[wlb50]

I’m just cruising up the Oregon coast and probably will drive along the Columbia river and thought I would stop by at Top Hydraulics.

Wanted to tell Klaus Witte what a great product he has. Nine years in my SL and still going strong

I forgot it is Saturday. Was hoping to have more pictures for you.

 

[wlb50]

The place is a lot bigger than I suspected. Would’ve been nice to see the operation inside.

 

[wlb50]

Thought some of you might be interested in this. Many decades ago our local MBCA section had these ad reprints remade.
Yes, before 1963, Mercedes Benz were sold by Studebaker dealers

 

[wlb50]

Went to the California auto Museum today and bought a 1968 issue of Road in track magazine. The first thing I wanted to turn to was the classifies.

this was during a time when limited production sports cars were just old cars.

I can remember seeing cobras for $4000 or 300 SL‘s for $4000.

They were just old cars lovingly maintained by enthusiasts sold to other enthusiast and not some thing to add to one’s portfolio in the hopes it will appreciate

I can remember neighbors having an Aston Martin DB4 or a 275 Ferrari in their track home driveway.

The Ferraris you see and the 300 SL‘s would easily be $2 million cars today

Or more.

 

[duh_vinci]

Went to the California auto Museum today and bought a 1968 issue of Road in track magazine. The first thing I wanted to turn to was the classifies.
...

Wow, Tardis transported back in time... Now, I'm 50, so my furthest memories are of the AutoTrader and Washington Post classifieds, and your post definitely brings back memories, thank you for that!

Never forget how on weekends, first thing I'd get a cup of coffee, paper, and directly to alphabetically listed Automotive classifieds: Audi, Mercedes, Volvo, VW... "Hello, hope I didn't wake you up, calling about your .... for sale, still available?"

Took the Red Sonja out to stretch her legs this morning for the "mind clearing" early fall drive. Colors are changing every day... Favorite weather!



Regards,
D

 

[ceta4zng]

View attachment 2780184 View attachment 2780185
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The Ferraris you see and the 300 SL‘s would easily be $2 million cars today

What is crazy is if you adjust for inflation, $5200 in 1968 is only about $45,000 today -- so in addition to what has happened to the value of money, it seems as if the market didn't deem ANY car 'collectible' until it was over 25 years old back in those days.

A 13-year old gullwing was probably a little bit better than the garden variety used car then (it was about $7k new) depreciating about 17bps per month -- by comparison it is about 100bps per month now. But look at a 2010 Mercedes SLS -- it is the same 13 years old and would have to sell for $132,000 today to be the same depreciation as a 1955 selling in 1968. I don't see any SLS listing under $200k today ($183k was base MSRP in 2010).

So while it is great for the value of collectible vehicles and the people that own them, it has pushed most aspirational cars out of reach of entusiasts that love automobiles as automobiles and not as investments.

 

[Bill SD]

Wow, Tardis transported back in time... Now, I'm 50, so my furthest memories are of the AutoTrader and Washington Post classifieds, and your post definitely brings back memories, thank you for that!

Never forget how on weekends, first thing I'd get a cup of coffee, paper, and directly to alphabetically listed Automotive classifieds

Duh Vinci....now I'm 70 and at the time in the 80's in the Chicago area....there was 'tradin times' would be at the 7-Eleven or the Chicago Tribune and I would go through and circle..oh look at that ...and my wife was patient with me as I brought home a string of beaters 'classics' several 70's 220 sedans (gas, diesel) a Jaguar xj12L, fiat 124 spyder, pontiac fiero ....some as projects some as daily drivers ....

the internet really turbo charged so many sites , so many cars, so little time left , I'm finally sorted out my R129....just going to really enjoy it now, maybe one more ' project ' ..just a few clicks away

 

[Sparking1]

Happy Veterans Day to all members in the US who have served, and Armistice Day to those in Commonwealth countries.

 

[wlb50]

The trouble with these R129 doors
You have to be Gumby to get out

 

[SLSLSLSL]

Does anyone have upturned DTM tips on the R129? I'm installing mine next week and I think they'll look really good

 

[wlb50]

If you are a longtime fan of Mercedes-Benz you may have remembered their publication In Aller Welt. It was published by Mercedes-Benz in Stuttgart.

I guess it's worthy successor is Mercedes-Benz classic. Published as before by Mercedes-Benz

As before they write about owners from all over the world, I just got my first issue which is air mailed from Germany

just to give you a sample of some of their articles here is an interview with German DTM champion Bernd Schneider with the cofounder of AMG on the occasion of their 55th anniversary.

being that I just learned a bit about 3-D printing and they had a short article on it I am going to email a letter to the editor

look at the bottom - leave it to the Germans to categorizing s count every single part they sold. I guess this is just through the classic center?

Thr subscription isn't cheap and it's only mailed four times a year but I think it's one of those magazines worth saving.

 

[Chicky]

Hello wlb50
... hmmm, now I need to search if "back issues" are available ...
Regards