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1961 300SL, 1964 transporter: Two Cool Mercedes Haulers

9/4/2019

 
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THE VEHICLES AND THEIR OWNER
Mercedes-Benz 1961 300SL roadster and 1964 Model 318 transporter owned by Peter Nettesheim
 
WHAT MAKES THEM  INTERESTING
The iconic Mercedes 300 SL coupes and roadsters of 1954-63 were race-ready machines with exotic technology far ahead of the times.  Today, they generate excitement whenever they appear at an auction or on a car show field.  Nettesheim kicks things up a few notches by displaying his ’61 atop an ultra-rare vintage Mercedes transporter.  It’s a natural step for someone whose father  launched the country’s first Mercedes truck dealership and who is now the brand’s Long Island truck distributor.  “It’s part of my heritage,” he says.  “This is something that enabled me to grow and to be able to afford the collection that I enjoy.”  His private Huntington, New York museum also houses BMW cars and  the world’s largest collection of vintage BMW motorcycles.  He says he’s always looking to acquire more.
 
HOW LONG HE’S OWNED THEM
The 300SL was bought by his late father about 50 years ago and he’s owned the transporter since 2016.
 
WHERE HE FOUND THEM
The roadster was acquired from a Huntington doctor and the transporter was found in the northern German town of Flensburg after it ended service at a French garage.
 
CONDITION
Nettesheim says that, except for new paint several decades ago, the 300SL is all-original with less than 40,000 miles.  The transporter had been restored.  “Everything was thoroughly done on the truck,” he says, “but there were some details that I thought needed to be done, particularly the skirts, the tool boxes, the carrier for the ramps, the polishing of the deck and the repainting.”
 
TIPS FOR OWNERS
“If you’re looking for something rare and unusual that’s European,” he advises, “you need to go where the vehicles were originally sold . . . and that’s in Europe.  In my BMW collection, where I have every model of motorcycle from 1923 up until 1970 and then another 35 or so more from 1970 and up, every one of those early BMWs I bought in Europe.” 
 
VALUE
Nettesheim estimates the roadster-transporter combination is worth $1.8 million to $2 million.
 
THE BOTTOM LINE
“Every time I’m in it,” he says of the 300SL, “it reminds me of my dad.  Inside, you’re a wreck, because you’ve got something that’s so valuable that you have to be careful.  I’m not talking about being careful in terms of not driving too fast or bad road conditions, but careful mechanically.  You don’t want to rev it out and miss a shift and break a gear.”



1952 Jaguar XK 120:  An Icon Gets the Star Treatment

4/8/2019

 
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THE CAR AND ITS OWNER
1952 Jaguar XK120 custom roadster owned by Joseph Limongelli
 
WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING
The standard Jaguar XKs produced from 1948 to 1961 have long been considered icons among British car enthusiasts.  And one of their earliest fans was Hollywood superstar Clark Gable, who bought three, including this 1952 version massaged by legendary California customizer George Barris. While retaining the beautiful lines of the original, Barris shaved some of the trim and body, and created a kind of Carson top, a tall removable hardtop, to give Gable extra headroom.
 
HOW LONG HE’S OWNED IT
Since 2018
 
WHERE HE FOUND IT
He bought it from an estate through St. Louis classic car dealer Mark Hyman.  “I’ve had many cars over the years,” he says, “but I wanted something different that could start competing at Pebble Beach, Amelia Island and Villa d’Este (concours) in Italy.”  Limongelli’s Jag was, indeed, one of the highlighted cars at Florida’s prestigious Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance on March 10, 2019.
 
CONDITION
Limongelli says the roadster was completely refurbished several years ago by JK Restorations, an Illinois Jaguar specialist.  “That car has over $330,000 in restoration,” he says.  “I’ve always loved Jags, but I never owned an XK because I figured it was old back in the day.  But a piece like this, it’s a mantelpiece.  You don’t even drive it.”
 
TIPS FOR OWNERS
He advises using an expert like Hyman when making a purchase.  “He was sure it was the real deal,” says Limongelli.  “And I knew everybody in the background, so it was worth it.   That’s the way to do it today.”
 
VALUE
Limongelli estimates the Jaguar is worth $400,000 to $425,000.
 
THE BOTTOM LINE
“It’s just a wonderful car,” he says.  “It feels a little weird, obviously, because it was Clark Gable’s car, but you have to remember that, for the time and the age, it’s a nimble car.  Because the restoration is so high quality and so way out there, it’s almost like driving a new car even though it’s old.”

