Favorite Mercedes-Benz model(s)

[Connemara]

List with pics!

Mine: 540 K

W113 SL

W126 560 SEC

W126 SEL.

W204 C36 AMG. First C-Class I like.

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by Connemara

You can't post this first and then expect any serious debate to follow.

 

[JayJay]

The 560 SEC was and is my favorite MB model. A gorgeous car.

By the way, the wheels on the one in the pic are an abomination.

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by JayJay

The 560 SEC was and is my favorite MB model. A gorgeous car.

By the way, the wheels on the one in the pic are an abomination.

It really is a beauty--from back when Mercedes wasn't afraid to be Mercedes nor trying deperately to maximize market share.

 

[ccc123]

start and stop with 540 K - there really is no point of consideration after that.

 

[gamelan]

ok, this looks like a fun thread. i wanna play. someone should start up a Porsche and BMW one.

my all time favorite (and i can't imagine i'd be the only one):

300SL


while growing up:

AMG Hammer


yeah, i'll probably catch some flack for this one. but they've been in the Benz lineup for years and aren't just for hauling around rappers and celebs with way too much money:

G-Wagen



-Jeff

 

[Full Canvas]

There are many favorites. While the 540K is up there where few others can claim to be, my personal favorite (below) is slightly more mundane. It is Lloyd Dryer's black 1955 300 SL Gullwing with the Rudge knock-on wheels and bright red leather upholstery.

Lloyd was an engineer for Lockheed and was assigned to their little outpost in the hills above Santa Cruz on Empire Grade Road. He was dating my aunt and wanted to take her to the SCCA races at Camp Stoneman near Pittsburg, California. Lloyd had just purchased the car used from Munras Motors (the Mercedes dealer) in Monterey.

He couldn't understand why my aunt didn't want to go. So, he turned to me and said, "Set your alarm for 5:00 a.m., I'm taking you to the races tomorrow if your aunt won't go." Early the next morning we roared "over the mountain" toward San Jose, up old Highway 101 to San Francisco, across the Bay Bridge to Oakland, and on to finally arrive at Camp Stoneman. The place was a U.S. Army camp during WWII and deeded to the city and other local agencies in the late 1950s - early 1960s. It was then largely unused except for sporadic events such as sports car races.

All of this happened in 1964. I took a few black and white rolls of the events with my trusty Polaroid. This image was made just after we arrived. That's Lloyd closing the Gullwing's rear lid.

___

 

[Christofuh]

Few cars can touch the 540K for the sheer obscenity factor.
Some pre-WWII Alfas and Lancias, perhaps.

 

[RyJ Maduro]

I've always been partial to the early-70's 280 SE cabriolets.

 

[Bradford]

Originally Posted by Connemara

List with pics!

Mine:

This picture is of a 1971 280SL, but it's exactly the same body as the '68 250SL that my parents had when I was in high school. I got to drive it quite a bit including taking it to prom. However my sister who is 3-years younger had it as her daily driver - at least until one night coming home from a party she totaled it

I still meet people from my high school who know my sister as "the girl who wrecked the Mercedes".

 

[JoeWoah]

Originally Posted by gamelan

ok, this looks like a fun thread. i wanna play. someone should start up a Porsche and BMW one.

my all time favorite (and i can't imagine i'd be the only one):

300SL


-Jeff

I think we are done here.

 

[fritzl]

Originally Posted by Full Canvas

He couldn't understand why my aunt didn't want to go. So, he turned to me and said, "Set your alarm for 5:00 a.m., I'm taking you to the races tomorrow if your aunt won't go." Early the next morning we roared "over the mountain" toward San Jose, up old Highway 101 to San Francisco, across the Bay Bridge to Oakland, and on to finally arrive at Camp Stoneman. The place was a U.S. Army camp during WWII and deeded to the city and other local agencies in the late 1950s - early 1960s. It was then largely unused except for sporadic events such as sports car races.

i envy this

 

[Nicholas]

Originally Posted by ccc123

start and stop with 540 K - there really is no point of consideration after that.

i concur.

 

[bigbjorn]

W112 280SE coupe and 1994 W124 E500

 

[johnapril]

I like the 1971 280SL. I'd prefer one that was worn like a ball glove so I wasn't worried about door dings all the time. Understated but would be fun to drive in nice weather.