Motoring Classic June 2014

The Malta Independent on Sunday • 15 June 2014

The Malta Independent on Sunday • 15 June 2014

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

research by John Peel

MERCEDES-BENZ W114 / W115 – (1968-1976) ‘a popular executive car in the early 70’s that locally paved the way for the extremely well loved W123’ he Mercedes-Benz W114 and W115 models are a series of coupes and sedans introduced in 1968 by Mercedes-Benz, manufactured through model year 1976, and distinguished in the marketplace by nameplates designating their engines.

W114 models featured sixcylinder engines and were marketed as the 230, 250, and 280, while W115 models featured four-cylinder engines and were marketed as the 200, 220, 230, and 240.

All were styled by Paul Bracq, featuring a three-box design. At the time, Mercedes marketed sedans in two size classes, with the W114/W115, positioned below the Mercedes-Benz SClass.

Beginning in 1968, Mercedes marketed their model range as New Generation Models, giving their ID plates the designation '/8' (due to their 1968 Launch

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year). Because they were the only true new cars of the socalled 'New Generation' and because of the '/8' or 'slash eight' designation, W114 and W115 models ultimately received the German nickname Strich Acht, loosely translated into the English ‘Stroke Eight’.

The W114/W115 models were the first post-war Mercedes-Benz production car to use a newly engineered chassis, not derived from preceding models. The new chassis format of semi-trailing rear arms and ball-joint front end, first displayed in the W114/W115 chassis would be used in all new Mercedes passenger car models until the development of the multi-link rear suspensions of the 1980s.

The W108/109 S-Class chassis of the 280S/8, 280SE/8 and 300SEL/8 (and W113 280SL Pagoda) would be the last of the low-pivot swing axle and king pin/double wishbone front ends.

The next S-Class, the W116

chassis had the same engineering as the W114/115.

The W114/W115 models replaced the W110 Fintail models stemming from 1961, and were themselves replaced by the W123 series after 1976.

The Mercedes-Benz W114/W115 was the mid-sized salooon model for Mercedes, positioned below the S-Class.

Mercedes also launched its first 5-cylinder diesel engine OM617 in this chassis. It followed heavily in the direction set by the W108/109 S-class, which was launched in 1965 and heralded the new design idiom. The car was designed by French auto designer Paul Bracq who was chief designer at Mercedes-Benz for models from 1957 to 1967, a period that included models such as the Grosser Mercedes-Benz 600. Bracq was also responsible for BMW designs (1970–74) and Peugeot designs (1974–96).

Mercedes introduced a coupe variant of the W114 in 1969. It

featured a longer boot hood and available with either a 2.5 or 2.8 litre sixcylinder engine. While being a classic and sporting an understated design these generally cost considerably less than their more popular contemporaries the Mercedes SL R107/C107 roadster and coupé (1971–1989) which featured the 3.5 or 4.5 litre V8 under the hood, and only a fraction of price commanded by the Pagoda models. While a 'hard-top' unlike the fully convertible SL, the pillarless design allowed all the windows to be lowered completely for open air motoring. Only 67,048 coupés were manufactured from 1969 to 1976 (vs. 1.852,008 saloons). Of these 24,669 were 280C and 280CE (top of the range), and 42,379 were the lesser 250C and 250CE. The W114 received a facelift in 1973 now having a lower bonnet-line, lower and broader grill, a single front bumper to replace the double bumpers, lower placement of the headlamps, A-pillar treatment for keeping the side windows clear, removal of the quarter-windows in the front doors, ribbed tail lights to minimize occlusion of the tail lights with road dirt, and larger side mirrors. The interior

received inertia reel belts and a new padded steering wheel with a four-hole design.

The Mercedes-Benz W115 in known to be a very durable car. In 2004 a Greek taxi driver donated his 1976 Mercedes-Benz 240D to the Mercedes-Benz Museum Collection with 4.6 million kilometers on the odometer, which is recognised as the Mercedes-Benz with the highest recorded mileage known to date.

Innovations Like its saloon variant this car also boasted advanced technological innovations. 1969 saw the introduction of the Bosch D-jetronic fully electronic fuel injection system into the 250CE. This was the first ever production Mercedes-Benz to use this system.

Other innovations in the W114/W115 models include a center console (a first in a Mercedes sedan) and ribbed tail lights in 1974. All coupe models used the 6-cylinder engine (and thus were W114s) and were designated with a "C" in the model name.

A Mercedes-Benz 220D pickup on the W115 chassis was built briefly in Argenitina in 1970s.

