Mercedes stretched to fit the wealthy

Press, 8 May 1986, Page 33

Mercedes stretched to fit the wealthy

Although local assemblers or their advertising agents would have us believe that they are able to cosset Kiwis in limousines, it is an inescapable fact that these days such manufacturers of cars with a sound-proof division between the passengers and their driver

are as scarce as hens’ teeth.

In fact, most limousines originated as standard production saloons that have been "stretched” and modified in specialist body shops, such as the Bolton-based limousine specialist, Coleman Milne.

The latest offering from this British firm, that produces cars for the very socially acceptable or very wealthy, is a lengthened Mercedes 500 SEL.

Stretched by almost a metre in the wheelbase, the car sorts a new centre section grafted in by Coleman Milne.

The Bolton specialist also helps Ford move into the upper class by doing the same sort of thing with the Granada, which is also known as the Scorpio.

However, the Mercedes is the latest piece de resistance. The elongated car has an electricallyoperated glass division, a

separate air-conditioning system for the rear compartment and a pair of rearward-facing occasional seats.

A central console houses a colour television and a hi-fi video player. When the occupants tire of soapies and sound they can perk up with a drink. There is a refrigerator in

the console, while cut glass decanters and glasses are stored in special side panels.

Probably not so surprisingly, in view of the downward oil price trend and uneasy Middle East situation, the first stretched Mercedes is going to a Japanese business tycoon.

Coleman Milne is now working on plans for a six-door Mercedes limousine. It will be extended by considerably more than a metre. The price? Well, first buy your Mercedes 500 SEL and then expect to spend at least another SNZIOO,OOO. Maybe that is pocket

money to an Arab oil man or Japanese business tycoon, but for most New Zealanders the whole thing is an impossible dream. After all, the basic Mercedes would set you back around $191,000 at the moment! There is, it seems more to a limousine than meets the eye of an advertiser or the agency, both of which tend to suffer from tunnel vision.