Wagon Wednesday: Mercedes 450SEL Crayford Estate
Haye writes:
According to the ad the British company Crayford built a limited series of these estates (about 80) that were officially sold by Mercedes Benz in England and the USA. Because of the high price only 15 of those were the long wheelbase top version 450 SEL. Sophia Loren and Cher Bono (From Sonny and Cher…..waaay before my time!) drove the 450 SEL version at some point in their respective lives.
This example was the first built prototype and is distinguished from the following cars by a flatter and more elegant roof. The car was owned by the director of Crayford, Sir David Mc Mullan and only drove 60.960 miles. The car was restored over the past two years, and was awarded the “worldwide best Crayford” by the Crayford Car Club.
Maybe something for Wagon Wednesday?
Maybe?!
I think this machine will receive a ton of love here… at least until we mention its $52,000 asking [crack pipe] price.
[Source: autoscout24.de | Thanks for the tip Haye!]
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Wow, that's…… Wow.
Yep. Nailed it.
In my opinion it looks hideous, it just doesn't work!
However, it could have been even worse…
<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_leoGYAeiH44/SNhuu-IprKI/AAAAAAAACzo/SOVDUOO–U0/s1600/6.9+estate.jpg">
More 450 SEL Wagon here: http://bringatrailer.com/2010/01/30/familie-truck…
While the raised roof on the brown car looks awkward, at least it avoids the little "shelf" that spoils the Crayford's tailgate.
M-B 450 SEL Maxx? One limited run dead end leads to another, albeit less limited, dead end.
Where's the bright trim around the rear side windows? They don't match the rest. Also, what's going on below the rear bumper? I see exposed brackets and hardware, and what looks like three big spot welds below the license plate. It doesn't look horrible, it just needs some more attention to detail.
The Crayford isn't terrible, but it's obviously a conversion from a sedan. I much prefer this W126 wagon.
<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_leoGYAeiH44/S-38W_nxHoI/AAAAAAAAJ40/_-G_1BtN1lQ/s1600/560selkombi10.jpg" width=500>
So it looks like a current GM wagon?
It does? I'm not seeing it.
Not actually, I meant it as a comment to GM's lazy "throw a lid on the third box" style of wagon construction as seen in the CTS for instance.
If I could thumbs-up that thing more than once I would. Pity the fuel tank location of the W126 precludes a fold down 2nd row and, to a lesser extent, adding a 3rd row.
<img src="http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/1881/560selkombi5.jpg" width="500" />
Then again, you could probably enlarge the spare tire well, store the spare vertically on the left side and put the tank in the well. Of course, that would limit the space for a rear-facing 3rd row seat footwell, if not eliminate it altogether.
Wow, that is pretty spendy, and I do not really care for the looks at all. I agree with Tonyola on the W126 wagon.
Is winning "Worldwide Best Crayford" sort of like winning "Best Paint Job" at a DeLorean show?
Nice, however:
<img src="http://www.1aautocarshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/bluedelorean-300×225.jpg" width="640/">
and
<img src="http://blog.1aauto.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Candy-Apple-Red-Delorean_3-500×333.jpg" width="640/">
Pictures from: http://blog.1aauto.com/tag/red-delorean/
It is my understanding that in a bid to move the last few cars, some dealers had them painted. At least one was painted gold for an American Express PR/ad.
Why would you even do that?!?
Is that red one lifted? Redneck!
<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GQXR2aQjn6I/TVnvZFAIEFI/AAAAAAAAAVU/vahFkRH6oOs/s1600/flying+delorean.jpg" width="500">
It's transitioning into take-off mode.
AmEx managed to sell two gold DeLoreans (thus meeting their goal of producing "no more than 100"), plus there's now a third that was subsequently assembled from spare parts. The body panels are 24K gold-plated, however, not painted. The original ads and some nice photos are reproduced here:
http://www.uhonda.com/home/latest-news/24-karat-g…
I grew up in a 450SEL and learned how to drive in one. I think the Crayford version, though by no means perfect, is a nice interpretation.
I did my first rear wheel drive burnout in a 450SEL with really old and dry tires.
Nice idea, poor execution. For 52 large, heck for half that, I want my wagon to be a real wagon. This is more like a big hatchback sedan. Yes, in order to bring the tailgate opening down to cargo floor level you've gotta do more work. The fuel tank and spare tire need to be relocated, and you need to add some reinforcement somewhere to keep the structure rigid with a big opening that wasn't designed to be there. All that costs money. But if you're going to go through the trouble to wagonize a sedan, why not do it right?
I also wonder if the back seat folds down; on the sale listing there are no pix showing it folded, and no obvious linkage or release mechanism.
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6763021161_8bb1cf0528.jpg" width="400" height="266" alt="oldrollswagonrear">
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/6763020991_079834f147.jpg" width="500" height="302" alt="killer setup">
<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7156/6763020751_c05e16624c.jpg" width="500" height="313" alt="jagmk2break">
If it is a one off European longroof, this olelongrooffan would much prefer one of these over that CP Mercedes.
Nicely done, but no sale. Looking at the engine bay of a 450 SL was enough to turn me off of them, not to mention the $15k asking price. This car seems nicely done and in great condition, and a unique body style. But God's own Vista Cruiser will never be worth that much o me.
Here are some more S-class wagon conversions:
http://karakullake.blogspot.com/2010/04/mercedes-…
For fifty two grand, I could most likely purchase serviceable specimens of the various wagons that I grew up with and miss to this day, plus the wagons that I'd like to have now. Sorry, this ain't one of them. Nice, but it's way too pricey for what it is. Also, it won't pull a 25 foot travel trailer like my family's '71 Pontiac Safari, that we traveled cross continent in, while I was a kid. Wagons were built for that kind of thing, back then.
I'd love to take this on a weekend long ski trip