The Malta Independent on Sunday • 15 June 2014

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Roger Moore’s Aston Martin DBS at ‘Salute to Style’ at the Hurlingham Club ‘The Persuaders!’ Lord Brett Sinclair’s Aston Martin DBS stars at newest summer garden party in London

here can be no more suitable occasion for the famous 1970 Aston Martin DBS’s first official outing since Bonhams’ mono-marque sale this month (where it set a new world record as the most expensive DBS ever sold at auction) than Salute to Style at The Hurlingham Club.

The Seventies’ British television series ‘The Persuaders!’ has enjoyed international acclaim since its inception. Its main characters were, of course, the legendary Roger Moore as Lord Brett Sinclair and and Tony Curtis as Danny Wilde. The series was, though, hardly less famous

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for the motoring icons they drove: Aston Martin provided Moore with the DBS, whilst Curtis was ‘stuck’ with the Ferrari Dino 246 GT. The Aston Martin DBS matched Lord Brett Sinclair in pedigree, suaveness and quintessentially British style. It featured in virtually all the episodes in the series, earning a special place in the heart of both car enthusiasts and budding collectors at the time.

“I was not surprised by the amount of interest drawn by the DBS at auction,” says new owner, solicitor and Aston enthusiast Jeremy Levison. “Quite apart from being a

sensational car, it epitomises British style in one of the most famous TV series of all times.”

This unique car will not look out of place on the grounds of The Hurlingham Club during ‘Salute to Style’, a brand new event held on 16-19 July to celebrate the best classic masterpieces in the racing world, with a ‘Pit Lane’ area, as well as a display of automotive design, art, music, food and wines from all over the world.

Log on www.hurlinghamclub.org.uk/salutetostyle for more information and ticket sales.

1987 Bentley 8 to be auctioned for charity in England Historics encourages vigorous bidding on this fine motor car supremely elegant 1987 Bentley 8 will take its place amongst 150+ other fine classic car consignments at the Historics at Brooklands auction in Surrey on Saturday, June 7th.

Significantly, this much-loved and welltravelled Bentley - presented in fine condition inside and out - is offered at No Reserve, with all proceeds from the sale

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donated to charity at the request of the vendor, plus Historics’ sellers and buyers commissions.

Whilst the Historics auction catalogue was being prepared came the sad news from the vendor that his sister Lucy had passed away following a three-year battle against liver cancer. She was 42 and leaves behind a nine-year old daughter.

Lucy had been given just weeks to live in

2011, but with the aid of the extraordinary work of the research charity, Cancer Vaccine Institute, she enjoyed a good quality of life for a further 2½ years.

Professor Angus Dalgleish and the team at CVI rely on donations alone. All funds therefore from the sale of this Bentley on Saturday June 7th, will be donated to the Cancer Vaccine Institute. Further

donations are encouraged, and can be made through their website, http://www.cancervaccine.org.uk/donate.ht ml.

For more information on the Bentley and the full 150+ classic car and 100 classic motorcycle consignments, please visit www.historics.co.uk, or call 01753 639170 and e-mail: auctions@historics.co.uk.

The Malta Independent on Sunday • 15 June 2014

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Cars of the ‘future’: Classic concept cars from the 1950s and 1960s

1951 GM LeSabre – The dawn of the tailfin era of the automobile, the 1951 General Motors LeSabre borrowed some of the engineering and design elements from the jet plane, which had just recently replaced the propeller plane.

Take a look at some of the futuristic designs from the twentieth century that tried to predict what cars of today might look like. In actual fact, bar a few, they were pretty far off.

1954-59 GM Firebirds I, II and III – Former GM head designer Harley Earl stands with the three generations of Firebird concepts. Earl has been creditied with the creation of the hard-top sedan and tail-fins.

1964 GM Runabout – “The three-wheeled Runabout will appeal especially to women because it was designed for shopping and other daily errands. Men also find the Runabout a handy vehicle, well suited for commuting but also containing adequate load space for golf clubs and other recreational equipment,” reads a press release for the 1964 Runabout three-wheeler.

1963 GM X – The age of aviation brought on this GM concept from the 1960’s, which was described in a press release at the time as offering a “two-passenger cockpit, has a jet aircraft atmosphere and promises an exciting driving experience.”

1955 Lincoln Futura – This concept car used a bubble topped canopy and was designed by Ford stylists Bill Schmidt and John Najjar Ferzeli, the Lincoln Futura went on to serve as inspiration for Batmobile featured in the 1960’s Batman TV series.

