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Old 04-25-2020, 11:34 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan View Post
Not a fan of the SL either, I’ve driven quite a bit of them going back to the 80’s ... maybe a bit better than the s class coupes but still not a drivers car.
There is a reason why I’ve not had one all these years, but:

1) V12
2) Zonda sound
3) interesting project

Also, I happen to think the R129 is beautiful.
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Old 04-26-2020, 10:51 AM   #22
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Quote:
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Not a fan of the SL either, I’ve driven quite a bit of them going back to the 80’s ... maybe a bit better than the s class coupes but still not a drivers car.
My mom had two R129s. The first one was much better than the second. I’m certainly not going to disagree with the argument that it falls into a weird place between fun drivers car and cruiser.

But I still like them. And they were much better than the generation before, and much better than any SL that came after.

I am also of the opinion that convertibles don’t really need to be true drivers cars. They just need to not suck.
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Old 04-27-2020, 07:49 AM   #23
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Good R129 guide with great photos.

https://www.hagerty.com/media/buying...-buyers-guide/
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Old 04-27-2020, 11:33 AM   #24
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I'm kind of surprised that that doesn't include any commentary on the late model value engineering that was done.

Also, there were some substantial changes in the suspension between '97 and '01 (the two that my Mom owned), for the worse.
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Old 04-27-2020, 11:47 AM   #25
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I'm kind of surprised that that doesn't include any commentary on the late model value engineering that was done.

Also, there were some substantial changes in the suspension between '97 and '01 (the two that my Mom owned), for the worse.
Interesting- what were some of the changes that were made in the interest of "value engineering"? I supposed by the late 90s (with the introduction of the W210), MB was well on their way to cost cutting. But I hadn't really considered how/if it affected some of their older over-engineered models still in production

IN reading the article, it reminded me that some high end German cars from this era had a power rear view mirror. I dont think any current vehicles have this feature anymore. I think the e34 540 also had it iirc.
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Old 04-27-2020, 01:18 PM   #26
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There are no crazy or impossible projects.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...qH0Q6HJcwLlvOM
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Old 04-27-2020, 01:56 PM   #27
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Originally Posted by JST View Post
There are no crazy or impossible projects.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...qH0Q6HJcwLlvOM
REminds me of these:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excalibur_(automobile)
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Old 04-27-2020, 02:15 PM   #28
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There are no crazy or impossible projects.
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Old 04-27-2020, 02:21 PM   #29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick M3 View Post
I'm kind of surprised that that doesn't include any commentary on the late model value engineering that was done.

Also, there were some substantial changes in the suspension between '97 and '01 (the two that my Mom owned), for the worse.
I recall you mentioning that before. I do not remember what year that started.

I must admit that I am a sucker for the 1997+ facelift and AMG kit.

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Old 04-27-2020, 02:59 PM   #30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JST View Post
There are no crazy or impossible projects.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...qH0Q6HJcwLlvOM
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Originally Posted by robg View Post
This guy operates out of the town I grew up in, walked home past his shop almost every day walking home from school (our high school auto shop is visible behind him in the picture of the scorpion)

http://dunhamcoach.com/gallery.htm

There is no mention of it on his website, but I distinctly remember him doing overflow work with/for George Barris in the late 60's. The Munster's Grandpa "Dragula" coffin car was in his shop for many weeks attracting many of us Boonton kids after school
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