B6 - Sunday, May 9, 1982 - North Shore News Ha auto By NANCY CAMPBELL THE SAME mentality that drives other people to display licence plate holders which read, “My other car is a Porsche,” drove me to the Olympian heights of the Salmon House on the Hill Thursday to drool over Mercedes-Benz’ newest Offenng for the rich, the 380SEC. Or maybe it was the free lunch. In any case, the Opportunity to join other media types, Mercedes owners and Daimler-Benz executives in a car and food orgy was just too much to pass up. The first hint of things to come was the parking lot — aside from the eight cars the company had on display (complete with flowers dnd lab-coated mechanics, yet!) there were a good 20 or so Mercedes scattered haphazardly here and there throughout the parking lot and adjoining street. My Toyota Corolla whimpered in mortification, as I'm sure the Cadillac parked next to it did. Exquisitely dressed executives inaudibly murmuring German hovered about the cars, reeling off information as efficiently as turbo engines about the models displayed. There were several sedan models, a juicy red 380SL convertible, the debutante 380SEC coupe but the real attracoon was the silver gullwing 300SL, replete with red leather intenor, enough chrome knobs to fly a jumbo and a history worth the telling. The executives clustered around it when they thought no one was looking. trying out the dnver’s seal, opening and closing the doors, marvelling over the aluminum body (only eight were built), checking every nook and cranny to see if the car had weathered its 27 years perfectly and Tecounting ws glorious racing history. The reason for this at- tention was that the car was the only one on display which 1s pnvately owned — and one which Mecedes seems to have in almost non- existant supply in its world- wide collection. lts pce was not tioned. PRICES ARE PAINFUL And when prices are mentioned, it's a_ painful expenence. Take your basic Mercedes, for example — a 240D. There's nothing like roughing it in a $28,000 car. The tag on the 380SEC is considerably steeper: $65,000. Yes, it’s out of this world (and possibly the next), but just (wo years ago you could buy a house for that money. Sull, it) almost seems worth it when you slide into cossetting squeak of sets, ghde your men- leat The candid camera approach VICTORIA (UPC) - Drivers in Vernon will start getting nabbed for running red lights at the end of the month — even if there are no policemen around. The B.C. highways ministry said Wednesday it would begin installation of TraffiPhot, “the newest innovation in traffic law enforcement,” at two. in- tersecuons in Vernon later this month. The device will take photographs at controlled intersections of vehicles that do not stop for red lights. In one-tenth of a second, the instrument will record the tme, date, hcence number and the length of time the red light was lit when the dnver went through it The photographic devices will be anstalled by the ministry of highways. but will be admimstered and controlled by the RCMP “Phas as a first for Brotsh Columbia in new technology for traffic Control” highways minister Alex Fraser said “Phe continucd en forcement of traffac repulabons by means at our disposal will undoubtedly assist us in what seems Co have become an increasingly dangerous practic AMC report BRAMPTON, Ont (UPC) Amencan Motors Canada Inc announced Wednesday Apnl passenger car sales increased 13 per cent over the same month last year but Jeep sales dropped to 65 per cent of the level attained 19 Apnil 1984 The company saint 2.624 AMC and Kenault cars were sold fast month M7 more than the same penmod last year) but only 1S2) Jecps were sold substantially down from last ycars April total of 4h) “Were very pleased to sec thas Strong tnproveimecat on passenper cas sales sand salen vice proesmdent larry Cunmy We hope that the recently announced — prce redus QGons for decp Cb S Ob and Scrambler models plus samme pod wheathe: will stimulate seame con sumer acthon in the fever wheel Udrive market he addled OOOO OOOE G OGHOOD 9 OOOOHOSOOOOOG008 DCLA RADA AX BAA AG 0 8 SOS OSS SS SO SSSSOSOSSUNSOOBSOES Vad tat tas C9 Os Cas as Oey Cl Motar homes extra Otter good May 15 ts ty ts Os Us Most Popular vohicios fingers over the high tech controls. peer out of your specially unted windows with the sun streaming onto your head through the state- of-the-art controlled sun roof and contemplate just how puny a mere 65 grand seems compared to the number of angels that fit on the head of a pin. BRAND NEW LEADER The 380SEC is the new flagship of Daimler-Benz’s North American product Even the executives were impressed line. replacing the 38O0SLC. Powered by a V-8 aluminum engine, it possesses a sleek body shape, an aerodynamic drag coefficient of just O35 and even ‘seal belt presenters’ — arms that extend the end of the belt to the passenger after the ignition is switched on. The intenor is) simply superb. and some of the funnest buttons to play with are those which give “infinite CONTINUE REDON PAGE BH He wanted wheels If you are going to rob someone. what better to steal than a getaway car? As a matter ..i fact, that’s all the armed man who held up Rod Stewart wanted. The gunman approached recently as the rock singer walked to his car on Los SO i ee er: 2 Eee as PLYMOUTH @ CHRYSLER -\ on Mg 1177 MARINE DRIVE « NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C. V7P IT1 (604) 980-6511 Sag0ec ae LIONS GATE CHRYSLER'S ANNUAL 3 SPRING SERVICE STEOIAl SERVICE INCLUDES: 1. ENGINE TUNE-UP Includes the following; Plugs, P.C.V. Valve, Fuel ‘Scope’ Test Ignition, Test Charging System and Service Emission Control 8:00 a.1718:00 p.m., Mon.-F el. “8:00 am. 6:00 p.m., Saturday | Angeles's Sunset Boulevard with his daughter, 3, and his secretary. He didn't ask for money. He just demanded the keys to Stewart's black 1977 Porsche Turbo Carrera Stewart complied and the thief made his getaway in the Porsche. Sons