Archive for the ‘Classic Cars’ Category

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January 17th, 2012  Posted at   Classic Cars
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The 170S (1949 – 1955)

Today in 2011 very few people have an idea what a Mercedes 170S is all about. Most of them have never even seen one. If asked they might consider it as part of the modern A-Class series and when confronted with the fact that a 1.7 l powered car with a top speed of 105 km/h (65 mph) was once regarded as the ultimate in German luxury engineering, they have understandable difficulties to believe that.

So, let us dive a bit into the history of Mercedes after the war and have a look at what made this strange car so special. In the late 1940s, when this car was launched in Germany, times were very different. And not only in Germany. It was a similar situation all over Europe. Human resources were available in abundance, but there was an acute shortage in raw materials, machinery tools and most of all money. So most automobile manufacturers in Europe tried to launch cars that were either already available before World War II or were mildly upgraded to make them look at least from the outside somewhat more modern. Technically they were all just copies of what was already available ten years earlier.

The first Mercedes after the war was no different. Launched in 1947 the first “new” Mercedes was called the 170V. It was a direct copy of what Daimler-Benz had introduced already in 1936. Towards the end of the 1940s people had grown a bit tired of prewar cars and wanted something different. But as money was still in short supply, Daimler-Benz used a body that was slightly bigger than the one of the 170V, but was also very similar to cars launched before the war.

The engine was upgraded from 38 hp to 52 hp and the car was launched as the 170S, “S” most probably standing for “super”. Prices started in 1949 at 10,100.- DM ($2,400.- at contemporary exchange rates). It meant that very few could afford the car. As a first in the history of Mercedes: a four-cylinder car for the rich and famous. In the US that kind of money bought you an eight-cylinder Packard. None of 170V or S cars would have found a buyer in North America. But if Daimler-Benz would have made an attempt to sell the 170S to potential American customers, there would have been no dealership yet to shoulder such a task. That came a few years later only. (more…)

January 16th, 2012  Posted at   Classic Cars
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A company’s grey fleet refers to the collection of employees’ personal vehicles been used for the company’s business journeys. Fleet management involves putting together steps, procedures and policies to manage and regulate the use of employees’ vehicles for work related travels.

Most of the Companies that set up this type of fleet are those whose employees do not need to go on a lot of business related trips. Grey fleet is viewed by most as a cost saving alternative to buying or renting cars just for the company’s business related trips especially if the mileage travelled by employees for business every month or year is very low. For some of these companies, this is the way to go but for some it isn’t. There are several factors that should be considered before deciding to go for the grey fleet option instead of buying or leasing a few cars for business related trips. If the grey fleet is properly set up and managed it can definitely cost the company a lot less than other options.

Most people are of the opinion that managing a grey fleet only costs a company the mileage expense claims made by drivers for every journey they make and that employers are not responsible for the employees when they are using their private cars for business. These are huge misconceptions as the company in most cases is not only responsible for the employees when they are using their personal cars but in most cases have to place these employees’ cars on the company’s insurance and manage them like the company owns them.

A grey fleet manager or management software might be necessary depending on the size of the fleet. If it is a small-sized fleet, a fleet manager who will be responsible for managing everything related to the fleet might be enough as in most cases good use of Microsoft excel is enough for managing all grey fleet related data. Where the fleet is a large one, a fleet management software will be required to manage all of data related to employees’ vehicles. There are some major factors that should be consider when deciding whether your company should set up this type of fleet. (more…)

January 15th, 2012  Posted at   Classic Cars
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The Mercedes Benz 190c/200 fintail (1961 – 1968)

When the first fintail four-cylinder model in the history of Mercedes Benz was launched in 1961, it was the logical continuation of a new concept introduced already two years earlier with the six-cylinder Mercedes Benz 220b series. A whole new line of vehicles was to be built on the same platform and with a body that was identical on all cars from the A-pillar backwards. That not all customers were willing to follow that idea was initially not really anticipated.

Internally the new 190c and 190Dc Benz were called W110 and compared with their ponton predecessors they were now fairly big cars. The bodies of the four- and six-cylinders differed only in the length of the front, which was shorter on the smaller vehicles, as their engines needed less space.

It was the first time in the past of Mercedes Benz that owners had complained that the four-cylinder versions looked too close to their own more expensive six-cylinder models. This had happened with Mercedes Benz ponton owners. In order to avoid similar complaints with the new fintail and its uni-body style, Daimler-Benz made the front look different by installing instead of the signature vertical headlights single round ones. Designers also used the four-cylinder ponton’s indicators on top of the fenders. And the bumpers looked now different, as they did not have the over-riders of the six-cylinder Benz.

Design considerations aside the public loved the new Mercedes Benz vehicles for their space, comfort and superior road holding capabilities This was naturally no surprise as the chassis was shared with the larger 220b series. All the latest safety features, a hallmark of the six-cylinder Benz, were of course also incorporated into the design of the 190 series. The closeness of the different line of cars caused a bit of unwanted internal competition, as the 190c was almost as fast yet much cheaper than the entry-level six-cylinder 220b. Except for the front both cars were otherwise absolutely identical. (more…)

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