1961 Chevrolet Impala SS convertible:  An Ultra-Rare Breed

11/15/2018

 
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THE CAR AND ITS OWNER
1961 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport convertible owned by Owen Fuchs
 
WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING
Even though it already had the Corvette, Chevrolet added a dash of excitement to its full-sized Impala lineup with the mid-year 1961 Super Sport.  This $53.80 option, available on all models but the Nomad wagon, required buyers to install various heavy-duty mechanical bits and choose an engine of at least 305 horsepower.  There were just a few exterior and interior trim pieces, such as SS emblems, spinner wheel covers and a dash-mounted “assist bar,” to tell it apart from regular models.  Today, this SS is something of an automotive unicorn.  Just 453 two-door-only versions were built, including a handful of convertibles, with one Chevy enthusiast magazine estimating that 22 to 45 are still on the road.  “My 1961 Chevrolet Super Sport convertible, with factory air conditioning, may be one of one left,” says Fuchs of his ride.”This particular automobile is extremely rare.”
 
HOW LONG HE’S OWNED IT
Since 2017
 
WHERE HE FOUND IT
It was advertised online by the original Midwest owner.
 
CONDITION
Fuchs bought the convertible with only 53,000 original miles.  “It spent most of its life in the Midwest and was pampered and garaged for 57 years, and then sold to me,” he says.  “My Impala had a body-off restoration and it is truly pristine, both on the inside as well as the outside.  It’s powered by a 348-cubic-inch engine, which puts out 305 horsepower.  The same engine block was used to produce the very famous 409, which the Beach Boys sang about.”
 
TIPS FOR OWNERS
“Enjoy your classic car,” he advises, “and encourage others to get into this wonderful hobby.”
 
VALUE
Fuchs estimates his SS is worth $80,000  to $105,000.

THE BOTTOM LINE
“After 57 years,” he says, “I believe mine is the only one left.”

1916 REO Fifth Series:  A Car for All Seasons

5/15/2018

 
Picture
THE CAR AND ITS OWNER
1916 REO Fifth Series, Type R owned by John Judge
 
WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING
Diehard car buffs know the historical role of Ransom E. Olds as the founder of Oldsmobile and producer of his own REO upscale models from 1905 to 1936.  But few may be aware of the rare and versatile “All-Seasons” top on Judge’s REO that allows it to become anything from a closed sedan to a wide-open car.  “You can take all the windows out or any one of the windows out,” he says.  “You can take the entire top off.  If you take the windows out and it starts raining, there’s a compartment that stores a set of side curtains.  You slide them into place and snap them in, and you’re ready to go.”
 
HOW LONG HE’S OWNED IT
Since 2010
 
WHERE HE FOUND IT
He bought it from a Hewlett, New York owner.  “When I saw it,” he says, “the top was there and it was all smashed.  I decided that top is just too unique and rare not to fix it.”  The custom tops were made in the early 20th century by a horse-drawn carriage builder, the Rex Buggy Co. (later Rex Manufacturing Co.) of Connersville, Indiana.
 
CONDITION
Judge restored the REO himself.  “I started taking all of the broken pieces of wood from the top and gluing them and screwing them back together.  Then, I made templates and ordered all of the wood because it’s all white ash.  I had to cut all of the individual pieces.”  He also freed up the seized engine, rebuilt the carburetor and redid the brakes with material he fashioned.  The impossible-to-find dome light was recreated from a jelly jar.  The original upholstery is still stuffed with horsehair.
 
TIPS FOR OWNERS
“Either have a lot of money or learn everything you can,” he advises.  “I had to know how to do carpentry, and I had to do sewing and metal work.  It cost me about $3,000 to put the top back together.  If I paid somebody, it probably would have cost $50,000.”
 
VALUE
“Honestly, I wouldn’t sell it for millions,” says Judge.  “To me, it’s priceless.”  The few period REOs for sale in recent years have been priced in the $20,000 to $30,000 range.
 
THE BOTTOM LINE
“I love this car,” he says.  “It is so much fun taking your time and enjoying a nice ride on a weekend.  I get off work and I run home just to get out to my car and enjoy it.”

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    Author

    David Fluhrer has been the classic car columnist for Newsday since 2008, and a new car reviewer for Newsday's auto section since 2018. 

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