All Entries Tagged With: "GUNNAR"

Mercedes-Benz 560SEL US Brochure Pictures

By Gunnar Heinrich

“REPOSING in the rear seat of the 560SEL Sedan, basking in near-limousine spaciousness and an atmosphere of blissful peace and quiet with almost every conceivable amenity at hand, you might find it difficult if not impossible to think of this as anything but one of the most supremely livable automobiles ever built.”

When can I move in?

Truth in disclosure, your faithful publisher owns one 1986 navy blue over grey 560SEL which helps fuel an everlasting adoration of three box German sedans.

These are some scanned images from a period US brochure showcasing the former flagship that set the modern benchmark for what a solid luxury grand touring motor car should be.

The standard of excellence that Bruno Sacco penned and the volk auf Stuttgart manufactured has endured long after the W126 series ended in 1991.

Perhaps that’s why so many are still in service, cared for, and remain “supremely liveable.”

[Linked: fuenfkommasechs.de]

Gallery: Greenwich Concours D’Elegance

By Gunnar Heinrich

WHEN event chairman Bruce Wennerstrom, explained to me over the phone that his Concours would run “rain or shine,” neither of us could’ve anticipated just how daunting the latter condition would prove.

Under a brutal sun – us New English aren’t used to 100+ degree heat index in June – the Concours condition paint finishes on some of the world’s finest rolling stock could easily have doubled for outdoor Webers.

How do you like your New York Strip?

Positioned off of I-95 on the park that overlooks Greenwich, Connecticut’s tranquil harbor, the Concours D’Elegance has run every June since 1996 and is spread over the course of two days: Saturday featured domestic cars and Sunday for the Europeans.

The location (in one of the wealthiest towns in the wealthiest state in the Union) plays a key part to the sublime vehicle entrants as each year the festival of chrome, sheetmetal, and unremitting ego grows larger, more dynamic, and draws more and more people.

As you’ll note in the gallery below, the sheer variety and excellence of vehicular wonder on display meant that this Concours was most certainly worth the heat.

[Show as slideshow]

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Passing Shot: Jaguar XJS V12 Droptop

By Gunnar Heinrich

ACTION movie fans who love car chase scenes will have a good idea what would come next for this Jaguar XJS V12 décapotable.

Hint: “There’s a bomb on the bus!”

I’m not too sure how well my car would hold up to an accelerate/open door/ brake hard unhinging maneuver from a four thousand pound cat compared to that of a SoCal battle-hardened ’66 GM TDH 5303 bus.

ADL devotees will note that the early 90s blue Jag that I spotted this weekend, and the flic’s M.Y. ’91 XJS V12 are both the same body style as the recently posted Ebay listing that featured a later vintage XJS V12 convertible powered by Jaguar’s 6.0 Liter V12 (what’s pictured has the older 5.3 Liter powerplant).

Elegant car. Too bad so many have met hard ends.

[Linked: Wikipedia | IMCDB | YouTube]

The Turbo X Spectacular! Part II: Lost (Briefly) In Beantown

By Gunnar Heinrich with Photos By Kevin Kusina

DRIVING off the lot from Herb Chambers in the new Turbo X with ADL shooter Kevin riding shotgun and Saab media rep. extraordinaire Jan-Willem Vester giving directions from the back seat, we embarked upon a preordained route that wound us northward to North Andover where in a more secure, open setting we would be able to beat the Turbo X like the redheaded stepchild it isn’t.

The trouble was getting there.

Not a problem you’d think, Jan-Willem had the directions. The route was charted. Tuesday morning traffic was light. We’d be as right as Swedish pork-filled potato dumplings with cabbage rolls.

Boston, bless it’s eighteenth century heart, had other ideas.

ADL’s Coming Up Nines

By Gunnar Heinrich

NINES is the magazine for Saab Club of North America.

Following the Turbo X event, the publication’s affable editor-in-chief Seth Bengelsdorf and I shared a ride back to our cars in a Turbo X Sportcombi.

We talked about the day’s event, the Turbo X, my own 9-3 Convertible, and his classic Sonett.

I said I’d happily write an article for his publication and he offered me a copy.

It wasn’t until I’d returned home that I discovered I had already contributed.

On the front cover of May/June 2008′s issue and behind the pictured Saab 9-X display at the NYIAS, the heads of five ADL crew are turned expectantly towards the rear window of an H3.

From the left: Sound Guy Dave Baker; Neil Rogers; Chris Reo; Tiffany Hopkins; and Kevin Kusina.

[Linked: Nines | ADL NYIAS Video]

Artist Rendering of Next Mercedes-Benz CLS Prompts Great Speculation

By Gunnar Heinrich

THERE’S nothing quite so satisfying as speculating on 100% pure conjecture.

