german Autobahn

[Peter h]

http://www.wort.lu/de/view/mercedes-oldtimer-ueberschlaegt-sich-auf-der-autobahn-5219fd24e4b02e25c2368bd9?utm_source=Copy+of+Aug+1+for+Aug+2&utm_campaign=O+iO&utm_medium=email
http://www.wort.lu/img/f6dffb6301bf0946a663226aa9eda2fa/560/360/0/6/1087/704/75/82a7900439554ebeccb9472c5a5a7846d1e31b4e.jpg

crash test

[Peter van Es]

Ayay... luckily he survived. What I don't understand is if it rolled, why the soft top is still intact?

[Larry & Norma]

Ouch!!

[jameshoward]

That should polish out.

Agree that the Merc can't have rolled given the state of the soft top despite what the article says. The soft top looks fine.

[JamesL]

Looks like the Beemer that rear ended it didn't come off too well either.

Lucky escape for someone

[Flyair]

Terrible story and view. Given what happened the solidity of the car showed up its strength …. for this particular one sadly for the last time I guess.

[stickandrudderman]

Bad, but not so bad that it can't be rebuilt. With the value of these cars today it might not even be a write off.

[Bonnyboy]

I was very impressed with the integrity of the car after the accident.  The windshield didn't even pop out.  The crumple zones crumpled absorbing the impact.   Very impressed.

If the people inside survived intact then the car did its job and should applauded.

That little design feature at the top of the body behind the doors appears to add tremendous strength to the car. 

Its just a car after all and its not like these cars are rare - the driver and passenger - they are irreplacable.   

[49er]

 Glad to hear all survived, at least physically. The Pagoda is a well built and solid car as this picture of my 6 week old 250SL shows after it's unfortunate altercation on Sunset Boulevard many years ago. It was repaired and I often wonder if it still on the road somewhere today.

John 

[Jonny B]

Youch indeed!!

[Peter h]

I also do not think they have rolled themselves. But it is a safe car.
It happened near Hermeskeil. Gernold Nisius of SL tech will know, he is from the area. Too bad had in April no time for a BBQ meeting with him at a friend in Idar Oberstein.

Peter

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Glad to see both drivers got away with only light injuries.

PS. The autobahn can be very dangerous if one does not drive a fast car. One can only be in the fast lane for a short period of time, even when no one is in sight moments later there is a fast car like a Mercedes, BMW or Porsche behind you. Gone back home many a times in the past 55 years always rented a VW ... last trip I took the train ... great trip by train will do it again. 

[pj]

I have the same info you all have, but it's possible that it "rolled" by turning over in the air, isn't it? Maybe the soft top never hit the ground.

I echo all the sentiments here. I learned to drive in North America and almost all my experience is here, but I have driven on the Autobahn and I absolutely love it.

[Alan Smithee]

Looks like the Beemer that rear ended it didn't come off too well either.

I, too, am impressed with how the SL held up.  I have an SL and X5, and while the X5's damage looks bad (it is the one that appears to have rolled - note the impact on top of the A-pillar), all of the front end 'sheet metal' is actually plastic (except the hood), so the fenders and front fascia are easily torn from the vehicle in an impact.  Makes one wonder how these things weigh so much, but I digress...

[Alan Smithee]

...as this picture of my 6 week old 250SL shows after it's unfortunate altercation on Sunset Boulevard many years ago.

Beautiful car.  Looks like the Corvair and Mustang had identical impacts - coincidence?