebanese. A very clean black MB with a nice red leather interior. While driving back, my poor friend vomited all over the back seat of the car. The guy was livid.

Once we stopped, my friend got out the right rear door and wandered off while I tried to calm the driver down with a couple of whatever the currency was. He sure was mad. But I gave him some money and walked off myself looking for my shipmate. Couldn't find him until I went to the dock area where shore patrol was and there he was semi comatose and wearing a life jacket. Poor guy ended up on report and escorted on the boat ride back to the ship by shore patrol. Think he got 30 days restriction.

Back in those days, Beirut was a clean, thriving city. That's before it was destroyed the FIRST time.

What a tragedy!