The OFFICIAL Monaco and French Riviera Thread.
#1092
02-22-2015, 11:18 AM
Revealed
So what, or rather who, is the link between Abdulla al Mansour from Kuwait, AAA Luxury & Sport Car Rental and the Russian mafia....
The full story soon...
Do you know who this is?
So what, or rather who, is the link between Abdulla al Mansour from Kuwait, AAA Luxury & Sport Car Rental and the Russian mafia....
The full story soon...
Do you know who this is?
#1093
02-23-2015, 06:22 AM
Monaco
Lifestyle
It could have been true and I see what you mean, but I have meet many ambisious "up and coming women" through the years, and in my experience it is not always the case....
And ding ding you were right again, you must be Russian ( your forum name is also a hint)
Lifestyle - more female beauty on Teamspeed
Lifestyle
It could have been true and I see what you mean, but I have meet many ambisious "up and coming women" through the years, and in my experience it is not always the case....
And ding ding you were right again, you must be Russian ( your forum name is also a hint)
Lifestyle - more female beauty on Teamspeed
#1096
03-07-2015, 07:32 AM
Monaco
News
I think there is more to the story......
British boxing promoter found dead in Monaco after disappearing outside nightclub two weeks ago
Graydon was a boxer and promoter from Bristol in the United Kingdom and travelled to the Riviera to watch Lee Haskins’ title fight on Saturday night in the Principality. His friend Adrian O’Connor became concerned when he failed to turn up for the event. According to Michael Graydon’s family, the two friends went to La Rascasse nightclub on Friday night where they became involved in an argument and left separately.
“We aren’t sure exactly what happened but there was some kind of dispute in the nightclub and they were separated,” Graydon’s cousin Lydia Ball told The Riviera Times. “Adrian went back to the hotel and thought he’d see Michael at the fight but when he didn’t turn up he started to worry.” Friends and relatives became increasingly concerned for Graydon’s safety when he failed to make his return flight on Sunday afternoon. Graydon’s fiancée Kira Billiau, with whom he has a one and a half year old son, and other family members have since flown out to the Principality and are aiding police with the search.
At a press conference French and Monegasque police confirmed they are following up a lead on whether an incident in Nice on Thursday night may be linked to Michael Graydon’s disappearance. The boxer vanished without trace in the early hours of Saturday morning after a night out in Monaco, and hasn’t been seen since. Graydon had travelled to the Riviera with his friend Adrian O’Conner on Thursday prior to the boxing match in Monaco on Saturday, which the duo were planning to attend. According to reports, on Thursday night Graydon became involved in a serious incident in Nice which involved several local men. He hid from the men under one of the carnival grandstands for several hours, before returning to the hotel room that he was sharing with his friend.
"I don't know exactly what happened on the Thursday night, but I think Michael got lost and when he got back to his room he told Adrian that two cars had pulled up with a lot of men in and Michael had to run off,” Jane Graydon, Michael’s mother, told the Bristol Post.
The body was found today 'behind a little church' in the Sainte Devote area of Monaco, close to where he was last seen, a Monaco government spokeswoman confirmed. Genevieve Berti, deputy director of the Monaco Media Bureau, said: 'We can confirm on the death of a British national - Michael Graydon, who had previously been reported missing, in Monaco. 'We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time.'Ms Berti added that footage showed Mr Graydon climbing over the wall of a property and said it is believed that he then fell. She added that the body was unrecognisable due to be in an advanced state of decomposition, but tattoos on the arms were 'really comparable' to the ones described by his family.
He was also carrying his driving licence, which confirmed the name of Michael Graydon.
The last sighting of Mr Graydon is on CCTV footage, timed at 1.36am on February 21, showing him running away from the nightclub. But he did not appear to have been pursued. Ms Berti said the body was found "behind a little church" in the Sainte Devote area near the harbour. She said the last images of boxing promoter Mr Graydon showed him next to the harbour.
Michael Graydon
News
I think there is more to the story......
British boxing promoter found dead in Monaco after disappearing outside nightclub two weeks ago
Graydon was a boxer and promoter from Bristol in the United Kingdom and travelled to the Riviera to watch Lee Haskins’ title fight on Saturday night in the Principality. His friend Adrian O’Connor became concerned when he failed to turn up for the event. According to Michael Graydon’s family, the two friends went to La Rascasse nightclub on Friday night where they became involved in an argument and left separately.
“We aren’t sure exactly what happened but there was some kind of dispute in the nightclub and they were separated,” Graydon’s cousin Lydia Ball told The Riviera Times. “Adrian went back to the hotel and thought he’d see Michael at the fight but when he didn’t turn up he started to worry.” Friends and relatives became increasingly concerned for Graydon’s safety when he failed to make his return flight on Sunday afternoon. Graydon’s fiancée Kira Billiau, with whom he has a one and a half year old son, and other family members have since flown out to the Principality and are aiding police with the search.
