Ad of the week: Pontiac Tempest

This weeks ad features the Pontiac Tempest. I notice it is wearing the Winter Water Wonderland plate from Michigan – the same as I had on my Jag when I was living in Michigan.

GM closed down the Pontiac brand during the global financial crisis but by that point its best was well behind it. During the 2000’s it was offering insipid models with too much side cladding – A far cry from when it was GM’s performance division led by John DeLorean and setting the tone for the muscle car era. This ad is a good representation of the […]

Ad of the week: Peugeot 404

This weeks ad showcases the Peugeot 404, one of the most rugged and dependable cars ever built. There are still 404’s plying their trade as taxis all around the world and the 404 did as much to open up remote areas of the world than the Land Rover or Land Cruiser.

The Peugeot 404 is often compared to the Mercedes W114/W115. It’s replacement the 504, is often compared to the W123. The Peugeot 404 and 504 and the Mercedes W114/W115 and W123 were all popular in Africa.

A car almost impossible to criticize.

These are the words Road & […]

Ad of the week: Michelin Radial X

The radial tyre revolutionized tyres and driving and Michelin were the first to bring it to market. All the performance cars of the era wore Michelins. The Michelin Radial X was a revolutionary tyre that spelt the beginning of the end for the Bias Ply tyre.

Why do drivers “in-the-know” ride on Michelin “X” tires?

Because they know (as you will, too), that conventional tire structure is becoming passe… incurs limitations.

Whereas, Michelin “X” introduces a new concept.. The scope of possibilities is widended.

Michelin X Features:

3 layers of steel cords… A notable advance (through tread stabilization) in […]

Ad of the week: Coupe d’Etat – Mercedes W111 Coupe

This weeks Ad features the introduction of the 220SE Coupe, photographed in front of an Austrian castle. The 220SE was introduced at the Geneva auto show in 1961 and was overshadowed by the Jaguar E-Type. The Mercedes W111 Coupe represents one of the most elegant designs of the 1960s and is one of my favourite Mercedes-Benz models.

Coupe D’Etat

For over half a century, it has been the pleasure of men of state to drive, or be driven in a Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz now offers its newest car, a veritable coupe of state, to the discriminating few who can afford […]

Ad of the week: This car has its ups and downs

This week features a great ad highlighting the Hydropneumatic suspension of the Citroen DS.

This car has its ups and downs.

Moody? No. French, and logical.

When road conditions change, you can change the height of a Citroen car to suit the road. Citroen can do it, and only a Citroen.

Deeply rutted road, heavy snowdrift? Uo you go, and pull away with plenty of clearance.

Flat tire? Raise her up higher still. The jacking is automatic, and only on a Citroen.

Regular road or smooth turnpike? Cruise along at normal height. The comfort is something to marvel at.

By […]

Ad of the week: 280SE W111

This weeks ad features a double page ad featuring the 280SE Cabriolet W111 to the pre war 540K. The choice of the desert scene is rather odd for these type of cars, and the picture feature the American model with the strange front running lights.

If you were a prince in the 1930’s, you might have owned a Mercedes-Benz 540K. Today, you can drive an even finer convertible – for $11,000 less.

Mercedes-Benz built its classic 540K Cabriolet (background) with all the delicate speed of an oyster constructing a pearl.

During the entire four year life of the model, […]

Ad of the week: Mercedes-Benz racing engineers

This weeks ad tries to link the mainstream 60s models from Mercedes Benz to the racing programmes of the 50s. It is actually not that far fetched as the overhead cam motor in the W108 250SE pictured did have fuel injection and there would have been lessons learned from the racing programme. The ad would have been referring to engineers like Rudolf Uhlenhaut. Ulenhaut was integral to the racing programme and later used a 300SLR Coupe as a company car.

What have all those Mercedes-Benz racing engineers been doing since Mercedes-Benz got out of racing?

When Mercedes-Benz brought its […]

Ad of the week: 1963 Dodge 426

This weeks ad focuses on the 1963 mid size Dodge models with the 426 RB motor (note this is not the fearsome 426 hemi engine). As was the focus of the time, the emphasis is on drag strip times. This ad is on the back of another Michelin ad I purchased so it was a bit of free bonus. Once I frame the ads in the garage this one will no longer be visible.

Cool off any strip

Lay on our 426-cube V8 and… ZAP! Drag records fall like pelted partridges. That’s because horsepower comes so close to matching […]

Ad of the week: Citroen Technology

This weeks ad focuses on how innovative a car company Citroen was before it was merged with Peugeot. The two cars shown are very similar to my two Citroens – the Traction on the top and the DS21 below it. They are not quite the same as this is a French made Traction and the DS21 is a Pallas model unlike mine. The ad is a great depiction of Citroen’s two greatest designs. Today Citroens are mostly re-badged Peugeots, but there was a time when Citroen Technology was world leading.

This is a US ad, so the car is shown […]

Ad of the week: W111 European Delivery

This weeks ad has a great photo of the W111 Coupe. While this car is a 220SE, it looks very similar to the 250SE that I used to have – this car has a red interior and mine had a red wine coloured one, but they look similar. It also wears the zoll plate for European delivery programme.

This Mercedes-Benz Invites You to Europe as its Guest.

More than 60,000 owners of Mercedes-Benz motorcars in this country can tell you about substantial savings in fuel, routine maintenance, in repairs. They will happily confide that, instead of trading in every […]