balthazar

Nah; mercedees built 'em, so it must be completely cool now!

Or the SS of the mid-late '90s. Dodge & Ford have it over Chevy/GMC on the packages right now, IMO.

This is a sad case. Car has been off the road since 1973. Owner picked it up in the last 5 years for $2K, put $2.5K into bodywork- which was a scam; bondo over open rot. Entire circumference of trunk opening need to be cut out. Trunk pan is lace. Car sat outside, in primer, since the 'bodywork' was done, interior is trash, rust, and who knows how much rot is under the primer. Car needs a body-off with LOTS of welding. It's a LeMans, but it's easy enough to dress these out as GTOs, as they were uncoded options in '64. Owner came by today and was depressed to hear that the initial breezy quote of $2K to get it running was going to be more like $6500 (I think the number is closer to $10K). In truth, the car could be a nice cruiser/local show car for $20K. Disgusted, the owner said he'll just crush it. His buddy asked me what I would pay for it & I told him $750, but I think it is going to see the hammer. Not usual vintage car guys.

I saw a '13 Malibu coming at me on the road, I thought at first it was a jeep compass; it was that 'thick'. Impala looks to be incorporating that thickness, too. Not liking the trend much.

The design is not bad, but analytically, it's VERY generic, encompassing numerous elements in use elsewhere, already. The animation was slick, but the fender cue is about all that was pulled from the '65, so while I think many people will 'see' it being heritage'd from that via the animation, it's really not. Hence, IMO, the animation there becomes a stretch. I do think it will do well, however.

>>"I'd like to get a hold of a really old walk behind mower to restore. Balthy do you have one kicking around?"<< I missed this question- I do have 3 walk-behind reel mowers if you're serious- I certainly can let one go.

Yea, first thought was it was the DuraMax, that's a massive engine for a 'sports car'. Going to need a really beefy platform to contain that power, too. This thing is going to be a monstrous road pig..... if it ever even gets released. AFA weight distribution goes, just have to add a counterweight, you know; like a heavy machine has. 2" thick lead plates in the ass end ought to do it.

Big 'meh' on the design (except for the taga-esque roof), but the numbers are attention-grabbing. >>"Trident also didn't release the weight of the Iceni, which should be a substantial disadvantage to any of its competitors."<< Does this mean a disadvantage that they didn't release the weight, or is it implying the weight is going to be low somehow? A 6.6L V-8 diesel is not, by nature, a light mill.

^ At least those innovations didn't require any interfacing. Scrolling thru 7 sub-menus on a flat screen to turn the fan up, when you were used to a simple knob you didn't have to look at to work, is something else entirely.

yeeeessss.... and now that too is a 'mercedes' (in effect; I'm aware of the circumstances).

Yes; when they DIDN'T have another brand name to use there. D-B HAS had names to use for over 30 years- or since 'ancient history times no one remembers' as you've often said. See above. Also see earlier post where I remind readers that the Sprinter was originally badged a 'Freightliner' in the U.S., but the exact same van is now a 'mercedes'.

Incorrect, sir. Daimler-Benz acquired Freightliner in 1981! Since then, D-B has also acquired American-LaFrance, the AeroMax HD truck division from Ford, Thomas-Bilt buses, Western-Star HD trucks, Detroit Diesel, and a number of other, smaller companies. D-B has had a PLETHORA of brand names to plate their commercial trucks. Instead they shave good will off their luxury car name.

I know; we agree here. I don't think marketing a IBC motor on that principal is the way to go, even if it is the catalyst to a list of improved characteristics. It should be marketed on the advantages, not on the cam location.

I still prefer 'InBlockCam' (as the alternative denominator to 'DoubleOverHeadCam'), but I don't believe either has any resonance with the mass market consumer.

^ It'd be interesting looking under the hood, but rather pathetic going down the road (despite the 500 lb weight advantage the '57 enjoys). It'd be interesting looking under the hood, but rather pathetic going silently down the road (despite the 500 lb weight advantage the '57 enjoys). C-57s should rumble & growl.

Oy, neon, that COE is so beautiful ! I wish my '40 was as slickly clean. • • • A friend just bought (& trailered from Ohio) a '62 Tempest LeMans convertible project :

How about a '59 Buick with a Buick 462 Stage 2?

Why? They don't seem to have a problem w/ that in Europe. M-B badged semi truck tractors, garbage trucks, Sprinter vans, etc...been that way for many decades. The U.S. is FAR more superficial. And I believe the U.S. is the biggest profit source for M-B (or am I thinking of toyoyo?) At least the big trucks have been separated AFA marketing goes, but the Sprinter, a bare-bones, refrigerator-white cargo van, is on the websites & in the dealerships. I would love to know why Corporate felt it needed to be rebadged from Freightliner (well, I actually DO know the reason...) Globally, the corporate marketing needs an overhaul. Per the usual internet forum wags, these issues are a "problem" that needs to be "fixed". Think of it like how GMC is a "problem" for some folk's comprehension. Or put it this way: think of the reaction if Cadillac were to sell a refrigerator-white cargo van, a rebadged GMC cube van with stamped steel wheels & no interior. Bottom line is mercedes is spreading itself thinner & thinner, trying to be 'everything to everyone' and riding on the good association with their nameplate. Long term, that's going to cause image problems- they're not thinking long-term. They are spread wide enough that there is an obvious need for another division to maintain image with the hi-buck sedans. No doubt they'll be gun-shy a while after the maybach failure.

The last 15 secs are just nasty.

^ Plymouth had the 350- not DeSoto. '58 : 305 HP dual quad 350, IIRC. It may have been a 1-yr only motor. The Bel Air is my buddy's- it's for sale. He was having some engine work done on it for sale, when the shop caught on fire and a bunch of melted stuff spattered the roof & decklid- it's out getting repainted. I don't have any pics of it handy- hopefully it'll be done soon. '56 Bel Air 2-dr hardtop, 350/T350 powertrain, white over black, '70s Camaro wheels, needs some work but a driver.

^ It really is, given it's uber-high volume aspirations. They need to split the brand: put anything below the C into it, and for God's sake's re-rebadge the Sprinter back as a 'freightliner', it's embarrassing. All the commercial mercedees should be 'freightliners'. No WAY should a garbage truck wear the same emblem as the s-class. It's so disjointed.

I'd like to say the Pontiac, but if my recollection of factory lit is correct, I don't believe a big cube option was available, so I will default to a Fury with a 440, please. She's a pretty girl, too. I had a Charger Rallye 440 car, those beasts pull hard.

We DID have such a section, then later we had another, extremely extensive one in Beta form, but both are no longer existing. They take a SH!TLOAD of time to compile, let me tell you. Horsey, you always have me as your 'phone a concept car friend'. Sorry- I didn't get back to looking for info on Norseman, and I'm signing off now for tonight. Remind me and I'll look tomm or the next day.

Discussion gets rapidly out of hand when including every market in the world, I default to discussing M-B's #1 focus; the U.S. market. A- & B- have not been sold here before (they're not news elsewhere- but they are here). The old C230 hoopty was pretty close, tho at least that was RWD. AFA mileage, M-B offers 4 rated @ 12, 1 @ 13, 4 @ 14, and 4 @ 15. The SL65 & GL63 assuredly aren't going to be getting over 15, so that would be 15 models. After that, there's 5 @ 16, 4 @ 17, 1 @ 18 and 6 @ 19, for a total of 31 models rated under 20 city. They offer 7 rated between 20 and 23 city. Pretty pitiful, IMO, for all the supposed billions/yr they spend. 'Factual' enough for you?