A gathering of the Not Quite Ready For Concours (NQRFC) group at the Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance
Ron playing in László's shop "I.P. Benz" in Mountain View, California — the shop closed when László retired
Photo: Jeff Miller / February, 1995
Ron with his 1961 W121 190b Ponton with Webasto sliding
sunroof.
Off to the left is his 1968 W110 Type 230 fintail
sedan.
Interior of the 1961 190b — note the Bakelite
window surround and the wood dash top
(typical of the Type 190 sedans)
and the optional leather upholstery
The proud Mercedes-Benz owner! This is a 1960 190b. Ron never got into stamp collecting, so he focused on Mercedes-Benz instead. Sheet metal (doors, hoods, bits and pieces) have been organized along the perimeter of the back yard. The blue wagon on the right is a Volvo model 145.
Ron's bride, Thoa in the 1958 220S cabriolet
Ron and Thoa in the wedding getaway car
Ron's 1958 220S cabriolet and Tom Shields' daughter's
220S sedan
Photo: Jeff Miller / April 1997
Ron's funky 1966 W110 230 "Universal"
The former owner was a surfer / beach bum
UNIMOG Type 404S (present from Michael Smith)
Ron's 1962 Type W111 220Sb — a.k.a. The Batmobile
Ron's W124 300TE — There are still a few Mercedes-Benz
in the collection not
shown here
Ron (far right) and friends (Jurgen Klockmann in
the middle) with a 300SL "Gullwing" coupé.
The gentleman on the left was
restoring his 220S cabriolet (in Jurgen's garage).
Photo: Jeff Miller / September 8, 2001
Ron at the wheel of his 220S cabriolet
Photo: Jeff Miller / February 1995
Ron with his 1958 220S cabriolet
Photo: Dave Sandlin / November, 2002
The factory color code is DB356 "Light Blue"
Photo: Dave Sandlin / November, 2002
1985 W123 280TE wagon. Ron writes, "Note the Oregon license plate. It was brought over from Germany by a guy from Oregon who owned it in Portland for a few years. Also, a local chap had it here (Palo Alto, California) for a few years before I bought it."
Photo submitted: December 21, 2002
The 280TE has the "European preferences" of a five-speed standard transmission, manual windows, and cloth seats. However, it has air conditioning and cruise control and even dashboard-controlled headlamp height adjustments. I bought it as the third owner in 1997 for about the cost that the first owner paid to have the DOT/EPA work done."
Photo submitted: December 21, 2002
Ron's 220S cabriolet "project car" being transported to its new owner in December, 2002
Type 180Db / 190Db Ponton taxis. Len Sokoloff's house (North Carolina) was grafted to the top of Albrecht Stachel's Brooklyn Motoren Werke (Wisconsin). Photo-collage concept by Ron van Seventer, circa 2002.
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