Autobahn - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

hill · #1 09-20-2002, 02:02 AM

Watched a special on the history channel on the Autobahn. There was a Ruf driver certifying a car to 212 mph for an english buyer. The closing speeds were incredible. Watch it if you can.

190dee · #2 09-20-2002, 04:55 AM

Two weeks ago I drove on the german autobahn for the first time in my life.

Gee, those german know how to step on it. No matter how fast you're going there is always somebody who drove even faster.

engatwork · #3 09-20-2002, 05:28 AM

I saw the ad for it but unfortunately it came on at 10 pm which is past my bedtime. I'm hoping they will run it again soon.

el presidente · #4 09-20-2002, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by engatwork
I saw the ad for it but unfortunately it came on at 10 pm which is past my bedtime. I'm hoping they will run it again soon.

....ditto...

Jim, if we have to (since we didn't get to see the show), we can hit 75 South with the V1 to see if super speeds can be duplicated

Ken300D · #5 09-20-2002, 04:59 PM

If anyone sees this in the program schedule please post date/time.

I'll stay up as late as it takes.

Ken300D

dtanesq · #6 09-20-2002, 08:00 PM

I did a quick and dirty search on historychannel.com and could only find that the program was on the schedule twice this month - Sept 17th at 10pm and Sept 18th at 2 in the morning or so. I couldn't figure out how to look at listings for future months - if possible on the site at all. I searched through the "On TV" section. The keyword I used was "autobahn."

Years ago, in the mid-80s, I drove on the Autobahn in a 3-series BMW both as a passenger and a driver. It was an incredible experience and I remember what 190dee remembers. Seemed like "any speed you can drive, I can drive faster." Obviously I have no idea how things are now, but my German host was adamant about the protocols (passing on the left only, signalling intentions, always getting the hell out of the way of the big Benzes, 911s, etc. at unbelievable speeds flashing their lights at you, etc.) both in his driving and mine and it seemed to me like other drivers observed them as well. I also remember looking on in amazement as a daisy chain of 4 or 5 large, dark-colored S-class blew by us with what seemed like ridiculously small spaces between them.

I drove my quattro in Los Angeles about 36 hours after being a passenger on the Autobahn and it was total chaos. The 405 kinda scared me...

william rogers · #7 09-22-2002, 03:14 AM

Darryl, whats the history on your 350 SL sounds like an interesting car, I worked on a friends Euro 350 SL four speed manual ,I had it for six months and it was a fast fine auto..........
William Rogers.........

hill · #8 09-22-2002, 10:05 PM

"Darryl, whats the history on your 350 SL sounds like an interesting car"

She is a beater for daily transport. I've got about $10,000 in to it total and have had her for four years. Sorry it is not the 116 with the manual tranny. The original owner was an importer/repair shop owner and the other two owners were all friends and customers of the original owner and my self. It does have lower gears than normal and will be on the redline at 125 mph. She has 220,000 miles on her so she has had two chains done and two tranny rebuilds. Besides the small bumpers and minimal smog equipment I love the manual windows, seats and thermal controls. The vin# is 60 and the engine# is 81. I was told by a dealer (in the 70's)that the first 100 or so cars of a new model that go to the big wigs and car magazines were tweaked and or assembled carefully.

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/darryl_hill_us/vwp?.dir=/My+Photos&.src=ph&.dnm=DCP_0005.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/darryl_hill_us/lst%3f%26.dir=/My%2bPhotos%26.src=ph%26.view=t
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/darryl_hill_us/vwp?.dir=/My+Photos&.src=ph&.dnm=DCP_0003.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/darryl_hill_us/lst%3f%26.dir=/My%2bPhotos%26.src=ph%26.view=t
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/darryl_hill_us/vwp?.dir=/My+Photos&.src=ph&.dnm=DCP_0001.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/darryl_hill_us/lst%3f%26.dir=/My%2bPhotos%26.src=ph%26.view=t

Ken300D · #9 09-22-2002, 11:56 PM

I have to quietly mention that in the rest of the country, a "beater" is typically a car with no more than $500 total invested, and is visually enhanced with many varying shades of rust.

Ken300D

hill · #10 09-23-2002, 12:11 AM

Yeah your right. I have had plenty of real beaters myself. How about an abused daily driver?