Fintail Swallows Bookcase

[Mark DiSilvestro]

This Spring, while my property assessments skyrocketed, I decided to do some much-delayed home improvements, to try and make my humble home more worthy of the immense value Fairfax County now places on it.
Finally replaced the bathtub wall enclosure, repaired the tub faucet and even splurged on new chrome for the knobs and spout.
Decided to replace the sagging white plastic shelf unit in the kitchen, with a nice wood-veneer 6-foot Scan bookcase that a neighbor was pitching out a few blocks away. Unfortunately, my Isuzu pickup is currently storing this summer's home improvement project, a Trane gas furnace and central airconditioning unit.
So I pressed Miss Daisy, my '60 Fintail, into furniture moving service. Remember when most cars were big enough that one didn't always need SUVs and pickups? Miss Daisy's trunk swallowed most of that 6-foot bookcase. On a second trip, she also also transported a leather swivel/recliner chair that the same neighbor was tossing.
Haven't decided if I should keep or donate that one yet.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[kpb]

Now ain't this sumthin'? 60 views when I looked and not a single comment! Mark, I commend and admire your scavenging endeavors.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

That Scan bookcase looks great in my kitchen, compared to the plastic shelf unit.
As for that leather swivel chair, it's an Ekarne(?) 'Stressless' recliner from Norway. I did a bit of research on the Net and found out that these have been around for over 30 years and new ones, now with laminated teak bases instead of chrome like mine, are $1400! Unfortunately, the leather on mine was just short of falling apart and, after defosting overnight in my living room, the fragrance of cigarettes and wet dog was overpowering! So this afternoon, Miss Daisy got the job of carting it to my local thrift store.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[Tomguy]

I love the roomy trunk on my 4.5 - I had used it to cart around many a spare part and tool until I got a garage to keep them in! You can put a computer in the back and barely notice it's there - I did!

[joshhol]

A friend of mine almost bought a 62 220S but went with an '87 325is coupe instead. The timing belt just let go but that is another story. Anyways, he lamented when my fintail engulfed his entire drum set in the trunk with ease. An absolute impossiblity in the beamer.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Originally Posted by joshhol

A friend of mine almost bought a 62 220S but went with an '87 325is coupe instead. The timing belt just let go but that is another story. Anyways, he lamented when my fintail engulfed his entire drum set in the trunk with ease. An absolute impossiblity in the beamer.

Perhaps I should open a thread like "Remember the days when cars didn't have rubber-bands driving critical internal engine parts?"
I've seen one Beamer, an '87 528e, strip several teeth off it's timing belt and keep running. In fact, the valve timing was off one tooth and a definite diesel-like clatter could be heard because the valves were touching the pistons! No damage resulted and the engine was perfectly fine after the new timing belt.
I don't suppose your friend was that lucky. I'll bet he's now lamenting more than a lack of trunk space.

I usually carry two plastic crates of spare parts and a small toolbox in Miss Daisy's trunk. In addition to those items, I've carried three 1950s Elgin outboard motors, or four 185SR14 tires mounted on Mercedes W108 rims. Had to remove the crates to carry the bookcase though.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[nachi11744]

Hello,
I just carried 4 185x14 tyres to tyreshop for fitting in W115 trunk, it was no problem at all.
Have a good week.

[300SDog]

I think it was moving the fuel tank behind the passenger seat from underneath (116->) where MB lost their trunk space. Amazingly pitiful is trunk space in 116's and 123's. And pontoon bathtub Benz were outrageous for having a trunk lid that closed at bumper level.