At a press conference French and Monegasque police confirmed they are following up a lead on whether an incident in Nice on Thursday night may be linked to Michael Graydon’s disappearance. The boxer vanished without trace in the early hours of Saturday morning after a night out in Monaco, and hasn’t been seen since. Graydon had travelled to the Riviera with his friend Adrian O’Conner on Thursday prior to the boxing match in Monaco on Saturday, which the duo were planning to attend. According to reports, on Thursday night Graydon became involved in a serious incident in Nice which involved several local men. He hid from the men under one of the carnival grandstands for several hours, before returning to the hotel room that he was sharing with his friend.
"I don't know exactly what happened on the Thursday night, but I think Michael got lost and when he got back to his room he told Adrian that two cars had pulled up with a lot of men in and Michael had to run off,” Jane Graydon, Michael’s mother, told the Bristol Post.
The body was found today 'behind a little church' in the Sainte Devote area of Monaco, close to where he was last seen, a Monaco government spokeswoman confirmed. Genevieve Berti, deputy director of the Monaco Media Bureau, said: 'We can confirm on the death of a British national - Michael Graydon, who had previously been reported missing, in Monaco. 'We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time.'Ms Berti added that footage showed Mr Graydon climbing over the wall of a property and said it is believed that he then fell. She added that the body was unrecognisable due to be in an advanced state of decomposition, but tattoos on the arms were 'really comparable' to the ones described by his family.
He was also carrying his driving licence, which confirmed the name of Michael Graydon.
The last sighting of Mr Graydon is on CCTV footage, timed at 1.36am on February 21, showing him running away from the nightclub. But he did not appear to have been pursued. Ms Berti said the body was found "behind a little church" in the Sainte Devote area near the harbour. She said the last images of boxing promoter Mr Graydon showed him next to the harbour.
Michael Graydon
#1097
03-08-2015, 06:48 AM
Monaco
Mercedes-Benz 600
The Mercedes-Benz 600
2,677 build between 1963 and 1981, 428 of the long wheelbase Pullman version, 40 were armored and only 1 was manufactured with a high-roof for the Vatican.
Here is the story about the favorite car of presidents, dictators, celebrities and bodyguards.... seen with my eyes..
I remember seeing it for the first time when I was a child in the American television series Falcon Crest, belonging to Angela Channing... It was also featured in the James Bond films "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and "Diamonds Are Forever". In my opinion it is the finest Mercedes ever built... THE ultimate limousine. Enjoy!
The 600 owners...here are the worlds ONLY, almost complete list of owners, made by me.
"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" of the 1960s, 70s and 80s. First the celebrities:
* Aristotle Socrates Onassis
* Coco Chanel
* Karen Carpenter
* Simon Spies
* Guru Maharaj Ji ( Prem Pal Singh Rawat )
* Hugh Hefner
* Jack Nicholson
* Ronnie Wood
* Elizabeth Taylor
* John Lennon
* George Harrison
* Elvis Presley
And here are the "dictator/world leader group". In many cases you can replace President or leader with diktator...
* Emperor Shōwa Hirohito of Japan
* Romanian Communist leader Nicolae Ceauşescu
* President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito
* Cuban leader Fidel Castro
* President Saddam Hussein of Iraq
* President of South Africa FW de Klerk
* Irish leader Éamon de Valera
* South Korean president Park Chung-hee
* Kampuchea Communist leader Pol Pot
* Socialist leader of Albania Enver Hoxha
* Comrade Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union
* Leader of North Korea Kim Il-sung
* Supreme Leader of Korean Kim Jong-il
* President of Uganda Idi Amin
* Central African leader Jean-Bédel Bokassa
* President of Haiti François "Papa Doc" Duvalier
* Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos ( who owned four )
* Chinese general Marshal Lin Biao
* Chinese leader Mao Tse Tung
* Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping
* Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi - ( owned multiple 600 models )
* Senegal's Léopold Sédar Senghor ( had three 600s )
* President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe
* King Hussein of Jordan
* Archbishop Makarios III of Cyprus
* Indonesian president Suharto
* Cambodian king Norodom Sihanouk
* Paulo Escobar ( and yes....he was also a "world leader" )
Beat that list........ The story behind:
The pope
In September of 1965, a four-door Pullman landaulet (partial convertible) was built for Pope Paul VI. It has an individual seat on a raised platform allowing for a flat floor, a raised roof, and extended rear doors. This vehicle was used by the Vatican for two decades and served three popes, returning home to the Mercedes-Benz Museum in 1985.
