HMC Chummy driven by a Judge (!)

[wuvvum]

On 26/09/2025 at 18:24, HMC said:

Its a “320 CDI L” but confusingly has a 3.0l V6- its hardly like the “320” label was some sort of iconic calling card for MB after all.

Same engine as my C Class.  My reasoning is that the 3-litre OM642 replaced the 3.2-litre OM613, and Mercedes didn't want to make customers think they were getting a downgrade by changing the model designation from 320 to 300, especially as the new engine was more powerful than the old one.  That is pure conjecture though.

[HMC]

6 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Same engine as my C Class.  My reasoning is that the 3-litre OM642 replaced the 3.2-litre OM613, and Mercedes didn't want to make customers think they were getting a downgrade by changing the model designation from 320 to 300, especially as the new engine was more powerful than the old one.  That is pure conjecture though.

Wonder if thats the earliest instance of MB going against their fairly sober, rigid and descriptive model naming policy. 

[hairnet]

7 quid for a mag now

ouch

wonder why dont buy them anymore

[Dick Cheeseburger]

On 04/10/2025 at 17:03, captain_cal said:

Neat, I remember seeing the pic of this on the Bodinnick ferry but didn't realise you bought it from Fowey.

Went to school there and now live very local (in fact folks still live there) and have never seen it in my life!

Ditto. I'm only 20 minutes from Fowey. 

[wuvvum]

6 hours ago, HMC said:

Wonder if thats the earliest instance of MB going against their fairly sober, rigid and descriptive model naming policy. 

Well if you discount the 450SEL 6.9 and the earlier 300SEL 6.3, the W114 250 was fitted with a 2.8-litre engine in some markets.

[HMC]

Fleet news-

Merc s class is class. It might have done nearly 200k but it is working perfectly (at least today!) 

Meanwhile i sold the swift on, for the price i paid for it…

Because? well - i usually have little to no reason to sell a car, but with VSCC glory* in mind, I decided in the face of a 1.1L plucky brit vs 3.3l ford model in the same class needed levelling.

How to do that? Get a model A? Or just buy something with a massive engine, left field, and ratty enough to trial? In the end I decided to get down and dirty with vehicles of the same displacment- and get hold of a 1929 7 chummy…

 

[Matty]

My God that is magnificent. The genesis of modern motoring in my eyes.

[stuboy]

dont mick fleetwood own one?

[Schaefft]

I know that Austin is the spectacular purchase here but I really want that W221! Incredible what so little money can buy you nowadays.

[flat4alfa]

1 hour ago, stuboy said:

dont mick fleetwood own one?

Since he was in his twenties

It’s called ‘Lettuce Leaf’. His children named it that and the name stayed

[High Jetter]

12 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Since he was in his twenties

It’s called ‘Lettuce Leaf’. His children named it that and the name stayed

Droopy handle, tho...😀

[flat4alfa]

21 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Droopy handle, tho...😀

I wonder if….

😎

[stuboy]

21 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Droopy handle, tho...😀

lets not mention side effects of magical powders of the 70s...lol

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

I wonder if….

😎

Rumours, tho, that's bollocks. 

[N Dentressangle]

On 12/10/2025 at 23:49, flat4alfa said:

Since he was in his twenties

It’s called ‘Lettuce Leaf’. His children named it that and the name stayed

I'm guessing that pic is Hawaii, where he's lived for years.

Encountering Mick Fleetwood in an Austin 7 on the backroads of Maui. Surreal 

[captain_70s]

Doesn't even list HMC as a previous celebrity owner! Missed opportunity.

[HMC]

chummy news- 

The last v5 was issued in 1983 and when the vendor had the car the history wasnt with it. Hence they applied for a v5 - meanwhile the old history was reunited with the car. So on purchase the v5 was pending. Finally it arrived! Been pottering around locally and have to say its brilliant fun and as its got little bodywork to weigh it down- its suprisingly quick! (relatively speaking)

 

[bangernomics]

chummy news- 
The last v5 was issued in 1983 and when the vendor had the car the history wasnt with it. Hence they applied for a v5 - meanwhile the old history was reunited with the car. So on purchase the v5 was pending. Finally it arrived! Been pottering around locally and have to say its brilliant fun and as its got little bodywork to weigh it down- its suprisingly quick! (relatively speaking)

 

Utterly cool, my maternal grandfather ran one as his daily apparently well into the late 60’s having owned it from new. Sadly he passed before I was born so I never met him but have some pics somewhere I must dig out.

