As a life long car enthusiast, my first car owned was a 1941 Mercury purchased when I was thirteen. This took me through my early hot rod years. In 1964 a 1954 MGTF started me on sports cars and I owned several more including a Jaguar XK150 and a MGA which was my first restoration project. In 1967 while serving in the Navy in Newport Rhode Island I was fortunate to be able to purchase a 1959 Mercedes 300SL Roadster. This was one of my every day cars until 1981 when I purchased a 1970 Mercedes 250C in Atlanta Georgia. Today I still own both of these cars with the 300 going through its second restoration and the 250C completely restored.

Along with Mercedes the Jaguar marque has always been one of my favorites. In 1982 I purchased a 1967 Jaguar XKE 4.2 coupe. I finished restoring this car in 2008.

Going back to the hot rodding days I am in the process of

Married- Wife Barbara

Hidden behind what looks like an ordinary suburban home, lies a gem of a museum.
When you arrive you walk past a beautifully restored 1958 Isetta with all of 12
horsepower and then past a one owner white 1961 300SL. Next a large climate
controlled barn comes into view. What awaits inside is a gear head's paradise.

Inside is the world's largest collection of prewar BMW motorcycles. Each of the
bikes is shiny and all 150 of them run. Each bike has been restored by Peter
Nettesheim to a very high standard. One is currently being rebuilt, a custom BMW
prewar bike. The barn itself is bathed in light and it is super organized. There are
bikes, cars and airplanes hanging from the ceiling.

It is here that 25 lucky members spent their Saturday April 20th. The collection's
most valuable and historical pieces are in an adjacent building. The collection's
cornerstone is a 1923 BMW R32, one of the first 22 motorcycles ever built by BMW. Directly behind the bike is a large photograph of the BMW factory and very possibly a picture of that bike being built!

Mr. Nettesheim is not just a restorer of motorcycles but an archivist and historian.
He has spent much of his time locating files and collecting rare spare parts to kee p his collection mobile. He maintains electronic files on each of his motorcycles, recording what was done when, so they all remain in top running condition. The parts bins are located on the second story of the barn and they are impressive. Each drawer, bin and part is labeled and he keeps an up to date inventory.

After viewing the collection we were treated to a delicious lunch and desert that
had cupcakes with the Mercedes Star logo on top. Peter Nettesheim is a member of the NYC-LI Mercedes Club. Jan Van der Baan, Board member and Secretary arranged the event.

Article By Oliver Seligman

 

Carlisle Import and Kit Car Show, Carlisle, PA

Auto Cross at Lancaster Labs, Leola, PA,   

Deutsche Classic German Car Show, Oley, PA. 

Since 2006, hundreds of MBCA Members have enjoyed personally-guided tours of Stuttgart, Germany through their membership with MBCA. These adventure-packed excursions - organized and chaperoned by past National President, Jim O'Sullivan - are consistently given two thumbs up for their hospitality, unparalleled sight-seeing destinations and overall value.
 
Members revel in behind-the-scenes tours of the Mercedes-Benz Museum; the Stuttgart Brand Center; the Classic Center; the Unterturkheim Test Track; the Daimler Memorial and other spectacular venues. By popular demand, two tours are slated again for 2013. Tentative dates are  July 15-21, 2013  and again,  September 23-29, 2013.  

Space is limited. Please contact Jim O' Sullivan at osullivanj55@gmail.com or 843.671.2079 for complete details.  

Mercedes-Benz Cars, Sprinter Vans, Parts Cars, All models! Contact Lou at Gullwing Motors, Mineola, NY,  TEL : 516-742-3320