Recent Posts
Mercedes Benz have an enviable history. No matter who the manufactuer may be, you can be sure they have looked at their contemporaries and most closely at those such as Mercedes.
Why, with no less than the distinction of (arguably) being the 'Inventors' of the Motor Vehicle.
"Arguably" because there are numerous examples of documented evidence supporting French, American and even eastern bloc inventions. Though, none have stronger evidence than 'Daimler' and 'Benz' (individually) in their pursuit of the best 'Horseless carriage'.
This pursuit continued after the second world war. With Germany razed to the ground in most of it's industrial areas, war reparations saw new factories being built. The best and latest plant and equipment being developed and purchased at incredible speed.
The Cities were reawakening with renewed vigour. The Universities and practical workshops were 'full steam ahead' and just as in Japan, the population were moving on and up, industrially and technologically.
To say the least, these two countries needed to 'move on' as the population had been demoralised and beaten but neither broken.
Mercedes soon re-established their destroyed factories and made the most of whatever was left to restart the business they were so well regarded, motors, but mostly, motor cars.
Fast forward to the late 50's and Mercedes had the flagship of the fleet, the 300, beginning to look a little aged and underpowered. With Rolls Royce, Cadillac, Lincoln and various other lower volume producers beginning to flaunt some fancy new shapes and technologies, Mercedes saw the time was ripe to show their engineering excellence.
The '600' was on the drawing board. And no sooner had it begun the 'bright young things' and the 'brightest and most experinced' in their development departments were working all sorts of hours. Consumed with the excitement of a new 'Flagship' for none other than their prized and revered employer 'Daimler Benz AG'.
In their pursuit of style and exclusivity they once again charged the Frenchman Paul Bracq to style the car in keeping with the 'Mercedes' features which make them recogniseable from a distance and without peer.
The car was being developed with the aim of eliminating most of what is now considered obsolete technology. Reduction in maintenance, (the use of lubed and sealed ball joints). Performance, (Fuel injected 6.3 litre V8), Safety and Luxury items, (Limited slip differential, air suspension, huge disc brakes with four calipers up-front, two stage suspension dampening). With full hydraulic appointments throughout the car for seats/windows/boot-trunklid and door closers.
The hydraulic system was (and still is) a point of contention. What works for aviation may not work in a practical way in an automobile. The hydraulic sytem called "Comfort System" was meant to be the ultimate in a silent and efficient way to power the array of ventilation flaps and the aforementioned comfort features.
This system in practical terms was an unfortunate choice.
Just as a link chain is only as strong as the weakest link, the whole hydraulic system could be lost due to a failure in the pump/belt. A loss of pressure at any point in the extraordinarily complex network of hoses/pipes/rams/switches and you have 'high-worth' individuals on the side of the road with a car that is disabled in many an embarrasing way!
There was some fervent objection to this hydraulic system but the powers that be gave the go-ahead and bosch was heavily involved in supply of the complex parts.
The end result was a car that was as beautiful, refined and imposing as it was flawed. But for all its failing it was truly a flagship that shook the opposition and was truly a leader in how cars would work in many ways.
RKW
Almost identical but not actual
We wandered through his multi level carpark taking the odd non-Benz car from its stands giving it a quick service, plus spray grease in and on door hinges etc. An hour or two on the private roadway to get a little heat in things then puting it away for another indeterminate period.
In our roaming we decided to go through the unrestored and non-running lot and came upon some treasures he had forgotten he had!
First up a German ww2 troop carrier (half-Track) which is fitted with a petrol engine! In the medium light it looked like a Benz or Maybach built engine (not that I am that familiar with the prewar stuff)!
We checked it out a little closer and even though it was in a well used condition and a bit rusty, we concluded we should have a closer look when it is pulled into the service area. Keep posted for that one!
He recalled that he bought it in an 'Auction' lot that came from a deceased/dispossessed eastern bloc government auction where he had only narrowly been able to get it out (or so they made out). He was forced to buy a container load of Eastern-bloc motorcycles to make up the required minimum export value, then they were able to include the 'troop-carrier' in the shipment and be guaranteed safe passage for the lot.
What was revealed when the container with the motorcycles was opened was quite a few new 'Jawa' and 'CZ' motorcycles and most unexpected a ww2 'BMW' motorcycle with a sidecar!
There was excitement in my voice as I suggested we check it out, the Motorcycle collection is not given the credence the cars are but I am keen to check that particular machine!
We find it and it is complete, however, rotten tyres and a rusted-on fuel cap prevented anything happening but to pull it out and put in the order for tyres.
The tank mounted gearshift and 'Hi/Lo' range lever moved and all gears seemed to be present, but who knows!
