I just had a chance to peruse the CC Cohort for the first time since getting back; what a motherlode of finds. But this old Mercedes 220S fintail hitched up to a twin axle trailer, posted by our intrepid Bryce, caught my eye. Well, I can see why it caught Bryce’s too, as he also tows with his even older Hillman Minx. Birds of a feather…and they both have little winglets in back. Of course, the warning sign about cars being towed if (presumably) parked here illegally only adds to the flavor of this shot. Would a tow truck try to tow this road train?
The fintail’s swing axles are showing a bit of negative camber, even if it is Mercedes’ rather unique single-low-pivot variation that was designed to minimize camber changes. The W111 was the first sedan that used it; I think the 1957 300SL Roadster first pioneered that design. Mercedes stuck with it until the early 70s, when the W116 finally did away with it.
Nice old Finnie ~ where are the usual gaping rust holes ? .
-Nate
I reckon the weight of that trailer will be contributing to the rear wheel camber. That compensating spring has its limits!
Camber became less of an issue with the W108, when the spring was replaced by the Boge unit. However, so many 108’s have had that unit replaced by the spring anyway.
Good old Benz that one I see it around a lot its diesel powered as evident by the RUC label next to the rego label but I suspect it has a LD 28 installed by how it sounds, a popular conversion here,
Local towing firms have tow trucks in all capacities from recover your 50 tonne B train to repo your mini, if it became necessary something suitable would turn up.
No problem: send two tow trucks. Bill the owner for each one if he wants his junk back!
Still towing with the Minx the trailer has been upgraded to Hillman Hunter wheels from 100E Prefect, the car now has a 1600cc 66 Superminx motor and gearbox but remains largely the same, its a very reliable spare car.
With that missing front bumper, it looks like a support car for one of Waxenberger’s mad forays.
Carjam confirms it’s a 1965, registered new here on 10 October 1966. And yes Bryce, the engine is listed as 2,800cc and the number is LD28-035849, so it does indeed have the Nissan engine. Odometer history is all over the place, but looks likes it’s currently done around 255,000km (although tracing the numbers back, I’d wager that it’s actually 455,000km)
Due to lack of relevant penalties for doing so many diesels have the taxometer disconnected. That old Benz sounds quite smooth cruising thru town without the trailer and the D badge on the back isnt original so I guessed it had the usual Nissan transplant. I say usual but I ran across a 2 owner 59 190D Benz in town today immaculate and original according to the owner 237,000 on the RUC label.
“Would a tow truck try to tow this road train?”
They would tow the car and trailer separate and charge for two tow jobs.
With the missing bumper and without the sealed-beam lamps I’m used to seeing on US-spec cars, looks quite different! Good to see an oldie still doing meaningful work though.
No doubt it’s got the torque to pull that trailer, but the acceleration has to be horrid. What’s the GVW on the trailer? 5000 to 7000 lbs? I’d like to see a panic stop with with the trailer loaded.
With a fully laden trailer whats the rush? max speed towing here is 90kmh same as the heavy vehicle limit, you just drive to the capabilities of your vehicle those Nissan diesel 6s arent overburdened with torque even turboed they pump out less than my TDI Citroen but they do pull ok.
I’ve pulled 40,000lbs(combined trailer and trailer payload) over short distances with an upper level Ford F250 super duty.
You don’t go over 45MPH and you plan your stops WAAAY in advance and you absolutely ONLY drive on roads where there are no other vehicles present. You also avoid all road surfaces that are not hard as a freaking rock because if those trailer tires so much as sink into the surface a mere half inch there won’t be enough motive traction to pull it.