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My “Boy’s Toy”
My "boy's toy" is a classic 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380 SEL which I purchased in April 2003. It had only travelled 167,000km (about 100,000 miles) when I purchased it, which is amazing considering its age. In fact, most of the problems I have had with this car were caused because it was garaged for so many years and hardly used.
It is now getting used regularly and has been converted to run on LPG (liquid petroleum gas, also called AutoGas in Australia). Even though it has a V8 motor, with much cheaper fuel costs for LPG it only costs about the same as an old 4 cylinder Toyota Camry to run.
For anyone interested in this vehicle, it features a 3.8 liter V8 (normally fuel injected but now fully converted to run only on LPG), 4-wheel disc brakes, ABS braking, auto-levelling (hydropneumatic) rear suspension, auto-levelling headlights, full leather seats, wood-trimmed interior, an electric sun roof, climate control, central locking, electric windows, a slightly stretched body to give more back seat leg room (about 14cm or 5½ inches longer than a normal ‘S’ Class Benz), and lots of other little luxuries.
Even though the Benz is my “boy’s toy”, it is also the family transport and gets driven daily. It is such a joy to drive that I even look for excuses to go somewhere in it!
If you own a classic Benz on LPG please e-mail me to share experiences, specially if you are considering converting to LPG. (See photos & detailed info of the gas installation – this page is optimized for a 1024x768 screen resolution.)
Postcript February 2004
In April 1981, Australia's Modern Motor magazine featured the release of the new W126 'S' Class Benz series, specifically the 280 SE and the 380 SEL models. I just loved the headline...
His comments were interesting but it was the price that captivated me. Prices, in 1981, were very high. The 280 SE was AUD$51,253 and the V8 "limousine" version (which I have) was a not-so-cool AUD$61,041. Even though the exchange rate is different, a dollar in Australia buys about the same as a dollar in the US (though all motor vehicles here are expensive compared with the US).
I think my Benz was a fabulous buy and a 4,000 km trip (2,500 miles) in February 2004 proved that the old car was still running as sweet as the day it was built. We went from just north of Sydney across through Wagga Wagga, Hay (NSW) and on to Mildura (Victoria), then south through Renmark to Adelaide (South Australia). When we left Adelaide we went via Mt Gambier and then followed the coast road all the way to Sydney and home.
The Benz isn't the cheapest car to run, but in view of the value you get for your dollar, who cares!
I saw a copy of the magazine in a second hand shop recently and was interested to read what the author, Wayne Cantell, had to say about this "new" Benz.
visiting the blue lake at Mt Gambier, Sth Australia
a half empty ferry on Port Phillip Bay, Victoria
Graham’s Christian writing:
"Graham Pockett doesn't mince any words, but he writes with a kind heart. If you have questions about such things as "once saved, always saved", or why so many different ideas can come from the same scripture, or how much what we see and do affects us as spiritual beings, you'll find much to think about here." from This Christian Life 
Download these articles:
GrahamsWriting.zip
Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
James 5:16 & 20 NIV
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