One thing that never fails to amaze me on the streets in California are the classic European cars that are around – not in showrooms, but driving around or parked on the streets. Like this ca. 1969 Mercedes 280SE with a 4.5 l engine. Those cars were hardly ever sold in Europe, because we have always paid more for petrol than here in the US. You can buy one of these classic cars for less than $5000 here, because with gas at $4 in San Francisco, some of the original owners are beginning to feel the disadvantage of these fantastic, powerful, indestructible, thirsty engines.
Mercedez did have a weird type on their old cars, I remember from my late childhood that I had difficulties reading it, its a shame they don’t make cars like that anymore,today its all plastics.
Nice pictures! I can almost feel the warmth of the asphalt
…and that “California” plate reminds me about episodes of the tv series “CHIPs” in which these cars were driven by bad guys and sexy girls :)
I’ve always found these models very exotic, not only because of the 4.5L engine (being European…) but mostly because of the orange lights, they are clearly a late design addition that Mercedes-Benz had to make for being compliant to the US market, which has quite a different set of rules for car design.
thanks for sharing!
Love the old Mercs, Erik. I saw an immaculate Ford Cortina Mk II in the Marina district—better than any I have seen Down Under. The fact Americans do not salt their roads helps, too.
Americans do salt their roads in some regions of the country.
Oh my god! My brain must’ve lit up like fireworks when I stumbled on those images of the Mercedes. That is the exact same type of car my mother has w/the short wheelbase & the V8. She refuses to get rid of it. Yes, I can confirm the engines are very durable with globs of torque & power. You feel like you own the road in these things! They are pretty refined for their age, the doors close beautifully. They are alleged to be the last of the hand built Mercedes Benz’s.