John Bloom Posted May 24 Share Posted May 24 2 hours ago, Tph479 said: Licence plate with the “U S Forces in Germany” Car was brought to the states from Lt. Col Edward Lambert who was an army chaplain stationed in Stuttgart, Germany. Lambert must have been absent during the lecture day on the teachings of priests taking the vow of poverty. He wouldn’t be the first “man of the cloth” to have an affection for outstanding automobiles. how long did Jim DeBickero have the car? Is its location known today? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted May 24 Author Share Posted May 24 4 hours ago, John Bloom said: He wouldn’t be the first “man of the cloth” to have an affection for outstanding automobiles. how long did Jim DeBickero have the car? Is its location known today? 1955 into the early 60s. Current owner has owned it since the early 70s. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Williammorton Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 I am doing research into Rudolf Hess' 1934 Mercedes 500K. Would anyone happen to have additional photos, information, etc regarding the car? Any information would be greatly appreciated! It is chassis 105355. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted May 28 Author Share Posted May 28 44 minutes ago, Williammorton said: I am doing research into Rudolf Hess' 1934 Mercedes 500K. Would anyone happen to have additional photos, information, etc regarding the car? Any information would be greatly appreciated! It is chassis 105355. Not cheap, but I would hire this guy: https://jonathansierakowski.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tph479 Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 My contribution to humanity for the day. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted May 29 Author Share Posted May 29 9 hours ago, Tph479 said: My contribution to humanity for the day. Tim, I believe that is the photo that ended up in road and track. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tph479 Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 5 hours ago, alsancle said: Tim, I believe that is the photo that ended up in road and track. I was not aware of the magazine article. It would be neat to see a copy of that Road and Track. I like cool pictures and cool cars and this photo captures both. If I tried to shoot a photo from that angle my thumb would probably be covering half of the smart phone lens or I would end up pulling a hammy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted May 29 Author Share Posted May 29 2 hours ago, Tph479 said: I was not aware of the magazine article. It would be neat to see a copy of that Road and Track. I like cool pictures and cool cars and this photo captures both. If I tried to shoot a photo from that angle my thumb would probably be covering half of the smart phone lens or I would end up pulling a hammy. Road and Track, March 1962. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tilomagnet Posted June 2 Share Posted June 2 Car on the right seems to be a 500K 1st series short tail Special Roadster. On the left is a later 540K, anybody have a scan of the whole article? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadillac Fan Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted June 3 Author Share Posted June 3 500K Series I was owned by Bob Day of Beverly Hills for many years, and then Bob Friggens of Albuquerque NM for another 30 years. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tilomagnet Posted June 5 Share Posted June 5 Where is it today? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted June 5 Author Share Posted June 5 2 hours ago, tilomagnet said: Where is it today? Not sure. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff_a Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 From a British site. Is this a Mercedes down on its luck? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted July 21 Author Share Posted July 21 2 hours ago, jeff_a said: From a British site. Is this a Mercedes down on its luck? Jeff it is a Riley. Interesting cars, still wood framed in the 1950s. Always kinda liked them. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff_a Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 Thanks...a Brit told me it was a Riley RME. I didn't know Rileys went so up-scale. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Su8overdrive Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 (edited) Rileys were good cars. Nice ones above. All you need. The Nine of the late '20s had short pushrods but a hemi head. Riley's were true sport cars, from the nimble, appropriately named Imps of the '30s, to the sleek '37 Ulster Sprite, and did well at Ards, the Tourist Trophies, various Grand Prixs through the '30s, into the '40s and beyond. They deserve their own thread, especially as this ongoing Walter Mittyism over overblown, heavy 500/540 Mercs which Ralph Stein years ago well summed: "They were fat and heavy (5,500 lbs.) and vulgarly curvilinear....if you draped them with medals, they'd look like dear old Hermann Goering himself. If he had wheels. A good 540K, supercharger clutched in, would do 105, 0-60 in 14. (With blower it developed 180 hp, without, 115). I ran away from one in my old 4 1/2-liter Invicta..." Mercedes cautioned against operating the supercharger longer than 20-30 seconds at a clip. So what you had was a bloated boat with swing axle rear suspension with 115 hp. A good Buick Century or Roadmaster could match one, as could a '40 Packard One-Sixty. Like Rolls-Royces and Duesenbergs, Mercs' draw was craftsmanship. Duesenbergs were