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Old 03-29-2007, 12:16 AM   #1
lip277
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Some thoughts....

OK - I drove the Mustang again today for ~75 miles.

Yes -another nice afternoon that had me cruising the local roads with the top down feezing my ass off until I had had enough and pulled over and put the top up.

Some thoughts.....

Some folks here really outta drive an old car (make that an old convertible).
I mean a car that has awful steering...
Numb brakes...
Wind noise up the kazoo...
Cowl shake...
Steering that is more of a suggestion than precise orientation.



And my car is just about literally NEW!!!!
We've come a long way, baby!!!!


I keep thinking how the Mustang is a sledgehammer compared to my 2002 being a surgical instrument in comparison (and they are only 5 years apart.....)



(And yes... I love each of them and wouldn't trade them for anything!!!)

You youngsters....
hehe...
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1970 2800CS - - 2001 740iL - - 2006 997.1 - - 2012 Escalade
1968 Mustang GT Convertible - - 2003 Ford F250 PSD - - 1985 728i
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Old 03-29-2007, 07:22 AM   #2
FC
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Glad you're enjoying it.
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Old 03-29-2007, 07:30 AM   #3
John V
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I spent a lot of my high school years driving / riding in my buddy's '71 Chevelle Malubu convertible which had a '70 Corvette LT1 motor mated to a TH-350. Four drum brakes, eighty turn lock-to-lock steering, the works. It was fun in a "we have nowhere to go and we're not in a hurry to get there" kind of way.

Had a really tall final drive, too, which helped with the relaxed feeling, even if the LT1 wasn't exactly a torque monster. It would do 80 in first gear, revving to 6500 RPM. Good times. Old cars can be fun so long as they're not for daily transportation.
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Old 03-29-2007, 07:35 AM   #4
FC
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I almost bought a 1972 280SL instead of my 1990 190E 2.6. But I needed an everyday car, so I had to pass. Also at only $10K, it would have needed a lot of upkeep and some restoration. The 280SL was the last true "SL" (sport-light) IMO, and it had a manual tranny.

EDIT: For those who don't know what I'm talking about...


Last edited by FC; 03-29-2007 at 07:40 AM.
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Old 03-29-2007, 09:21 AM   #5
Sharp11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FC View Post
I almost bought a 1972 280SL instead of my 1990 190E 2.6. But I needed an everyday car, so I had to pass. Also at only $10K, it would have needed a lot of upkeep and some restoration. The 280SL was the last true "SL" (sport-light) IMO, and it had a manual tranny.

EDIT: For those who don't know what I'm talking about...

Now that's a beautiful car !!!

Ed
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Old 03-29-2007, 09:27 AM   #6
zach
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Quote:
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Now that's a beautiful car !!!

Ed
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Old 03-29-2007, 09:37 AM   #7
FC
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Now that's a beautiful car !!!

Ed
I would like to own one sometime if an F355 doesn't happen. Both would be nice, but my wife would never let it happen.
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Old 03-29-2007, 09:48 AM   #8
lip277
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Yes...
The W113 Mercedes is a truly wonderful car.
I've looked into getting one. If I did... It would ONLY be a weekend car.

Many trim and bodywork pieces are next to impossible to find.
One reason is that they did not build that many...

230 SL ---- 1963 to 1966 ---- 19,831 cars
250 SL ---- 1966 to 1968 ---- 5,196 cars
280 SL ---- 1967 to 1971 ---- 23,885 cars

Truly a classic regardless of how many were made.
I'd love to have a later 280SL.
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1970 2800CS - - 2001 740iL - - 2006 997.1 - - 2012 Escalade
1968 Mustang GT Convertible - - 2003 Ford F250 PSD - - 1985 728i
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Old 03-29-2007, 09:53 AM   #9
Sharp11
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Ever since lip put his '87 up for sale, I've been obsessed with this idea of an older Merc......

There's a beautiful one, a '91 full-sized barge of a Merc for sale over in the next town from a reseller and restorer of old German cars. Every time I drive by it, I give it a good look......

For the difference in price between my dearly departed Z4 and this new car, I could've kept the Z and bought the Merc and actually had some change left over

Oy.....

Ed
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Old 03-29-2007, 09:54 AM   #10
FC
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lip277 View Post
Yes...
The W113 Mercedes is a truly wonderful car.
I've looked into getting one. If I did... It would ONLY be a weekend car.

Many trim and bodywork pieces are next to impossible to find.
One reason is that they did not build that many...

230 SL ---- 1963 to 1966 ---- 19,831 cars
250 SL ---- 1966 to 1968 ---- 5,196 cars
280 SL ---- 1967 to 1971 ---- 23,885 cars

Truly a classic regardless of how many were made.
I'd love to have a later 280SL.

Sorry for the hijack, but would you know where to look for one in good condition just to satisfy my curiosity for how much they go for? I'm guessing I wont find the best examples at autotrader.
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