Author Topic: MB relicts of former glory  (Read 7836 times)

Flyair

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MB relicts of former glory
« on: February 16, 2015, 10:52:34 »
Just found a very interesting information regarding one of many examples of the exuberant craze by Mobutu, former ruler of Zaire (now DR Congo).

As a tribute to his native region called Gbadolite (far North of DRC), he built an impressive and very flamboyant infrastructure, consisting of an adequately sized palace, roads and airport. As every modest dictator, he also filled the underground of the palace with luxury cars, mostly consisting of Mercedes W100 to provide his guests coming by air with a decent way to reach his countryside residence.

Today, as it was easy to expect, the entire place looks slightly different. If you are interested, here is an article describing the present state of that place.

Attached below is a picture from the garage, where some left-overs from a MB W100 (pullman?) are languishing. I bet however that some skilled craftsman in a less scrupulous constituency would be able to resuscitate the car. At the end of the day, it is still a one-owner barn-find ;D
Stan
1971 280SL
2011 SL550 AMG
2011 GL
2015 GLA

GGR

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Re: MB relicts of former glory
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2015, 13:54:08 »
Stan, you forgot to post the link for the article.

That limousine looks to be of American origin, not a 600. Unless you're talking of the few parts left in the foreground, to which the guy in the picture is looking at? Even though, I can't recognize anything pertaining to a 600.

Flyair

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Re: MB relicts of former glory
« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2015, 19:48:37 »
Stan
1971 280SL
2011 SL550 AMG
2011 GL
2015 GLA