His was painted in a dark green which I suspect was supplied by dulux rather than austin. One for my car bucket list that.

[HMC]

fleet news-

The bargainous s class met a sticky end. It was perfect- right up until it got hit on the front corner whilst parked at night on the street- the following morning the air suspension, front steering angle and traction esp lights were lit up and the car wouldnt drive straight and the damping went rock hard. Sold for spares or repairs. Was a nice car 😭

What as a replacement? I saw a low miles posh spec c5 hdi advertised and decided to do a buy. I cant say ive ever really wanted one but i was interested to try it. I had in mind it was the last hydropneumatic citroen (turns out I was wrong; the later c5 was as well) but even without this nostalgic justification its a solid and very comfortable daily with squashy velour seats and a ride that squashes speed humps at speed. It spent half its recent life in france so has a control technique cert stuck on the front screen. BON!

This is a facelift- IMO not hard to improve on the odd looking original. Like a lot of facelifts- in retrospect im not sure is really any better, looks more fussy and still looks awkward. You cant get away from the basic proportions but its a comfy steer and has directional front headlights (chapeau to the DS)  that - at 20yo and french- still work!

[Schaefft]

Nooo, I was excited to hear more about the S-Class! At the same time I'm somewhat glad I can't be tempted into it anymore should it have ever made it into the for sale section.

C5 ist still an interesting car due to the comfort/price ratio but not the same.

[D.E]

Bloody shame about the merc! A friend of mine had a similar C5 - same colour, facelift, but on petrol. His had some weird suspension quirks that caused to car to rise or sag at random, something he was never able to fix. But it was comfy nevertheless!

[FakeConcern]

I think the C5 facelift rear lights are much more interesting than the pre-FC. Do these have the fixed hub steering wheel like the C4? Such a great feature.

[hairnet]

@beko1987 on the list in a week

[Peter C]

Awful news about the Merc, it was such a bargain and an amazing car. Like all S-Classes, it was so ahead of the game when new.

I like the C5 but concur that the pre-facelift model is easier on the eye. Keep it parked somewhere safe!

[HMC]

currently cooling off on a dartmoor hill in PG1107

Ive been chasing an inlet manifold air leak - i think sorted - it was the carb to inlet joint. 

Meanwhile it feels theres still a bit to do for the VSCC trial as it gets a bit hot on long climbs and starts to steam out of the top of the rad like a little kettle 😂. Time for a break. 

Tea, anyone?

[HMC]

Ive just been overtaken by a mob of beagles

[HMC]

I had one ftp- I forgot to turn to fuel tap back on. At least it happened somewhere where i could trundle to the verge…

[comfortablynumb]

Such a great looking car, and what a pic, calendar shot?

[HMC]

Further chummy news- 

I went to the post office to change the tax from PLG to HISTORIC. Done it a few times now with other stuff. Computer said no. So I rang the DVLA and it was explained that it wasnt possible as, despite being registered new in june 1929 and with all the old log books etc and a current v5 in place- there was no date of manufacture their end.

I suggested to the DVLA employee (who i must say was very friendly and helpful) that as we all agree it existed by june 1929- that this itself should be enough to grant it >40 year old status. Apparently not. 

I did consider going via an owners club; Sadly all pre war austin factory records have been lost/ bombed/ destroyed.

All that is except as luck would have it- 29-31 sevens.

So ive applied for a heritage cert and cover letter to provide the necessary evidence. Although a bit of a faff actually id be interested in it for its own sake.

How very DVLA though.

[JakeT]

LBF would have done his usual DVLA ju-jitsu and had it on historic for you in 28 seconds flat.

How doovla can agree it existed in 1929, the current logbook is over 40 years old but can’t understand that the car is over 40 years old is hilarious.