It’s the kind of “what happens if you build a Mercedes on the chassis of a Chevy” idle talk that drives most gear heads’ imaginations.

So let’s dabble a little here with this latest non-news to hit and be dispersed by the Blogosphere fan – German car magazine AutoBild has published an artistic rendering of what they envision the next CLS four door coupé to look like.

Before you file this in your “who gives a $#!&” file, we should note that AutoBild is close to the source and probably has very credible manufacturer supplied info on which to base this hypothetical rendering.

But more than anything it’s fun speculating on pure conjecture as aforementioned.

Let’s start with the focal point – the grille.

AutoBild’s clearly thinking that Mercedes is going to take the SL-refit classically inspired grille ( it sits prouder with one horizontal bar meeting a larger star ) and run with it.

That’s definitely a good thing – the latest reshaped radiator would give the CLS a more aggressive, forward-leaning presence. The current job looks like snub nose of a pug.

The scalloped headlamps remain, if only slightly. Again, this is for the better. The square housing of the LEDs look purposeful rather than whimsical; replacing gelatinous flab with certain edge.

The etched lower air intakes that fade into meeting the broad fender lines also free the round Taurus-like curves of the past and gives new definition – in every sense of the word.

In short, there’s plenty to like about this conceptual rendering.

What can go are the mouse ear rearviews and the awkward profile line which extends afteward from the indicator lamp; serving as a bridge to nowhere.

And of course, it goes without saying that if the next CLS boasts the same lackluster build quality, fit ‘n finish that afflicts the current W219 generation, they can keep it.

Conjecture speculated upon. My work here is done.

[Linked: AutoBild | BenzInsider.com | GermanCarScene.com]

La Fin De La Semaine: News, Community, And ADL’s Site

Capping the week in style.

RECENTLY FEATURED ON THE MOTOR REPORT

BLOG COMMUNITY

Phil over at Top Speed gets mad props for posting Automobiles De Luxe’s NYIAS Segment last April. I was slow on the uptake, Phil. Thanks.

Swade @ TrollhattanSaab has shared with his audience that he and his wife are celebrating their Fifth Year Anniversary. Swade has been a good friend to Automobiles De Luxe and I hope that you’ll join me in wishing him and Mrs. Swade the very best.

AUTOMOBILESDELUXE.TV SERVICE

Since we’ve switched over from the Blogger, the site seems to be functioning efficiently. If you encounter any technical errors in using http://automobilesdeluxe.tv please say so using the contact form or comments.

Welcome To ADL 2.0

By Gunnar Heinrich

WELCOME to Automobiles De Luxe version 2.0.

ADL, formerly at automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com can now be reached by typing the following address:

http://automobilesdeluxe.tv

Our transition was a long time coming, but made it we have.

Steane Klose, the Australian publisher extraordinaire of The Motor Report has made ADL’s long overdue transfer from Blogger possible.

In addition to Mr. Klose’s kind technical assistance, this fellow automotive writer will now join us here by writing a weekly post; providing us his insights on the automotive world from the loft of a Scribly Gum tree (not quite).

Please join me in welcoming this kindred spirit to Automobiles De Luxe.

It’s worth taking pause to thank Blogger for years of service and Max Yemets who provided the template for the original Automobiles De Luxe.

Max, a grateful ADL nation salutes you.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM ADL 2.0

More posts.

Our pledge is to make ADL 2.0 a site that you’ll want to visit for updates as the weekday rolls on. Thanks to our new platform, we have the technology to make this service extension a reality.

Streaming Video.

The Mogulus player in the upper right hand corner plays all ADL, all the time. So, feel free to watch to your heart’s content. The New York Auto Show segment’s scheduled; the BMW 733i is on air, too.

More Voices.

Our merry band of readers and commentators are likely to be better served if there’s more than one voice to this great platform. This publisher agrees, which is why we’re sending out a casting call for writing talent.

ADL may not attract the same traffic (yet) as Autoblog, but it does stand as one of the premier automotive sites in the blogosphere whose influence extends beyond its niche stature. If you have a passion for fine motorcars and a knack for the typed word; join us.

TWEAKS

And that’s the way it is. There’s more ADL to come. You will likely see tweaks to the site now and then. By all means, send us feedback so that we can continue to improve.

Again, welcome to Automobiles De Luxe 2.0.

Video >>> New York Auto Show 2008

Another Heinrich-Rogers production. Our thanks again go out to GM.

& The Crew ~

Chris Reo
Sound Guy Dave Baker
Tiffany Hopkins
Kevin Kusina

New ADL Commercial