Thursday, January 17th, 2013

MPG Track Day, 500Benzstyle

So a little outfit known as the Motor Press Guild hosts an annual track-day event at which journalists are let loose on a road course in the most interesting new metal of the year, three laps at a time.

It's one of the best things about my job, and this year I brought the 500 Benz.

The first neat thing that happened was running into the well-preserved W124 E320 wagon pictured above. It belonged to a fellow journalist with exceptionally fine taste. These old wagons age incredibly well when properly cared for, and if you manage to find such a specimen, you'll pay like $5,000 at the most. Unbelievable. I want one.

Also, Mercedes, are you listening? How about bringing back something like this design language to your current lineup? Back in the '80s and '90s, nothing said "Boss" like a Benz. In the 2000s and '10s, y'all started smoking a different blend, and aside from the undeniably awesome SLS Roadster—which made an appearance, incidentally—I'm not digging the results.

But I digress.

The second neat thing was that I got talked into entering the 500 Benz in the "Show 'n Shine" competition for journalists' personal cars. Here it is at stage right:

Remarkably, it didn't win, but I did get an excellent consolation prize: a huge bucket of Mothers car-care products. I suspect that the lovely and talented Queen of MPG, Laura Burstein, had a hand in this outcome. Thanks LB!

Naturally, there was a new R231 SL on hand for the event, so I lined up a photo just as one of the Show 'n Shine judges was walking wistfully away from the 500 Benz and muttering to himself, "I must have a 500 Benz of my own. I must have one NOW."

See what I mean about Benz styling then and now? Back in the day, the Mercedes folks were too dignified to add strakes and fins and whatever else is going on with this SL63 AMG. And then they went all J.C. Whitney on us.

Anyway, here's one more shot of the 500 Benz, just chilling in front of the mountains as the event came to a close. Which reminds me: I need to get my hands on a VL Automotive Destino one of these days.

posted in: 500Benzlife  

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