obsolete two years after their introduction, it taking eight years and several iterations to sell 480 of them. Crash boxes, long timing chains stretched at high rpm upsetting valve timing, the later blown steel con rods welcomed in the non-supercharged models, front end vibration periods. Fred Duesenberg didn't want to build what E. L. Cord insisted, instead something the size of his earlier Model A and X, or concurrent Stutz. Pardon the divergence, but this Merc fawning is getting out of hand, and begs perspective. Edited July 22 by Su8overdrive (see edit history) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff_a Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 (edited) Good to hear your perspective on these cars Su8. I have to admit to not ever having seen either of these 80 or 90-year-old models, living out in the provinces.* However, if some hideously-wealthy collector said he'd give me any M-B to downsize a collection, a 1927-33 Model S would be good. Though I mistook a Riley for a Thirties M-B, you have to wonder if the designers for it were told to "make it so you can't tell it from a Mercedes 500 from a block away". This may be a 1928 Mercedes-Benz "SSK" which appeared at Pebble Beach in 2011. Owner unknown. You might try to find a more desirable antique car, but good luck with that! * you just don't see Rileys and 30s Mercedes in Kansas, Wyoming, Idaho. Edited July 26 by jeff_a (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Su8overdrive Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 (edited) By all accounts, the 1927-34 Model S/SS/SSK/SSKL (36-220, 36-250) were well regarded sporting brutes, but their supercharger use limited to 20 seconds when accelerating. They are, however, respected as the vaunted Sixty of a quarter century earlier. A friend while on his first of three consecutive Duesenberg Model Js, in 1979 or so also had a Model S. What a beast, that towering engine with primer cups for each cylinder. It was higher than an old Massey Ferguson tractor. Probably heresy, but some of us never imbibed the Duesenberg, Mercedes, Ferrari Kool Aid. Obviously, all had merits. But anyone can design a cost-little-object super, or now "hyper" car. So many of these early efforts seem ancestors to the latest hyper cars that depreciate faster than they accelerate. A well engineered road car, luxe or not, a fiscal mortal might've owned then or now, is a taller order. Rileys are just another of the vast field of interesting cars overlooked in the above zeal. Edited July 25 by Su8overdrive (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Valkenburg Posted August 7 Share Posted August 7 (edited) On 1/14/2023 at 2:35 PM, Henry Magno said: Bennie, Your car was restored under the ownership of Dr. Mahmood (Mike) Mirkhani of Cheshire CT. I saw the car in the late 70's after I had purchased my own 320 Cab A. It was a very good restoration as I remember, at the time. I don't remember any details about when he purchased it or from whom. Here is his obituary from 2005 https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Dr-Mahmood-Mirkhani-77-father-of-local-man-238799.php You might want to look up one of his children, they might have some information. I noticed that at the time of the repaint to red, an additional molding was added along the belt line aft of the windshield. I'm not sure why that was done as it doesn't really add anything to an already good looking body style. As for the treatment of the hood vents, I have never seen another 320 like this. Alsancle can you remember any others specifically? It's been a while since I posted anything, but I would like to give you all an update on my search for the history of my 320 a convertible. Thanks to Henri Magno's tip, I was able to contact Dr. Mahmood Mirkhanis son. This is how I found out that the car was purchased in 1974 from John Haywood from Ridgefield and restored by William Oexle also from Ridgefield. I received a photo of the car from the 1970s and found a B-cabriolet with the simular special hood ventilation. I have discovered markings under the seats of the chairs that show that this is still completely original. You will understand that this makes me very happy. If there are any forum members who have information about the owner and/or restorer from Ridgefield, I would be very happy with it. Regards to all from the Netherlands, Bennie Valkenburg Edited August 7 by Ben Valkenburg (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HermanOTO Posted August 7 Share Posted August 7 Dear Ben, On Facebook: Old Ridgefield and search for 'Mercer' or 'Oexle' (Oexle in stead of Oexly!!) then You will find a story about Bill (=William) Oexle, master restorer Maybe You can put up Your question on this facebook group. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Valkenburg Posted August 7 Share Posted August 7 10 hours ago, HermanOTO said: Dear Ben, On Facebook: Old Ridgefield and search for 'Mercer' or 'Oexle' (Oexle in stead of Oexly!!) then You will find a story about Bill (=William) Oexle, master restorer Maybe You can put up Your question on this facebook group. Thank you Herman, I found a lot of info on that page! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff_a Posted August 12 Share Posted August 12 (edited) On a different note, I came across a photo of a pre-war Mercedes that a friend from Wisconsin sent me. He got it through the usual American-G.I.-brought-it-home-from-Europe fashion and resold it maybe 40 years ago. I'm curious what model it was. Thank you! (I think you'll have to open this as a thumbnail in a new tab) Edited August 12 by jeff_a (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HermanOTO Posted August 13 Share Posted August 13 1929 Mercedes-Benz 710SS with a body by Barker, #36.225, license plate UW-302. This automobile came from England. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tilomagnet Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 (edited) https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/rk24/ https://www.instagram.com/p/C-qANf6OQFV/?igsh=ODRmdHljeDlieGtw&img_index=1 Here she comes. Estimates? Edited August 19 by tilomagnet (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