George Harrison
Harrison even bought Lennon’s old car when the latter moved to the United States from Britain
Josip Broz Tito
Tito was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman, serving as the President of Yugoslavia between 1953 and 1980.
Always sharply dressed with an accompanying Cohiba between his fingers, Tito loved to make a statement, and many experts believe this is why he chose the six door Landaulet as his car of choice. As the nation’s figurehead Tito was required to look his best at all times, thus he had a bespoke vanity station installed which included an electric razor, comb and a selection of after-shaves. Tito kept the car until his death in 1981. It has been used to welcome some of the world’s most important royals, politicians and dignitaries, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1972 and the President of the United States, Richard Nixon, in 1970.
Paulo Escobar
Pablo Escobar was the seventh richest man on the planet. He turned an entire building, called Monaco, into a home for his family and for his car & art collection. In a 1988 assassination attempt, the Cali Cartel detonated a car bomb early one morning near the parking garage under the building. The resulting explosion caused serious damage to the Edificio Monaco in the El Poblado, Medellín and his Mercedes 600 was destroyed in the attack.
Fidel Castro
I have personally seen his Mercedes 600 in Havanna years ago.
General Marshal Lin Biao
One 600 belonged to the Government of the People’s Republic of China`s, Marshal Lin Biao, at one time among the most trusted of Mao Tse-Tung’s Generals. In 1971 the car was delivered. But he would end up enjoying the pleasures of this most un-Communist of cars for a tragically short period of time: Lin died on 13 September 1971, when the aeroplane in which he and his family were flying crashed in deepest Mongolia. It was flying low to evade radar, on its way to Soviet Russia, allegedly after his assassination attempt on Mao failed. Following the ‘Lin Biao incident’, the car was placed into storage. As Lin was an officially condemned traitor of the Communist Party of China, the continued use of his Mercedes-Benz was no longer appropriate. And the 600 remained this way until 1986, when it was pressed back into use for Prince Sihanouk, head of the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea.
It didn’t last long in this role either, and was soon on its travels again – this time to the USA, where it was bought by Dr Armand Hammer, American industrialist and the former Chairman and CEO of the Occidental Petroleum Corporation. He had the 600 restored to concours condition (good enough to pick up a Judges’ Award at the 1989 Amelia Island Concours, where it proudly wore the stars and stripes on its bumper-mounted flagpoles), before using it as his personal car. Again it proved a short-lived relationship, as Hammer died in 1990. The car has now been in Kuwait since the mid-1990s and, wearing a mere 32,000 km on the clock, it remains in rude health despite the difficulties in getting parts there. It’s clearly cherished by its wealthy owner, as it’s lacking the coat of sand every other automobile in the Kingdom seems to be wearing.
The Monaco link
The most special variant of all was the Pullman Presidential ‘Long-Top’ Landaulet. With just 10 built, this particular model was reserved only for royalty or heads of state. Owners included HRH Queen Elizabeth II, Pope Paul VI, Chairman Mao, President Ceausescu and Prince Rainier of Monaco.
The launch
When it was first unveiled at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in 1963, the Mercedes-Benz 600 – or W100 Grosser Mercedes in Benz-speak – was an impressive statement of intent from its maker. The long-awaited successor to the immense pre-war 540K, it was intended to be simply the best car in the world – and work started on the project back in 1955. The team put together to style the Mercedes-Benz flagship was headed by Paul Bracq and Bruno Sacco (who would subsequently be responsible for the company’s finest automobiles). Meanwhile, Dr Fritz Nallinger and his crew – Rudolf Uhlenhaut, Josef Muller and Karl Wilfert – were tasked with engineering a car that bore the weight of West Germany’s expectations. The team was not encumbered by any form of development budget restrictions, and consequently created a clean-sheet design. It is the only cost-no-object production Mercedes ever built. The most exciting aspect of the 600 was its engine, dubbed the M-100. It was the company’s first V8, a 6329cc powerhouse bristling with all the latest technology – sodium-filled valves, hardened valve seats and aluminium alloy cylinder heads. It developed 250bhp and 369lb ft, which were enough to push the 2,640kg limousine to a top speed of more than 125mph.
