Three years ago, on a cool summer Friday night, I stood in the garage, tinkering under the hood of a BMW while my roommates threw a bit of a house party. Just me and a few friends, polishing up parts to escape the blaring music and obnoxious college drunks. Amidst the chit chat, over what exactly I fail to remember, two young guys walked up, eager to see what we were up to. “We saw the party and figured it was okay to walk up.
The design of the Mercedes Benz W108 line is one that has aged like a fine wine. As years go by, some car designs begin to look dated and they lose the charm they once had. Styling cues that followed the trends of the decade and spoke to the consumer market are replaced by the next hot thing and become less relevant. Amidst the flippant trends are designs that transcend and reach an iconic level and age with a certain elegance.
A Man of Details – Joe Dale’s 1969 Mercedes Benz W114 250
Mike BurroughsPhotography by Kevin Trower
When we first saw Joe Dale’s 1969 W114 Benz more than a year ago, it was, by all definitions, unique. It sat atop a set of MAEs and featured a hand-built brushed, cleared, and louvered hood. The paint was a dull brick color and had a classic patina that had worn through in many areas. The parts played off each other rather well, and for the casual enthusiast, the style could be considered complete.
From O.C. to O.C. – H2Oi 2012
Mike BurroughsFor the StanceWorks family, H2Oi comes as a chance to bring everyone together. While cars and car shows are what we do, there’s far more than automobiles to our weekend. We made the trip from Orange County, CA, to Ocean City, MD for one of the best weekends of the year.
Ess Kay – Zak Denman’s 1980 280TE Wagon
Mike BurroughsPhotography by Byza
There are a countless number of ways to build a car. The styles range from those rooted deep into certain cultures, such as the American Hot Rod and the real Japanese Bosozoku street sweepers, to styles that are widely applicable and are simply part of changing automotive traditions. Somewhere in the mix of it all is what defines a “cool” car. Unfortunately, it’s a very gray area, subject to personal tastes and matters of opinion.