4 B
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016
C AR C HRONICLES —
The Marquee Years - Mercedes Benz
B Y C AL A PPLEBEE
Special to the Siuslaw News
A
contributing factor to
the high car-count in
my life is the habit
that evolved early on, where I
would become enamored with
a particular marquee and then
focus on that brand.
I went through this with
several marquees — VW,
Mercedes Benz, Thunderbirds
and, of course, Jeeps. Lately,
old tractors have started
catching my eye.
This started during my col-
lege days with a buddy who
was a huge fan of Mercedes
Benz. His folks owned one,
and Bill and I would visit the
Mercedes Benz dealer in
Boise, Idaho, and drool over
the cars in the showroom,
pick up brochures and devour
the details inside. (Probably
should have put the same
level of attention into my
class studies!)
During those years, twice I
had the opportunity to pur-
chase the 190 SL — the two-
seat roadster — one for just
$2,200 and the other for
$1,800. But with my lifestyle
at that time, I couldn’t even
muster that much money.
Eventually, I did purchase
my first Mercedes Benz, a
1957 180 four-door sedan,
four-cylinder, four-speed col-
umn shift, from another class-
mate, for just $50!
This car had a mild knock
in the engine and came with
the promise of a replacement
engine which never material-
ized. The deal was reversed
eventually but not before Bill
and I took the car off-roading
in the foothills of the Owyhee
mountains.
That little four cylinder in
first gear was amazing at
climbing!
The next Mercedes Benz to
park in my driveway was
undoubtedly the best speci-
men of that brand that I
would own, and simply fur-
ther cemented my fascination
with Mercedes Benz.
By this time, I had fol-
lowed Bill to California seek-
ing fame and fortune in real
estate. Instead, I ended up in
the title and escrow business.
Bill discovered the 1963
220b, the low-end offering in
the 220 series, which was a
six-cylinder with dual single-
barrel Solex carburetors
which were quite a challenge
to keep balanced.
The 220 series had three
levels in it, the top level
being 220SE that had leather
interior and fuel injected six
cylinder. The car Bill found
was owned by the proverbial
little ole’ lady from Pasadena
who had purchased it new,
and was now replacing it
with another new Mercedes.
She literally wiped down
the engine compartment on a
monthly basis, and the rest of
the car was just as immacu-
late. It was the four-speed
column shift, cloth interior
and minimal wood on the
dash. I felt like royalty driv-
ing that car.
I paid $600 for the car and
owned it for five years, dur-
ing which time the engine
was rebuilt and it went into
the body shop three times —
twice from being hit while
parked, and one via compli-
ments of a wind-tossed tree
limb.
I eventually sold the steel
grey luxury car for $2,500 to
pay for air conditioning in
my house. But by then I had
started collecting Mercedes
Benz, most of them of the
same 220 series. I did have
one iconic 220SE coupe that
was simply stunning with its
white leather interior and
wrap-around wood dash
appointments.
For whatever reason, the
coupes didn’t share the tail
fin the sedans carried, and
were really a much better
looking design. Eventually,
my Mercedes fetish culminat-
ed with a brand new 1981
240 D, which I leased for a
couple years. During the half-
dozen or so years I dabbled
in the MB marquee, I owned
eight different Mercedes cars,
some of them simultaneously.
I also got heavily involved in
the MB Club of Sacramento,
serving as president for one
year, holding road rallies and
parking lot gymkhanas, and
judging in a concours d’ ele-
gance event up in Chico one
year — quite an exciting
experience.
My eyes started noticing
Volkswagens around that
time, and one by one the
Mercedes Benz cars started
getting replaced in the drive-
way.
Although I really enjoyed
all of the MBs I owned over
that time, the marquee isn’t
without some weak points.
But I still perk up when I
spot an old 220 driving down
the road with the iconic verti-
cal twin headlight configura-
tion, and the smart little fins
on the rear fenders.
Okay, so the fins do resem-
ble a 1959 Rambler... just a
little.
Travel Safe!
FRAA ‘Empty Bowls’ art deadline extended
There is an opportunity for
members of the Florence
Regional
Arts
Alliance
(FRAA) to submit ideas and
get their art noticed while help-
ing support a vital cause in the
Florence community.
The annual “Empty Bowls”
Event, held at the Florence
Events Center, is one of the
biggest fundraisers for the
Florence Food Share each year.
In addition to the many
beautiful pieces of pottery auc-
tioned off or sold at the event,
there will also be a special
piece of artwork that will be
featured on posters and raffled
off. This is usually a 2-dimen-
sional painting or drawing that
reflects the importance and
beauty of feeding others.
The chosen artist’s name
will be featured in numerous
public service announcements
and the work will be shown at
locations throughout Florence
as the raffle takes place.
This is open to FRAA mem-
bers only and the work that is
submitted must be in pdf or jpg
files to be accepted.
There is no cash award and
the winning artist relinquishes
all rights to their work.
All submissions will be for
the “Empty Bowls Event” and
FRAA will also be accepting
submissions for the Oregon
Public Bank (OPB) project at
the same time.
Submit a proposed design to
Hillsbery in WSO exhibit
COURTESY PHOTO
Carole Hillsbery’s watercolor “Jewel of India” is part of
the Watercolor Society of Oregon’s Experimental
Convention being held this month.
Nationally acclaimed water-
colorist and Florence resident
Carole Hillsbery had her paint-
ing “Jewel Of India” accepted
into the Watercolor Society of
Oregon’s
Experimental
Convention being held at the
Oregon Garden Resort this
month.
“Jewel Of India” was painted
from a photo her daughter,
Mary, took on a trip to India this
past year. It is watercolor with
India ink and gouche touches.
Hillsbery has been painting
for more than 40 years. She has
been painting, exhibiting and
teaching professionally since
2003.
She studied with Kathyrn
Davis, Ted Nuttall, Charles
Reid, Lien Zieng, Robert Wood
and many other well-known
artists
Hillsbery is also announcing
a
Figurative
Watercolor
Workshop to be held in
Florence on Friday and
Saturday, June 10 and 11, at
the Cross Road Church.
This workshop is designed to
teach how to loosen up and
explore color while communi-
cating a story or feeling.
Hillsbery’s many techniques,
demonstrations, and candid
conversations with artist will be
sure to inspire as she encour-
ages each student to discover
their own unique painting style.
Artists can either draw or
trace the figure using their own
photos.
Some knowledge of water-
color is needed.
Hillsbery is a national award-
winning artist and
a sig-
nature member of
the
Transparent Watercolor Society
of America and a member of the
Watercolor Society of Oregon.
To view her paintings, visit
www.carolehillsbery.com.
For more information and a
registration form, contact
Charlene Wilson at charwilson
66@gmail.com.
the Florence Regional Arts
Alliance no later than June 15.
Arists can also submit samples
of work along with their design
in jpg file formats.
A selection will be made and
the winning art piece will need
to be completed by Aug. 1.
Submit design idea and sam-
ples to fraaoregon@gmail.com
and be a part of helping Food
Share alleviate hunger in
Florence and Western Lane
County.
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