But it was the high standard equipment tally and bespoke nature of its build that really set the 600 apart. Hydraulics powered just about everything – including the suspension, windows, seats, glass partition, door locks, trunk lid, sunroof, disc brakes and doors. This set-up was chosen by Nallinger because of its silence and smoothness – much to the chagrin of later owners who had the prospect of fixing leaky systems. The 600 was relatively agile – hence the limited-slip diff – to evade possible terrorist threats (or insistent paparazzi). There were several body variations, too. The 600 was offered in standard-wheelbase four-door form, as well as four- or six-door Pullman, and a Landaulet version (note the German spelling of Landaulette), favored by the less-than-shy plutocrats. Our Pullman, chassis number 2,029, is a long-wheelbase four-door, of which 428 were made – and this one has done rather a lot of travelling in its long life. Typically, thanks to wide-opening doors the rear is easy to get in and out of in a most dignified way – and despite the fact the seats are set so far back, you slip round easily and almost flop into the softly-sprung bench. Once settled in, legs outstretched, feet buried in the deep-pile carpet, it’s tempting to fiddle with the built-in old-school CRT television and VHS, while seeing what’s in the drinks cabinet... When you fire up the V8 the noise levels don’t change at all. The engine is idling, but I can’t actually hear it. It’s hardly a surprise that the 600 cushions rear passengers from the realities of pot-holed urban blacktop like no other car. The seats are typical Mercedes-Benz items from this era – firm to the touch, but yielding and well sprung. Combine this with air-suspension, 80-profile tires, a 3.20m (126in) wheelbase and that hefty curb-weight and you have all the ingredients needed to obliterate any sensation from the road below.
The designer
Here we have a man with one hell of a résumé: In 1953, Paul Bracq, the 600’s designer, graduated from the École Boulle, the famous art and design school in Paris. In 1957, after a short stint in the military, he became chief of Mercedes-Benz’s advanced design studio in Sindelfingen. He’s credited with the 1960s “Pagoda” SL and the W108/109, W111, and W114/115 sedans. After leaving the company in 1967, he did consultant work and helped design France’s high-speed TGV passenger train. It doesn’t stop there. Bracq was chief of BMW design from 1970 to 1974. He’s responsible for the shape and detail of the E12 5-series, the 2002 Turbo, the E21 3-series, the E24 6-series, and the E23 7-series. He also penned the two 1970s BMW Turbo concept cars, the functional design studies that presaged Munich’s M1 supercar. Shortly after leaving BMW, he landed at Peugeot, where he designed interiors for more than two decades. He now lives in France, where he devotes his time to his career as a world-renowned painter.
1971 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman
Engine 6329cc all-alloy V8, SOHC, two valves per cylinder, Bosch D-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection
Power 250bhp @ 4000rpm
Torque 369lb ft @ 2800rpm
Transmission Four-speed auto, limited-slip diff
Steering Recirculating ball, power-assisted
Suspension Self-levelling air-suspension, adjustable damping, torsion bar stabilisers, rear swing-axle
Brakes Discs all round, servo-assisted
Weight 2640kg Performance
Top speed 125mph; 0-60mph 9.0sec
The world would be a poorer place without the 600. Respect.
Mercedes-Benz 600
The Mercedes-Benz 600
2,677 build between 1963 and 1981, 428 of the long wheelbase Pullman version, 40 were armored and only 1 was manufactured with a high-roof for the Vatican.
Here is the story about the favorite car of presidents, dictators, celebrities and bodyguards.... seen with my eyes..
I remember seeing it for the first time when I was a child in the American television series Falcon Crest, belonging to Angela Channing... It was also featured in the James Bond films "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and "Diamonds Are Forever". In my opinion it is the finest Mercedes ever built... THE ultimate limousine. Enjoy!
The 600 owners...here are the worlds ONLY, almost complete list of owners, made by me.
"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" of the 1960s, 70s and 80s. First the celebrities:
* Aristotle Socrates Onassis
* Coco Chanel
* Karen Carpenter
* Simon Spies
* Guru Maharaj Ji ( Prem Pal Singh Rawat )
* Hugh Hefner
* Jack Nicholson
* Ronnie Wood
* Elizabeth Taylor
* John Lennon
* George Harrison
* Elvis Presley
And here are the "dictator/world leader group". In many cases you can replace President or leader with diktator...
* Emperor Shōwa Hirohito of Japan
* Romanian Communist leader Nicolae Ceauşescu
* President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito
* Cuban leader Fidel Castro
* President Saddam Hussein of Iraq
* President of South Africa FW de Klerk
* Irish leader Éamon de Valera
* South Korean president Park Chung-hee
* Kampuchea Communist leader Pol Pot
* Socialist leader of Albania Enver Hoxha
* Comrade Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union
* Leader of North Korea Kim Il-sung
* Supreme Leader of Korean Kim Jong-il
* President of Uganda Idi Amin
* Central African leader Jean-Bédel Bokassa
* President of Haiti François "Papa Doc" Duvalier
* Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos ( who owned four )
* Chinese general Marshal Lin Biao
* Chinese leader Mao Tse Tung
* Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping
* Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi - ( owned multiple 600 models )
* Senegal's Léopold Sédar Senghor ( had three 600s )
* President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe
* King Hussein of Jordan
* Archbishop Makarios III of Cyprus
* Indonesian president Suharto
* Cambodian king Norodom Sihanouk
* Paulo Escobar ( and yes....he was also a "world leader" )
Beat that list........ The story behind:
The pope
In September of 1965, a four-door Pullman landaulet (partial convertible) was built for Pope Paul VI. It has an individual seat on a raised platform allowing for a flat floor, a raised roof, and extended rear doors. This vehicle was used by the Vatican for two decades and served three popes, returning home to the Mercedes-Benz Museum in 1985.
