The Family Mercedes (x 3)

450SLC, 240TD & 300SDL

The first two cars are both 'European Spec', being imported used from Germany; they differ in a number of details from cars built specifically for North America. In particular, they do not have sealed-beam headlights and are both equipped with quartz-halogen bulbs; the speedometers are strictly in kilometers, necessitating mental arithmatic when driving in the United States. Unlike North American cars, they have rear fog lights as well. The 300SDL is an 'American-spec' car, having originally been delivered in California. Over the years, we have owned a 1959 220S, a 1977 230, a 1973 350SLC, a 1983 280SE, then the 1981 240TD, the 1974 450SLC and the 1986 300SDL. You might suspect that we are hooked on Mercedes!

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The 450SLC sports coupé was built in August, 1974 and imported into Canada by a returning serviceman in 1989; we bought it in 1998. We have the original German 'Kraftfahrzeugbrief' detailing the specifications of the car and it's previous owners. Officially, we still have the 1973 model 350SLC as well, but it disappeared when the garage it was in for work closed in Belgium and we are still hoping for its eventual return (fingers crossed!). Anyone coming across a Mercedes sports coupé VIN # 10702312005900 is requested to contact us or the Belgian gendarmes.

"The 240TD Station Wagon was built in April 1981 and imported into Canada by us in 1997; we drove it from Germany, through the Netherlands, France and England and took it with us on the 'Queen Elizabeth 2'. We then drove it from New York across the entire North American continent to Vancouver Island - not bad for a machine with about 380,000km on the clock! It now has about 430,000. This vehicle is unique in British Columbia, if not all of Canada, as the four-cylinder diesel model 'TD' was not exported to North America (five-cylinder 300TD models were sent to this market). This car also has a complete towing package, with European hitch and connections. We have the original German 'Kraftfahrzeugbrief' for this vehicle as well; the first owner was in Berlin, then the 'wagon' moved to the Hertgenwald area (the German extension of the Belgian Ardennes) where we acquired it.

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The 300SDL long wheelbase sedan was built in August, 1986 and delivered in Endocino, California. It was imported into Canada in 1993 and has remained on Vancouver Island ever since. It has never been driven in snow, as far as we can tell, and it is completely 'mint' inside and out. It has a six-cylinder diesel and had just 130,000 miles on it when we received it as a gift from our son, Malcolm. .

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