My First Benz

[LaRondo]

The year was 1976 and the car was a 1967 200D Fintail.

The picture was taken in a beach town called Plage 'd Adge, South France.

[LaRondo]

[LaRondo]

There was a minor uphold in St. Gallen, Switzerland before we got to the beaches in South France.

I rearended a postal vehicle, which was a VW 411 Variant, known as the "squareback" ....

It didn't stop us from getting to our vacation destination. A Touring Club Roadside assistant came and pulled out a 5 foot crowbar and bent the radiator away from the fan. That was it.

The postal person didn't have any damage on the 411, so we were cool ...

[rickg]

My 3rd Benz was a '67 230 Fun car 2.3L six, dual carbs, and the 4-speed auto. If ya hit it just right, went like crazy off the line

[LaRondo]

My 4. Benz was a '67 230, which I bought with damaged engine for 500 bucks. It was gorgeous. Pearl White with darkblue fabric. I ended up installing a 250 with dual carbs. It had a 4 speed manual on the column. It had quite some torque and roar to it when the pedal was pushed.
Otherwise it was a very quiet ride ... nice!

[LaRondo]

I always had very proud feelings about this one ... many things happened in and with this car ... when I did the scan I could see how banged up it actually was ... uhh, I guess it didn't matter back then.

I remember somewhere along the tour I proudly rolled into St. Tropez ...
I got a little frustrated among the Rolls, 600's and Lincoln Continentals.

[t walgamuth]

That is a marvelous picture.

My first benz was bought in Brussells in january of 1973 to use on my year of travel and study in the execution of the traveling fellowship I won by winning the Paris Prize.

I bought a '61 220b, a 2.2 liter six with two one barrell solexes. It was black with gray vinyl interior, four on the tree with power brakes and a radio. We drove it for 20K kilos all over western Europe and into Morrocco for about ten months and sold it in Rome to a couple of Arab brothers who spoke English and about six other languages for $50 less than we paid for it.

In that time I had changed the plugs once, the points once, did brushes on the generator and changed the oil a three or four times. It was a nice solid, good riding and handling car which made me a life long lover of cars Benz.

When I got back to the states I bought the '62 190c fintail and drove that for about four years. I loved that large ivory steering wheel.

I should try to find a good pic of the fintails to post. Maybe I can find one with a picture of me at 145#!

Tom W

[Carleton Hughes]

Yo Man,them was the days allright.

If only I had taken pics of my triumphs and tragedies.Now all I have are memories stored in my head but ready to recall with a potent brew of poigniant regret and amazement at my youthful follies.............

[Hatterasguy]

Nice, those are really cool cars!

[iwrock]

Those are some nice cars.



There is a place in my heart for old Fintails.