George Harrison
Harrison even bought Lennon’s old car when the latter moved to the United States from Britain
Josip Broz Tito
Tito was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman, serving as the President of Yugoslavia between 1953 and 1980.
Always sharply dressed with an accompanying Cohiba between his fingers, Tito loved to make a statement, and many experts believe this is why he chose the six door Landaulet as his car of choice. As the nation’s figurehead Tito was required to look his best at all times, thus he had a bespoke vanity station installed which included an electric razor, comb and a selection of after-shaves. Tito kept the car until his death in 1981. It has been used to welcome some of the world’s most important royals, politicians and dignitaries, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1972 and the President of the United States, Richard Nixon, in 1970.
Paulo Escobar
Pablo Escobar was the seventh richest man on the planet. He turned an entire building, called Monaco, into a home for his family and for his car & art collection. In a 1988 assassination attempt, the Cali Cartel detonated a car bomb early one morning near the parking garage under the building. The resulting explosion caused serious damage to the Edificio Monaco in the El Poblado, Medellín and his Mercedes 600 was destroyed in the attack.
Fidel Castro
I have personally seen his Mercedes 600 in Havanna years ago.
General Marshal Lin Biao
One 600 belonged to the Government of the People’s Republic of China`s, Marshal Lin Biao, at one time among the most trusted of Mao Tse-Tung’s Generals. In 1971 the car was delivered. But he would end up enjoying the pleasures of this most un-Communist of cars for a tragically short period of time: Lin died on 13 September 1971, when the aeroplane in which he and his family were flying crashed in deepest Mongolia. It was flying low to evade radar, on its way to Soviet Russia, allegedly after his assassination attempt on Mao failed. Following the ‘Lin Biao incident’, the car was placed into storage. As Lin was an officially condemned traitor of the Communist Party of China, the continued use of his Mercedes-Benz was no longer appropriate. And the 600 remained this way until 1986, when it was pressed back into use for Prince Sihanouk, head of the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea.
It didn’t last long in this role either, and was soon on its travels again – this time to the USA, where it was bought by Dr Armand Hammer, American industrialist and the former Chairman and CEO of the Occidental Petroleum Corporation. He had the 600 restored to concours condition (good enough to pick up a Judges’ Award at the 1989 Amelia Island Concours, where it proudly wore the stars and stripes on its bumper-mounted flagpoles), before using it as his personal car. Again it proved a short-lived relationship, as Hammer died in 1990. The car has now been in Kuwait since the mid-1990s and, wearing a mere 32,000 km on the clock, it remains in rude health despite the difficulties in getting parts there. It’s clearly cherished by its wealthy owner, as it’s lacking the coat of sand every other automobile in the Kingdom seems to be wearing.
The Monaco link
The most special variant of all was the Pullman Presidential ‘Long-Top’ Landaulet. With just 10 built, this particular model was reserved only for royalty or heads of state. Owners included HRH Queen Elizabeth II, Pope Paul VI, Chairman Mao, President Ceausescu and Prince Rainier of Monaco.
The launch
When it was first unveiled at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in 1963, the Mercedes-Benz 600 – or W100 Grosser Mercedes in Benz-speak – was an impressive statement of intent from its maker. The long-awaited successor to the immense pre-war 540K, it was intended to be simply the best car in the world – and work started on the project back in 1955. The team put together to style the Mercedes-Benz flagship was headed by Paul Bracq and Bruno Sacco (who would subsequently be responsible for the company’s finest automobiles). Meanwhile, Dr Fritz Nallinger and his crew – Rudolf Uhlenhaut, Josef Muller and Karl Wilfert – were tasked with engineering a car that bore the weight of West Germany’s expectations. The team was not encumbered by any form of development budget restrictions, and consequently created a clean-sheet design. It is the only cost-no-object production Mercedes ever built. The most exciting aspect of the 600 was its engine, dubbed the M-100. It was the company’s first V8, a 6329cc powerhouse bristling with all the latest technology – sodium-filled valves, hardened valve seats and aluminium alloy cylinder heads. It developed 250bhp and 369lb ft, which were enough to push the 2,640kg limousine to a top speed of more than 125mph.