So, we shall do all the oil and the rest while we wait for the tyres and check the 'Troop-Carrier' for viability for a run, since it has pads on the tracks (which need replacing) and the front tyres are cracked and ancient, we conclude this one will take a while!
I encouraged my friend to just leave it in the condition it is in with a thorough clean-up only and renewal of parts that just must be replaced to run as it should.
Keep posted!
As has been described previously, the search within my good friends multi level 'climate controlled' personal museum is a search with no end.
As I have encouraged him, to let me help him, ensure that most if not all of these Gems should have their turn in the sun, checked, serviced, put aside for parts arrival if required, we unearth some which he had forgotten about!
None of his cars carry batteries, there is a rack of batteries on each level which are kept on a trickle charge with modern diagnostics to ensure the batteries are maintained in top order.
This equipment cares for 10 batteries concurrently which is a wide enough range to cater for all types and makes of machines on each level.
All vehicles are kept on a lift similar to the type 'Tyre shops' use which lifts only the chassis high enough to relieve the weight from the wheels (but can lift higher), therefore keeps the tyres from suffering 'flat' spots.
Every branch of the bays has it's own power/lube/air and fuel centre. With the added feature of removing 'stale' fuel and oil with a suction system which disposes the oil to a recycling drum and the stale fuel retained for cleaning purposes in the workshop.
He keeps quite an inventory of servicing consumables and tools. Any cars that are rare enough to be impossible to obtain filters for he has the existing units from the vehicle duplicated x25 and with the build patterns retained for future reference.
Almost all types of tyres are retained in racks in their own storeroom, standing and climate controlled.
The control of these parts and associated tools etc is simplified by being kept at the bay of each car, along with its books (if any) and history, which incredibly includes clothing in some cases and pit equipment in the case of ex-racing machinery.
Some machinery, such as the aforementioned racing machinery, has specific instructions on maintenance and operating procedures, which are gladly followed to the letter!
Keep an eye out for the next instalment where when we have completed preparing two very special ex-racing machines for a day on the course! You can share in the exhileration of these past 'works' machines getting back to operating temperature for the first time in a long time!
RKW
Why would my good friend expect me to choose his Maybach and just hope that I have made a choice he may have made!
Ok, the only thing he left me with was that he wanted the long wheelbase, oh, thanks...
Well, there are thousands of variations and I simply kept it simple and (to me) tasteful
[ Click here to read more ]
My friend and I moved through his array of garages to come face to face with the grill of a 'Grand 600'!
What a machine, what with six doors, divider window, and two very cool looking flag staffs on the bow of this 'Luxury Land Barge
[ Click here to read more ]
As we strolled through his octagonal shaped labyrinth, I mused why one would bother naming different parts of your 'Utopian' garage...
"Ah, I don't know, it just seems nicer than saying to the wife I'm at 'C2' or whatever!"
So, there we were in "Modern Classics" (1965-85)....and what did I immediately spy amongst the 'American, Australian, British, German and Italian modern beauties... a 6.9
[ Click here to read more ]
Every time I open the Garage door that big grille with the big 'three pointed star' on top and the huge car behind it greet me with menace!
It is a machine which, in it's day, made an impression which opened huge wallets and braved the stratospheric realms of motoring which Mercedes had not ventured since the fourties. I am talking of the 'Grand 600'! or affectionately known as 'Grosser'!
Of course the latter days 'Grosser' but the car from the late thirties and fourties was also tagged as such and this is one example (of which I have been sworn to secrecy of its location) is truly awsome
[ Click here to read more ]
What can YOU do?!
Approached to help raise funds for a Sydney childrens hospital (Westmead Childrens) I was asked to help promote in any way, so I have donated the car and myself as driver for a day or more if they wish.
The car is the model '600' built in 1965 and designated 'w100'. Some know them as the "Grosser" but this was never recognised by the factory as it only means 'big' or 'bigger
[ Click here to read more ]
ILLEGAL, IMMORAL, INHUMANE and an UNNECESSARY hunt of a protected species!
How good to see Watson and crew on board the 'Steve Irwin' causing havoc for the illegal whaling boats from an arrogant Japan. Even if you don't agree with the methods employed by them, you must agree that it seemed there was no way the trespassers, with the strength of their industry and government behind them, were going to take any notice of anything less than an aggressive affront
[ Click here to read more ]
So, I love my wife. So, she likes to taunt me, says it 'cos she loves me....my turn!
I booked a holiday as she announced she was happy to do whatever I thought would be fun while the kids are away on their educational holiday, heh, heh,...!
The man at the desk when we arrived cheerfully advised we are able to take-off first light as the forecast was for mild winds and median temperatures
[ Click here to read more ]
|
|
Recent Comments
I've not commented on anything yet :(
|
Comments (1)
Add Comments
Read More
