An antique Mercedes-Benz manufactured in 1961 was driven from Taichung to Taitung on Sept. 18. When this classic old-timer, a Mercedes-Benz 230, hit the road, it caused a sensation, and when it was parked in the square at Taitung City’s Tienhou Temple in the morning that day, it immediately became the focus of attention. The question that everyone was asking was, “Does it run?”
The owner, Li Shih-chang, drove it all the way from Taichung to Taitung without a hitch. When asked how fast it can go, he said the car could easily do up to 150km per hour, but that old cars are not used for racing; 80km per hour is the perfect speed on the freeway, because it saves the old car from being abused while still being fashionable. Throughout the trip, other drivers would roll down their windows to give him a thumbs-up, and that made him feel really good.
Li, the director of the Classic Cars Association of Taiwan, said that although the car had gone through considerable repairs, the leather seats were the original ones from 1961, and the steering wheel is made of ivory, and has that material’s natural pattern of cracks. Originally, this old Mercedes-Benz was not equipped with air conditioning, but that was added later on and it is strong enough for Taiwan’s high temperatures.
Photo: Huang Ming-tang, Taipei Times
照片: 自由時報記者黃明堂攝
Li made the trip because he was to take part in an activity in Guanshan Township, and he stressed that his association is willing to collaborate with the local residents in promoting culture, creativity and travel.
(Liberty Times, Translated by Ethan Zhan)
一輛一九六一年出廠的老賓士九月十八日從台中開來台東,經典老車閃亮上路,十分拉風。這輛老賓士二三○九月十八日上午停放在台東市天后宮廣場,立即引來不少香客注目,大家共同的疑問是:「它還能跑嗎?」
車主李世昌開著它從台中一路順暢抵達台東。「跑多快?」他說跑到時速一百五十公里沒問題;不過,老車不是拿來飆速用的,在高速公路開時速八十剛剛好,既不虐待老車,又很拉風。一路都有人搖下車窗比「讚」,感覺真好。
李世昌是台灣經典老車協會理事長,他說這部車雖然有經過不小幅的整修,但皮椅還是一九六一年出廠那一套,方向盤則是象牙製,保有自然龜裂的紋路。這台老賓士原本是無冷氣車款,但已加裝冷氣,且夠冷,不怕台灣的熱天氣。
李世昌此行是到關山參加活動,強調老車協會願與地方合作一起推動文創及觀光行銷。
〔自由時報記者黃明堂/台東報導〕
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