Reminiscing and Reminders

[Harry]

1966 230SL

When growing up, my father was a car nut.  Never kept any for very long, opting instead to have a multitude of various makes and models - Mercedes, Porsches, VW's, Saabs, Jaguars, Triumphs, MGs, (also Lincolns, Cadillacs, Chevrolets, Fords, Plymouths,) etc.  For a kid just turning 16, this was a fantastic opportunity to learn about the quality and engineering across various manufacturers.  His favorites were always the Mercedes and he had many different models of these iconic cars.

This was the height of the American muscle car era, where horsepower and acceleration ruled among my age group, but it was clear to me even then that the Mercedes was orders of magnitude beyond any of the others in terms of build quality and engineering.  They just didn't possess the brute, in-your-face performance of the muscle cars.  Just two different types of automobiles, each with their own, unique appeal.

I just got a 1968 Z28 Camaro running (for a friend of mine) that had been in storage for 25 years or so.  Very nice car, straight and no rust, bright green with white stripe, raised white letter tires.  That appeal was immediate for me and it sure took me back to a largely bygone era (although certainly the modern rendition of those cars are also high performance).

But so were the lessons that I learned all those years ago.  They are just nowhere close to the quality of this little Mercedes.  While the 230SL is by no means the power house of the Z28,  it certainly rides much better and handling is no comparison.  It is a solidly built automobile.  Not knocking the old muscle cars! I would love to also own that old Z28!

But I certainly experienced a renewed appreciation for the Benz.

Harry

[mdsalemi]

Harry, my dad is 102 today. Just recently he was guiding my 71 year old sister as she was changing her own battery in her Subaru. He'd have grabbed a wrench and helped but despite his robustness for his age, these things are no longer possible. But it was just last year at this time he was standing at the stove, cooking and baking and still fixing things.

I too learned a lot from my father. We had a series of Austin Americas, known as the 1200 in the UK. It was like an oversized version of the Mini. Same engine as the later models, the BMC A series 1275. They were cheap and plentiful in the area in the late 1970s, and we bought and sold a number of them. Then a nice set of Datsun 510s. Then a '66 Cooper S.

Dad worked in a full and complete research lab, and nearly anything special we needed, there was somebody at work to help him out. You see, Dad learned never to say no to anyone at work when they needed something, work related or not, and that would then have them want to help you. Guenther ran the machine shop (so clean you could eat off the floor), and they custom machined a number of things for us, including a cloth alignment tool for the Datsun, and custom taps for some things on the Austins. These were great times.

[BobH]

Sorry for hijacking your thread Harry

Mike, so your 102 year old dad is helping his 71 year old daughter changing a battery, good on both of them

Happy birthday, and congratulations to your dad.  Are centenarians acknowledged by your President, like we have in the UK from our King or Queen? 

[mdsalemi]

Sorry for hijacking your thread Harry
Mike, so your 102 year old dad is helping his 71 year old daughter changing a battery, good on both of them
Happy birthday, and congratulations to your dad.  Are centenarians acknowledged by your President, like we have in the UK from our King or Queen?

Dad did indeed get a proclamation from our President Biden a couple of years ago when he turned 100. We had a huge party for him, and he was much more agile and mobile at the time, working the room like a politician. We had close to 100 people attending and he spoke with everyone. When it was time to make his speech, I had to do it for him as he had no voice left.

At 102, dad is living his best life. In August, he was asked to attend a signing of the Massachusetts HERO act by the governor, a set of laws upping the state's care of Veterans. Dad is a WWII vet, Pacific theater, New Guinea and the Philippines. He had a nice audience with the governor. Not the first time he's had an audience with the Massachusetts governor either! More recently he was asked to attend a ceremony in Providence (Rhode Island) honoring three Americans of Italian heritage. One of them was Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the Chief of Naval Operations, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. She had an audience with Dad, too, and even mentioned him in her acceptance speech. A very big deal from a VIP.

