Does anyone know this car?

[gtrew]

Interesting example - previously owned by Paul Keating.

Has anyone come across this car before?

https://cars.allbids.com.au/c/allbids-c ... v8-1386996

[John Green]

I can confirm it is Paul's old car. When he was licked out of office his comcar driver Jimmy refused to drive John Howard around and retired on the spot. Paul gave him this car and we maintained it for him. Jimmy has since passed away and his son is now selling it. It was on Carsales or some similar platform for some time at over $100k which IMHO was a bit optimistic.

At a guess they don't understand the air suspension setting as most of the pictures are taken with it in the raised position, hence the odd positive camber on the rear wheels.

[tsharkey]

Hi John - Did they come with the Americana lights or is that a common after market update ?

[CraigB]

I think the 300 and 3.5 came with those headlights in australia, but often added to other models.

Nice car and nice story - Love a car with a story. Service book to 99k in 1983, so is that 187 or 287 on the clock?

[T-Modell]

Craig, you're not John ... as far as I know, the 3.5 and 6.3 always had the double lights.

To come to the original question: Mr. Keating is still alive, so he might know the car
Thomas

[John Green]

Hi John - Did they come with the Americana lights or is that a common after market update ?

Yes, but you will see a few of these around with the "tombstone" headlamps. These are cars where the original owner got the dealer to change them before delivery as they preferred the more traditional look.

[Ivanerrol]

Interestingly, the Prime Ministerial vehicle used by Gough and Malcolm Frazer was a 450SEL.

During the early '90's pilot strike, the chauffeuring company I was associated with was the backup for the Com-car fleet in Melbourne.
A job came through which was to pick up a bunch of Labor pollies out at the airport. They were flying around in RAAF planes.
I went out to the airport with 2 of my colleagues - al in W126's
A certain ex quizkid who was at the time the leader of the political labor party refused to get in a Mercedes - he wanted an "Australian car".
His colleagues had no such qualms and piled in- we left quizkid on the tarmac waiting for a "white taxi" Ford.

The "Bodgie" always insisted on sitting in the front passenger seat, much to the consternation of his security detail.

[matthewz108]

Hi John - Did they come with the Americana lights or is that a common after market update ?

Yes, but you will see a few of these around with the "tombstone" headlamps. These are cars where the original owner got the dealer to change them before delivery as they preferred the more traditional look.

just like my W108 3.5. probably to get better performance from the lights?

[John Green]

Interesting example - previously owned by Paul Keating.
https://cars.allbids.com.au/c/allbids-c ... v8-1386996

Last bid at $71500 is quite good. But, the site dosn't say if it sold or not? It was on Carsales for a month or so at $120K