RE: Chris Harris video: Hammer time

[LuS1fer]

Very cool. The Callaway Sledgehammer had a better Top Trumps name though.

[Leins]

JNR77 said:

I was recently looking at E500's in the classifieds; they seem to have caught the classic car bug; 2 months ago you could buy them for around £7-£8,000, now they have rocketed up to £14,000

Really? Missed that one, as all have been £10k+ for quite a few years as far as I've been seeing. Was it on mega-miles?

LuS1fer said:

Very cool. The Callaway Sledgehammer had a better Top Trumps name though.

Sounds like something you produce from a golf bag

[Vladster]

Trommel said:

Pretty sure one of the US magazines coined it.

The nickname came from Car and Track magazine in the US....they test drove the car and the phrase came from "When you put the Hammer down", as in when you give it a boot full of gas etc etc

[405dogvan]

r129sl said:

It has manual driver's side mirror adjustment because it is ergonomically superior: you know that, Chris.

The adjuster is within reach, it is at the thing being adjusted, it is quick and intuitive to use, it is lighter and more reliable than an electric adjuster. The passenger side is electrically adjustable so you can do it from the driver's seat.

I'm pretty sure the only reason manufs stopped doing that very sensible thing and put electrics on both mirrors is a mix of

a - not having to faff around between LHD and RHD
b - wanting your money for an expensive new mirror with motor internals etc. when you clout it

b is also the reason they put indicators into the mirrors - soon they'll be fitting them with bits made of unobtanium...

Truth be told tho, unless you share a car with someone, you don't even need a passenger electric mirror. I didn't even NOTICE I had electric mirrors on the 405 because they were where I needed em when I got it and I've never looked since (the adjuster is buried at the bottom of the drivers door and easily missed)

[Trommel]

Vladster said:

The nickname came from Car and Track magazine in the US....they test drove the car and the phrase came from "When you put the Hammer down", as in when you give it a boot full of gas etc etc

I have a feeling it came from this article in Autoweek:

Edited by Trommel on Thursday 30th August 14:34

[Leins]

405dogvan said:

I'm pretty sure the only reason manufs stopped doing that very sensible thing and put electrics on both mirrors is a mix of

a - not having to faff around between LHD and RHD
b - wanting your money for an expensive new mirror with motor internals etc. when you clout it

b is also the reason they put indicators into the mirrors - soon they'll be fitting them with bits made of unobtanium...

Truth be told tho, unless you share a car with someone, you don't even need a passenger electric mirror. I didn't even NOTICE I had electric mirrors on the 405 because they were where I needed em when I got it and I've never looked since (the adjuster is buried at the bottom of the drivers door and easily missed)

I also love the W124 trick of having a smaller passenger mirror, which no doubt improved the CD figure very slightly. Other than Audi, can't remember any other maufacturers doing this?

[anonymous-user]

how did i get to 37 without ever seeing one of these cars? that looks fantastic.

+1 for a monkey top 10 video and i demand it is an hour long. at least.

[Ollywood]

Leins said:

I also love the W124 trick of having a smaller passenger mirror, which no doubt improved the CD figure very slightly. Other than Audi, can't remember any other maufacturers doing this?

On my former W124 I always thought it was useful for reversing as you could see the kerb.

[carinaman]

Leins said:

I also love the W124 trick of having a smaller passenger mirror, which no doubt improved the CD figure very slightly. Other than Audi, can't remember any other maufacturers doing this?

Did Audi do that? I've never noticed or knew that.

The W201 190E had smaller passenger side mirrors for drag reduction.

[Soovy]

This car also gave the Callaway Corvette "Sledgehammer" its name before it set the 254mph record.

Apparently a German magazine ran a story about the Merc with the headline "Das is der Hammer" - Car and Driver apparently then said "If that's the Hammer, this is the Sledgehammer" and the name stuck!

Edited by Soovy on Thursday 30th August 15:30

[Gridl0k]

Leins said:

I also love the W124 trick of having a smaller passenger mirror, which no doubt improved the CD figure very slightly. Other than Audi, can't remember any other maufacturers doing this?

VW Lupo

[Gridl0k]

loose cannon said:

Trouble is if you tried that in a c43 you would have to sit whith a box of neutrals for an hour or so before it would drive again ;0)

Myth, really. Service the box and it's faultless. "Sealed for life" was always going to cause trouble.

I base this observation on personal experience

I'd give my left nut for a Hammer or a '73 500E (Brabus or AMG, either's fine!)

[Leins]

carinaman said:

Did Audi do that? I've never noticed or knew that.

The W201 190E had smaller passenger side mirrors for drag reduction.

Had always been under the assumption that this was the case with the B5 RS4, but looking at this pic I'm now not quite sure

Gridl0k said:

VW Lupo

Never knew about that one

Anyway, sorry, taking thread off-topic here

[daveco]

Great vid! Love these uber rare autobahn munchers.

If anyone has any experience with the SL73 I'd love to read about it. Saw one about a year ago and thought its rear axle was broken; far lower than a standard SL and the rear tyres looked massively wide

[Ollywood]

carinaman said:

Did Audi do that? I've never noticed or knew that.

The W201 190E had smaller passenger side mirrors for drag reduction.

The passengers mirror was taller and had different optics to the drivers. So it's not really better in the aerodynamics you can see more of the kerb.

[Veeayt]

Leins said:

carinaman said:

Did Audi do that? I've never noticed or knew that.

The W201 190E had smaller passenger side mirrors for drag reduction.

Had always been under the assumption that this was the case with the B5 RS4, but looking at this pic I'm now not quite sure

[carinaman]

Ollywood said:

carinaman said:

Did Audi do that? I've never noticed or knew that.

The W201 190E had smaller passenger side mirrors for drag reduction.

The passengers mirror was taller and had different optics to the drivers. So it's not really better in the aerodynamics you can see more of the kerb.

Thanks Ollywood. I didn't know that.

[4340BB]

gaz1234 said:

im sorry, didnt realise i had to ass lick every video ch makes.

If you don't like his videos don't watch them.
It's not rocket science.

[Leins]

Veeayt said:

To reduce drag, or to see the coral better?

[BenzM]

I'd love a W124 V8 but I'd have to use it as my daily so regrettably it doesn't stack up....... for now.

Sadly not an SL73 but a '95 SL60 is up for auction on Saturday. Done 30,000 miles, 410bhp, estimate £14-19k.

It's not the car for me but I hope an enthusiast goes for it.

http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/online-catalogue...