But it was the high standard equipment tally and bespoke nature of its build that really set the 600 apart. Hydraulics powered just about everything – including the suspension, windows, seats, glass partition, door locks, trunk lid, sunroof, disc brakes and doors. This set-up was chosen by Nallinger because of its silence and smoothness – much to the chagrin of later owners who had the prospect of fixing leaky systems. The 600 was relatively agile – hence the limited-slip diff – to evade possible terrorist threats (or insistent paparazzi). There were several body variations, too. The 600 was offered in standard-wheelbase four-door form, as well as four- or six-door Pullman, and a Landaulet version (note the German spelling of Landaulette), favored by the less-than-shy plutocrats. Our Pullman, chassis number 2,029, is a long-wheelbase four-door, of which 428 were made – and this one has done rather a lot of travelling in its long life. Typically, thanks to wide-opening doors the rear is easy to get in and out of in a most dignified way – and despite the fact the seats are set so far back, you slip round easily and almost flop into the softly-sprung bench. Once settled in, legs outstretched, feet buried in the deep-pile carpet, it’s tempting to fiddle with the built-in old-school CRT television and VHS, while seeing what’s in the drinks cabinet... When you fire up the V8 the noise levels don’t change at all. The engine is idling, but I can’t actually hear it. It’s hardly a surprise that the 600 cushions rear passengers from the realities of pot-holed urban blacktop like no other car. The seats are typical Mercedes-Benz items from this era – firm to the touch, but yielding and well sprung. Combine this with air-suspension, 80-profile tires, a 3.20m (126in) wheelbase and that hefty curb-weight and you have all the ingredients needed to obliterate any sensation from the road below.
The designer
Here we have a man with one hell of a résumé: In 1953, Paul Bracq, the 600’s designer, graduated from the École Boulle, the famous art and design school in Paris. In 1957, after a short stint in the military, he became chief of Mercedes-Benz’s advanced design studio in Sindelfingen. He’s credited with the 1960s “Pagoda” SL and the W108/109, W111, and W114/115 sedans. After leaving the company in 1967, he did consultant work and helped design France’s high-speed TGV passenger train. It doesn’t stop there. Bracq was chief of BMW design from 1970 to 1974. He’s responsible for the shape and detail of the E12 5-series, the 2002 Turbo, the E21 3-series, the E24 6-series, and the E23 7-series. He also penned the two 1970s BMW Turbo concept cars, the functional design studies that presaged Munich’s M1 supercar. Shortly after leaving BMW, he landed at Peugeot, where he designed interiors for more than two decades. He now lives in France, where he devotes his time to his career as a world-renowned painter.
1971 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman
Engine 6329cc all-alloy V8, SOHC, two valves per cylinder, Bosch D-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection
Power 250bhp @ 4000rpm
Torque 369lb ft @ 2800rpm
Transmission Four-speed auto, limited-slip diff
Steering Recirculating ball, power-assisted
Suspension Self-levelling air-suspension, adjustable damping, torsion bar stabilisers, rear swing-axle
Brakes Discs all round, servo-assisted
Weight 2640kg Performance
Top speed 125mph; 0-60mph 9.0sec
The world would be a poorer place without the 600. Respect.
#1098
03-20-2015, 09:33 AM
Monaco
Top Marques 2015
Monaco gears up for Top Marques 2015
A remarkable flying car will be one the of main attractions at this year's Top Marques Monaco. The Principality is gearing up for the annual live supercar show in April, which will also include a 1,341 horsepower supercar. Top Marques Monaco, which was founded in 2004, is the third biggest event on the Principality’s calendar. Taking place from 16th-19th April, VIP visitors will have the chance to test-drive the world’s most bespoke cars around the iconic Formula 1 track. More than 60 vehicles, including the Zenvo ST1 Evantra by Mazzanti and the Lexus RC-F, will be on show at the Grimaldi Forum, available for test-drives and of course for sale. This year there will be a record-breaking seven world launches, as five supercars and two motorbikes make their global debut at Top Marques Monaco.
But potentially stealing the show will be a flying car. The Aeromobil 3.0 is the world’s most advanced prototype of such a concept, introduced for the first time at the event next month. The vehicle is able to transform between car and plane, boasting a flying range of more than 690km, and speeds of up to 280km/hour in the air. The Aeromobil is set for launch in 2017, and therefore will be the only vehicle at the event which is not yet for sale. “For our 12th edition we have sought out the best of the best for our visitors from a flying car to a 1,341 horsepower supercar,” said Steven Saltzman, director of Top Marques. “They are the visionaries of the future. In fact, if you think about it, this exhibition is really about showing you a glimpse of tomorrow, today!”
