Whilst Julia and I were in the Isle of Wight a couple of weeks ago, we returned to our hotel one afternoon to find a gorgeous 1950s Mercedes in the car park.

 

It was a 1959 220s convertible on German plates. I got chatting with the owner over pre-dinner drinks - a very nice old German chap; who also happened to guess that I owned the Z parked next to it - he imported the Merc from California (hence the amazing rust-free condition) and he took me out for a spin the following morning!!

 

It was a nice surprise to our holiday!!

 

Richard:thumbup1:

Rather nice example Richard, would you do swapsies for your zed?? :)

Rather nice example Richard, would you do swapsies for your zed?? :)

 

As nice as it was - it would have to be a no! The 220s was simply beautiful, but it was rather an old girl more suited to cruising sedately along Sunset Boulevard as opposed to storming around with the turbos screaming!!! That said, I'd happily have one as well as the ZX etc......

 

Richard:rockon:

Very nice that Richard :thumbup: cant say I've ever seen one of those before!

Cracking looking old motor ! The merc wasnt too shabby either !

 

 

 

Somebody had too !:clown:

 

Alan.......

LOL!! I had to rebuild the engine on one of those a few years back!! The owner was a film director on the way down to Cannes & the engine started knocking by the time he got to us to go through the channel tunnel.

 

The car had been completely restored & was mint! engine had been rebuilt too!

 

Stripped it down & the crank bearings & rod bearing caps had been carefully marked for removal - and then fitted to the wrong positions!!!

 

trashed the crank!

 

found another & got it all built up for him.

 

Was a nice interesting job :)

Not many of them about, nice cruiser Rich:thumbup:

Not many of them about, nice cruiser Rich:thumbup:

 

You're right there Gary - I've never seen one before. However the German fella also has another 220s back home!! Although that one is the 4 door saloon variant in black; still a 1959 though and, according to the pics he showed me on his I-pad, it's in just as good condition as the white one. He has built an underground garage at his house to store them in...

 

Richard:thumbup1:

Great looking classic car. I dont think I have ever seen one of those before! Very nice :thumbup1: