Mercedes-Benz 560SL "The Libertine"
Type: Automobiles
Model: Mercedes-Benz 560SL
Real Name: David Snider
Location: San Francisco, CA US.
Web Site: www.boompa.com
Gender: Dude
Age: 28.98 years
My Dad has been trying to get rid of this car for over 10 years. I of course would have nothing of the sort and have always loved it not only for its sleek style and power but for because I've found it to be one of the few tangible objects to evoke memories from my past.
Dad picked it up new in 1987 I believe, the same year he picked up an ancient chevy conversion van back when they were popular. The van was for the family and this was obviously for him alone. He even wore this silly racing gloves when he drove it till the 90s knocked some sense into him. Despite being only 7 or 8 at the time I also remember both the test drive of this and of the 911 he considered buying. I'm glad he picked this up, though I'm surprised he picked an automatic transmission car.
The back bench (with the intended use of storage) in this body-style mercedes only worked as a backseat for a scrunched up child for a couple years till we simply were too big. Never the less I'll always associate the car with my childhood and to my father's slight complaint, yet understanding he has selflessly kept it running till I have a garage to put it in. True to form, it's always in pretty good shape.
Comments
Every once in awhile some family member bumps into it, but I think it's holding up pretty well. The thing has great accelartion and is built like a tank.
I have always had a sweet spot for the older Benzes. Don't ever sell it, unless you sell it to me!
Dood, we need to go back east and tool around in that thing. We should totaly be wearing polo shirts with our colors turned up. Ooh ooh and we should be on our way to play tennis at the country club!
Please please please can we do that?
Golf my friend, golf. This isn't a car for tennis.
One of the cool things about these old benzs is that they come with both a hard and soft top. In the summer you just use the soft top, but in the winter months you throw the hardtop on (it sucked having to store it though).
Dave....for the record Mercedes did not offer a stick ...that 's was the only thing I didn't like...the only pain in the butt is that the top has to come down by hand....1987 technolgy !!!! Dad
The Libertine's Stats
dave owns:
This is my diamondback that sits for the most part unused in my living room. I bought it years ago when I used to bike down the canal in Georgetown. Ethan keeps saying he's gonna steal it away so that he can bike to work... doubt that'll ever happen.
dave spotted:
I saw this car just outside the office this morning. It was parked in the spot where the Burrito restaurant owner normally parks his beamer. He was pretty pissed. I have no idea what model it is. I'll change that after some investigation.
Spotted in Sonoma when I was checked out the Wine Country Car festival.
Spotted this Mercedes 2500 Sprinter on one of the backstreets at the Sonoma Wine Country Classic. It's a big boy. I'd never seen one of these before. It looked like they were using it as a mini RV.
This is Virgil "Gus" Grissom's 1967 Corvette that was recently put up on Ebay.
Grissom, the second American in space, and the first American to travel into space twice, was also one of the first to die in the U.S. space program. His Corvette went through four owners before winding up with Jim Falkowski, who purchased the Corvette in 1985 for $9,995. During Jim's ownership, the Corvette won many awards including NCRS Top Flight, multiple Cypress Gardens, the National Corvette Homecoming in Bowling Green and has been featured in numerous magazines, news articles and calendars.
dave wants to own:
So what if it's made by Frenchies. The Quadrazuma, despite being horribly named looks awesome and I want one. It produces 120 HP and weighs only 837 pounds. The thing must fly.
Ethan and I's dream would be to move boompa.com down to costarica, still run it as a two man operation and hang out miami vice style in this mammoth 46 footer with a couple margaritas and chicas in tow.
Hey... it might happen!
Posted on 2006-06-14 00:54:33