540K Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 13 hours ago, tilomagnet said: https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/rk24/ https://www.instagram.com/p/C-qANf6OQFV/?igsh=ODRmdHljeDlieGtw&img_index=1 Here she comes. Estimates? Never dreamed this car would come out in what looks like pretty good condition. $14M is my guess, to be immediately followed by $1M restoration, Pebble Best in Show, then resells for $18M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff_a Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 (edited) Holy smokes! What a beast! I'll estimate 5.9 million on the Mercedes-Benz. Looks like this guy cornered the market on wrecked Porsche 356s. I'll take the sad-looking green Miura. No one else will want to adopt that, everyone here hates green cars, so I'm willing pay the new 1969 price of $24,000, or 34,272,000 Italian Lira. Edited August 30 by jeff_a (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
540K Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 (edited) Rudi Caracciola's 500 K is very famous because it belonged to one of MB's most successful race drivers, and it is a one-off with taller front windscreen. However, it is not as attractive as the catalog coupe which may be my favorite coupe of all time. Maybe the Talbot-Lago T150C ahead of it. The condition report and photos will be quite interesting to see next month. Given the lackluster prices for the two Cab A's last week, maybe my estimate is high, but it has been so highly sought-after for decades. Edited August 19 by 540K (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tph479 Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 The Von Krieger special at a local show the other day. These have fantastic lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
540K Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 It looks SO much better since they changed the leather color (again). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HermanOTO Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 A rebodied and/or modified Mercedes Benz on a pre-war chassis in near Leiden, the Netherlands. Who can tell me more about it? Coachbuilder? MB Type? Other interesting information? regards, Herman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HermanOTO Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 It was advertised in 1949 as a MB 3.2l and bodied by the Dutch coachbuilder Van Rijswijk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted August 28 Author Share Posted August 28 On 8/19/2024 at 5:18 PM, 540K said: Never dreamed this car would come out in what looks like pretty good condition. $14M is my guess, to be immediately followed by $1M restoration, Pebble Best in Show, then resells for $18M. Craig, I think you are a little behind the times on restoration costs. Assume at least 1.5 million US dollars and probably more. My guess is 7 to 8. It is short tail Special Roadster in Coupe form that has not been seen for 50 years and had a famous original owner. Remember, the 500K Short tail cars have brought 1/2 the long tail version. Although none have sold in a long time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted August 28 Author Share Posted August 28 1.6 million all in seems like a bargain. But the car needs a lot of work. Probably the pinnacle of the Cab A to me. 500K body on an early 540K chassis with side screens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted August 28 Author Share Posted August 28 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HermanOTO Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 in 1944 it was a lot cheaper: 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 Dust and dirt does nothing for the presentation. While the chances of it being left alone are near zero it would be cool to see it cleaned up a bit and maybe even a cut and buff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
540K Posted August 29 Share Posted August 29 (edited) I think this is exactly how the prospective buyer will want the car delivered, but we will see it cleaned up and fully restored by the time Pebble rolls around next year, IMO. The "barn find" look has been all the rage, and makes for a great restoration scrapbook. Edited August 29 by 540K (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted August 29 Author Share Posted August 29 27 minutes ago, 540K said: I think this is exactly how the prospective buyer will want the car delivered, but we will see it cleaned up and fully restored by the time Pebble rolls around next year, IMO. The "barn find" look has been all the rage, and makes for a great restoration scrapbook. The car may be displayed in its current state at Pebble next year but restored you won't see it until 2025 at the very very earliest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
540K Posted August 29 Share Posted August 29 They restored 154075 in a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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