In an unprecedented partnership, a selection of the very best vehicles from Top Marques will also be displayed in the Monte Carlo Casino for the famous venue’s first ever supercar exhibition. As well as road – and air – vehicles, there will also be a record number of superyachts on show on the Esplanade, ready to be test-driven in the surrounding waters. But it’s not just about fast cars. The event also focuses on other aspects of luxury lifestyle, hosting nearly 40 exclusive brands of jewellery, watches and other extravagant products.
The Aeromobil 3.0
Top Marques 2015
Monaco gears up for Top Marques 2015
A remarkable flying car will be one the of main attractions at this year's Top Marques Monaco. The Principality is gearing up for the annual live supercar show in April, which will also include a 1,341 horsepower supercar. Top Marques Monaco, which was founded in 2004, is the third biggest event on the Principality’s calendar. Taking place from 16th-19th April, VIP visitors will have the chance to test-drive the world’s most bespoke cars around the iconic Formula 1 track. More than 60 vehicles, including the Zenvo ST1 Evantra by Mazzanti and the Lexus RC-F, will be on show at the Grimaldi Forum, available for test-drives and of course for sale. This year there will be a record-breaking seven world launches, as five supercars and two motorbikes make their global debut at Top Marques Monaco.
But potentially stealing the show will be a flying car. The Aeromobil 3.0 is the world’s most advanced prototype of such a concept, introduced for the first time at the event next month. The vehicle is able to transform between car and plane, boasting a flying range of more than 690km, and speeds of up to 280km/hour in the air. The Aeromobil is set for launch in 2017, and therefore will be the only vehicle at the event which is not yet for sale. “For our 12th edition we have sought out the best of the best for our visitors from a flying car to a 1,341 horsepower supercar,” said Steven Saltzman, director of Top Marques. “They are the visionaries of the future. In fact, if you think about it, this exhibition is really about showing you a glimpse of tomorrow, today!”
In an unprecedented partnership, a selection of the very best vehicles from Top Marques will also be displayed in the Monte Carlo Casino for the famous venue’s first ever supercar exhibition. As well as road – and air – vehicles, there will also be a record number of superyachts on show on the Esplanade, ready to be test-driven in the surrounding waters. But it’s not just about fast cars. The event also focuses on other aspects of luxury lifestyle, hosting nearly 40 exclusive brands of jewellery, watches and other extravagant products.
The Aeromobil 3.0
#1099
03-20-2015, 09:51 AM
Monaco
Top Marques 2015
Zenvo ST1 2015
Danish supercar startup Zenvo first burst onto the scene back in 2008 when it rolled out a pre-production prototype for its ST1 supercar.
Now they have launched a new version. The most significant update is a new sequential transmission that replaces the previous manual. The new transmission, sourced from Italy’s CIMA, features seven forward gears and a single clutch. Gear shifts are said to take place in as little as 35 milliseconds, making this one of the fastest shifting, single clutch transmissions in the world.
The 2015 ST1 include new wheel patterns, more luxurious items in the cabin, and some additional options. The other major exterior change is the upgrade to full-LED lighting technology with dual high-beam front lights for the ultimate style, safety and performance. Interior improvements include redesigned seats, a more modern looking center console as well as an improved media interface.
Zenvo plans to build just 15 examples of the ST1 before it moves on to its next supercar, a model dubbed the “ST2” that’s due in about five years. Currently, just two examples of the ST1 have been delivered to owners, but Zenvo has orders for another five cars. For an automaker that has just 20 employees on hand, Zenvo will remain extremely busy for some time to come.
Pricing for the Zenvo ST1 starts at 850,000 euros (approximately $950,102).
This green Zenvo looks awesome.....
Zenvo ST1 2015
Top Marques 2015
Zenvo ST1 2015
Danish supercar startup Zenvo first burst onto the scene back in 2008 when it rolled out a pre-production prototype for its ST1 supercar.
Now they have launched a new version. The most significant update is a new sequential transmission that replaces the previous manual. The new transmission, sourced from Italy’s CIMA, features seven forward gears and a single clutch. Gear shifts are said to take place in as little as 35 milliseconds, making this one of the fastest shifting, single clutch transmissions in the world.
The 2015 ST1 include new wheel patterns, more luxurious items in the cabin, and some additional options. The other major exterior change is the upgrade to full-LED lighting technology with dual high-beam front lights for the ultimate style, safety and performance. Interior improvements include redesigned seats, a more modern looking center console as well as an improved media interface.