Just this week Dad was selected by the actor Gary Sinese Foundation, as part of their Soaring Valor program. He's being brought on an all-expense paid trip to New Orleans to the National WWII museum where they will record an oral history and take photos. We're all honored that he was selected for this. I'll go and meet Dad and my sister there.

Dad keeps very, very busy. I fully expect to be at home with him in June when we celebrate 103.

Hopefully we all have experiences with our fathers like Harry Bailey and me.

[thelews]

My father was a car guy too.  Had a bunch of sports cars early and later in life.  We were usually doing something in the garage on weekends or cruising the auto parts aisles of the early big box stores.  I have his tools, parts, etc., everything I could use and then some from his garage.  I had no idea what some of the things were in the toolbox, but I kept them.  It was when I got an English car, a Jaguar E-type, that I discovered what these homemade tools were for.  He had an Austin Healy BJ7 for many years before giving up the hobby.  Still have the very old Craftsman screwdrivers of his that STINK! 

Good for your dad, Michael. My mom died this year at 98 and a half.  Mentally strong to the end until her body could no more.

[zoegrlh]

Yes, Michael, a wonderful story as well as the others. As we get older, we start thinking for our early years, and all those stops along the way to get us to this point in life. My dad raced cars at a dirt track in Virginia, these were the days leading up to NASCAR racing. He did race alongside of drivers that went on to be great NASCAR drivers. I can remember those days in the pits watching dad’s mechanics working on the engine. I learned a lot back then about what makes an engine run. Also at the same time my older brother was in a hot rod club, so I learned from him how to be put more horsepower in an engine. After I got married I got my first sports car, MG, had more fun with that car, then on to Austin Healeys, GTOs, and then got stuck with the MB bug.  Have had them now since mid 80s.  We should all thank our fathers, for those Sunday drives in the country, the tinkering with the engines carbs or timing, the oil changes, the changing the tires, etc. We should also be thankful of those muscle cars of the 70s. Never again will we be thrown back into the seat, feeling the toque of power to the rear wheels, and the fantastic sound of the tail pipes. Kids now days will not get that chance to experience that feel, only the acceleration of front wheel electric motors. As a great song writer wrote “ the times they are a changing”.  I know of many garages and mechanics retiring that has taken all the knowledge of our Pagodas with them. Even plating shops closing because of EPA increased rules. Yes we are in a time of change.

[mbz.280sl]

That's a wonderful story about your father Michael.
I don't have much to add about my father since he was not a car guy and had his hands full raising 7 boys and 6 girls. He was a great father to us all and had a good life until the age of 91.
But back to Harry's story about the 1968 Z/28. I purchased a 1968 Z/28 new in 1968, it was British Green with white stripes. I drag raced that car for a year and a half and then traded for a 1970 Z/28 which I also drag raced. I won over twenty trophies at the races with the two cars. I sold that car when I went to work in Germany.
When I retired almost twenty years ago I was looking for a car to take to car shows and parades. I was looking for Z/28. But since I had lived in Europe I liked some Mercedes and BMWs. I decided on a 1969 280SL which I found locally. I had that car for 18 years and loved it. I sold the 280SL but I still reminisce about that car and the Z/28s that I owned.   

[Harry]

Thanks for sharing your own personal experiences, and Michael - congratulations on your father!  What a gift to have had him for all of these years.  My son and I often banter back and forth on the trend towards electric vehicles, even though he has great appreciation for the fabulous automotive designs that we enjoyed in the 60's.  Real artistry versus the generic, vanilla styles we see today.  I swear if it weren't for the badges, I don't think I could tell many of them apart.

And I like to tell him that driving an electric car versus gasoline is like comparing a steak cooked in the microwave with one on the grill!  I have friends with electric vehicles and I respect their choice, just not for me personally.

I have included a picture of the Z28 since it was the inspiration for initial post.

Thanks again!
Harry