Larry Hansen's Mercedes-Benz Automobiles

The photographs were taken by Larry Hansen and are as old as the vehicles themselves.  Larry writes, "The photos of the 1958 300SL and 1967 250S (June, 1969 / Cortland) are color correct from the original diapositives (no negatives).  On the 1960 190b, the film was probably old or had been overheated.  The photo of the 1964 220b is from Ektachrome and would not produce the original Graphite Gray because of the film being outdated.  Instead, I got "green".

Pondering the fate of his various Mercedes-Benz automobiles, Larry says, "The 300SL probably survived, but the other three would be just three lumps of junk.  No proof - just opinion.  I never would have discovered Mercedes-Benz except for Uncle Sam who shipped me to Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt in 1956, less than a mile from the factory and Daimler's home.  Decided then that I would own a Benz.  The rest is history.  I want to get back to Stuttgart to see the museum."  Aged 28 years in 1960, Larry bought himself a 1960 190b sedan after returning home from Germany.  At that time a Mercedes-Benz in Yates County was a rare sight.  They were being sold through Studebaker dealerships.  "My 190b was Yates County's 2nd ever Mercedes-Benz.  The first was a 1956 220a Ponton sedan owned by Dan Baker, who operated a men's clothing store in Penn Yan.  My 1960 190b was spoken of as being a fine example of a Studebaker Lark as had ever been seen, especially the paint job (that way Daimler-Benz gets credit for doing something right)."  As of July, 2002, Larry drives a black Mazda Miata and is looking to trade it on a late model Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster to enjoy during the spring, summer and fall of the year in the western Finger Lakes region of New York state.

This hand colored photo-copy of the 1960 190b shows how it was later fitted with Lucas driving lamps and Type 220S wheel rings adapted to the wheels by removing the ring clips and attaching them to the wheels by wires.  "I kept the wheel rings and used them again later on my 220b."  Larry traded the 190b in 1963 on a 1958 300SL roadster.  "The Lucas lamps were removed by the dealer and the holes in the body were filled.  Saw the car years later at Elmira College.  It was owned by a professor."

Some typical comments that Larry received with the 300SL were, "Where'd ya git that car, it has to be the best Corvette I've seen yet."  The mechanic had it up on a garage lift and said, "Those rear wheels hang kinda funny.  Hey, the rear axle's broke in two!"  "The same can be said of other vehicles with independent rear suspension.  An odd thing to see in those days when domestic cars were running with fixed rear axles attached to leaf springs.  In 1964 the 300SL was traded on a new 220b at a difference of $700 ($3,500 in today's $).  I was informed that a family man needed a sedan, not a sports car."

"The addition of the wheel rings makes the 220b look like a 220Sb on which rings were standard.  It had only the barest essentials.  Cloth seats, no radio, no nothing!  What a great auto!  This car performed the family task very well.  Probably would have kept the car except that the shift lever was at the steering column in a very un-sports-car-like-position.  That dilemma was solved for me by the advent of the 250S with the 4-on-the-floor.  The dealer and I agreed to a difference of $1,900 ($9,500 in today's buckeroos)."

"I ordered the 250S with fulfillment in 6 months.  It was a bare bones car with the only option being red tex-tan (MB-Tex) covered seats.  Standard seats were cloth or fabric.  This car had no power steering, no automatic transmission, no air conditioning, no power windows, no radio, no leather seats.  A dealer's nightmare!!  My 250S was $6,000 ($30,000 today).  There was a black 250S on the showroom floor with every option for $12,000 ($60,000 today).  He let it go for $10,000 ($50,000 today)."

Referring to a period advertisement for the 250S which predicted it was more likely to end up in a museum than a junkyard, Larry quips, "Mine made it to a junkyard after a 22 year struggle."  Larry still uses the red MB-Tex front and back seats from the 250S which have been mounted on wood frames.  Showing very little signs of use, they are quite comfortable.  Larry is still a keen Mercedes-Benz enthusiast and is a member of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America - Finger Lakes section.

1999 Mercedes-Benz 230 SLK roadster
March 8, 2003 / Mendon Ponds Park

In February of 2003, Larry purchased a 1999 W170 230 SLK roadster.  It has 15,000 miles on the clock and the color ("Fire Mist Red") is a $600 extra cost option.