Zenvo plans to build just 15 examples of the ST1 before it moves on to its next supercar, a model dubbed the “ST2” that’s due in about five years. Currently, just two examples of the ST1 have been delivered to owners, but Zenvo has orders for another five cars. For an automaker that has just 20 employees on hand, Zenvo will remain extremely busy for some time to come.
Pricing for the Zenvo ST1 starts at 850,000 euros (approximately $950,102).
This green Zenvo looks awesome.....
Zenvo ST1 2015
#1100
03-20-2015, 12:46 PM
French Riviera
The French Rivera. The truth.
Here in this thread you have all seen the nice automotive exotics & super yachts in Monaco, pop stars shopping in Nice, the beautiful supermodels - female movie stars at the Film Festival in Cannes and the azure blue water at the surrounding beaches of St.-Tropez. But under the surface, everything is quite different from what it appears to be....
The French Riviera is definitively not what it used to be. Follow this series, to learn about what is really going on....It's called ...."The French Rivera. The truth."
France is a shit country!
In the corridor after the match, which PSG lost to Bordeaux 3-2, a furious Ibrahimovic was caught on film swearing and railing against the referee. He can be clearly heard shouting in English: “Wake up, wake up … we’re not amateurs. ****ing asshole. "I’ve never seen this in my 15 years playing football. I’ve been playing for 15 years and I’ve never seen [good] refereeing in this shit country. They don’t even deserve PSG in this country.”
Zlatan, I said that a long time ago, and I have said it in this thread many times. And I bet you, the French Riviera is even worse than Paris. The French are so ****ed up. But unfortunately, our Paris Saint-Germain hero apologized. And that’s what’s wrong with the world. Legends aren’t supposed to apologize when they are right, especially on camera. I don't apologize if I am am right. BUT his "apologize" was awesome:
"I was angry in that moment. Whoever felt offended, or took it in a wrong way — if they took it — I mean, I apologize for that.” What does Zlatan not apologize for? What he actually said. However, he does apologize if you’re not smart enough to understand Zlatan. That’s why he said:
“I think the French people are intelligent enough to understand the situation.”
The brilliance of that comment is that if a French person doesn’t accept what Zlatan is saying, that person, by default, isn’t intelligent enough to understand the situation. And the French are stupid, so they will understand nothing. Zlatan wins both ways. He’s right, or someone else is stupid. While apologizing, Ibrahimovic also called himself “a man of honor,” which is accurate.
Zlatan I will have to agree with you when you say: “I have no regrets and nobody will change my opinion..... and that France is a shit country."
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's foul-mouthed rant against France ? video | Football | The Guardian
The French Rivera. The truth.
Here in this thread you have all seen the nice automotive exotics & super yachts in Monaco, pop stars shopping in Nice, the beautiful supermodels - female movie stars at the Film Festival in Cannes and the azure blue water at the surrounding beaches of St.-Tropez. But under the surface, everything is quite different from what it appears to be....
The French Riviera is definitively not what it used to be. Follow this series, to learn about what is really going on....It's called ...."The French Rivera. The truth."
France is a shit country!
In the corridor after the match, which PSG lost to Bordeaux 3-2, a furious Ibrahimovic was caught on film swearing and railing against the referee. He can be clearly heard shouting in English: “Wake up, wake up … we’re not amateurs. ****ing asshole. "I’ve never seen this in my 15 years playing football. I’ve been playing for 15 years and I’ve never seen [good] refereeing in this shit country. They don’t even deserve PSG in this country.”
Zlatan, I said that a long time ago, and I have said it in this thread many times. And I bet you, the French Riviera is even worse than Paris. The French are so ****ed up. But unfortunately, our Paris Saint-Germain hero apologized. And that’s what’s wrong with the world. Legends aren’t supposed to apologize when they are right, especially on camera. I don't apologize if I am am right. BUT his "apologize" was awesome:
"I was angry in that moment. Whoever felt offended, or took it in a wrong way — if they took it — I mean, I apologize for that.” What does Zlatan not apologize for? What he actually said. However, he does apologize if you’re not smart enough to understand Zlatan. That’s why he said:
“I think the French people are intelligent enough to understand the situation.”
The brilliance of that comment is that if a French person doesn’t accept what Zlatan is saying, that person, by default, isn’t intelligent enough to understand the situation. And the French are stupid, so they will understand nothing. Zlatan wins both ways. He’s right, or someone else is stupid. While apologizing, Ibrahimovic also called himself “a man of honor,” which is accurate.
Zlatan I will have to agree with you when you say: “I have no regrets and nobody will change my opinion..... and that France is a shit country."
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's foul-mouthed rant against France ? video | Football | The Guardian
Last edited by MONACO BODYGUARDS™; 03-20-2015 at 12:50 PM.