1962 Ford Mustang I – This Mustang concept is far the the production model’s muscular frame, but you get the idea.

A two-seat, mid-engine sports car with a sweeping hood ... the general idea is all there in this early mockup.

1967 Ford Allegro II – This ultra-cool 1967 concept brought back one of the original Mustang design concepts, featuring a sleek speedster-style windshield and flying buttresses on the rear deck.

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The Malta Independent on Sunday • 15 June 2014

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Bluebird CN7 50th anniversay celebration evening on Saturday 19 July

Donald Campbell with the Bluebird at Lake Eyre – 1963

n 17 July 1964, despite mechanical problems and unpredictable weather, Donald Campbell and his team persevered to set a new British Land Speed Record of 403.10mph in Bluebird CN7, at Lake Eyre in Southern Australia.

Fifty years on, this iconic vehicle is an integral element of a new display, For Britain & For The Hell

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Of It at the National Motor Museum, telling the story of British Land Speed Record achievement.

What better way to mark the 50th anniversary than to spend an evening in the company of both the iconic Bluebird CN7, and Donald Campbell’s widow, Tonia Bern-Campbell. The evening will include a first public screening of the digitally re-mastered film ‘How Long a Mile…’, on Donald

Campbell’s world record breaking year of 1964 when he took both the land and water speed records – a unique double that has never been equalled.

The screening will be followed by an exclusive dinner in the National Motor Museum and a talk by Tonia Bern-Campbell, recalling that magical time. There will also be an opportunity to explore the Museum including the new For Britain & For The Hell Of It display.

he iconic design and shape of the world’s largest selling vehicle, Honda’s Super Cub scooter, has been recognised with it becoming the first vehicle in Japan to be granted a threedimensional trademark.

Introduced in Japan in 1997, threedimensional trademarks can be granted to a product which has acquired distinctiveness through long and extensive use. Very strict criteria is applied to registrations, and the Super Cub becomes one of very few industrial products to achieve such status.

A key determining factor for the Japan Patent Office when considering the very rare endorsement was the consistent design concept which Honda has maintained with the Super Cub over more than 50 years since it was introduced in 1958; while continuously achieving functional improvements throughout its long history.

The Super Cub is the world’s largest selling vehicle, with cumulative worldwide production reaching 87 million units* as of March 2014, and sales across more than 160 countries.

This evening is a must for any Campbell or Bluebird enthusiast.

Tickets for the evening are now available, to book your individual tickets or a table, contact Leith’s at

Beaulieu on 01590 614605 or email corporate@beaulieu.co.uk.

For more information & ticket prices visit http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/cn7

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Honda Super Cub production Honda is currently producing the Super Cub series at 15 production plants in 14 countries around the world; most notably Thailand,

Indonesia, Vietnam, Brazil, China, Nigeria and Japan. Cumulative worldwide production figures are as follows: 10 million units - August 1974 50 million units - December 2005 60 million units - April 2008 87 million units – March 2014

The Malta Independent on Sunday • 15 June 2014

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1975 BMW 2002

The changing face of car advertising he automotive industry is a competitive one and car advertising is huge. Research has discovered that an individual “must see an advertisement on average seven times before they will be moved to act upon it”. Which, if you think of it is relatively true. We seldom see a product advertised and immediately feel the need to purchase it; it usually has to rub off

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1955 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider

on us. This is why car advertising in particular are vastly popular with manufacturers.

A manufacturer wants to create an impulse in potential customers to purchase their product and this is very important when it comes to advertising. The expectation is that the money invested in advertising gets recouped multiple times in sales.

With the huge investments

Austin Mini

1968 Toyota Corolla Sprinter

in advertising comes the actual content of the advert itself. Car advertisements of the past were factual 1964 and informative, Vauxhall presenting the Viva customer with the ‘need to know’ information. As time has shifted, the market has grown and leaps in technological developments helped towards targeting our senses more than actual needs.

Car advertising is feeding on our materialistic pleasures. We see the car, it looks good, it commands respect, which can

only mean we look good and we gain even more respect from our peers, but there is more to it. The words they use to describe the car’s luxuries, its performance and its character elevate the car to emerge to a superior level in comparison to its market rivals.

Visually most cars are represented looking aggressive, beautiful, luxurious and sometimes even mysterious and it’s the visual element that immediately draws in the customer to the advert, and the image combined with the text places the customer in a virtual position of the car’s owner.