COOL (cheap) 'Daimler' accessory

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by ckigar

5 Minutes after I put the sticker on someone asked if it was one of those Indian cars for $2500...

The reason those expensive cars are sold as MERCEDES is that the DAIMLER patents and name had been licensed to (among others) a British concern that sold cars badged as Daimler. These were luxury automobiles favored by the royal family. As the Daimler Motor company wanted to sell in the UK, the name MERCEDES was used (this was the name of the daughter of one of the investors.)

The UK Daimler company was a subsidiary of BSA from 1910 up until 1960, when it became part of Jaguar and the brand was used for their luxury models. It was then a subsidiary of Ford's Premier Automotive Group but sold together with Jaguar and Land Rover to India's Tata Motors in March 2008. As of 2006, its production was limited to only one model, the Daimler Super Eight. The rights to the Daimler brand name - excluding those sold to Daimler AG of Germany - are now owned by TATA Motors of India, in addition to Jaguar and Land Rover, as well as Lanchester and Rover....

So... a car BADGED Daimler... is a TATA!

Do I hear the sound of anyone tearing their hair out yet?

or the sound of one hand clapping...
Old Gottlieb must be turning in his grave
karl

[spdickey]

Originally Posted by jwight

Help me out with this; take a look at this screenshot from the Daimler website:



Under the heading of Mercedes-Benz Cars, then Brands and Products, it shows Mercedes-Benz, smart and Maybach; so, does that make smart a Mercedes brand?

A smart is just as much a member of Mercedes-Benz Cars as Mercedes-Benz, AMG and Maybach are. I think the sticker is fitting!

[Karl Roth]

http://www.mbusa.com
and the American Importer says...LOL
karl

[Razorback]

If a person wants to personalize THEIR vehicle good for them. Who cares what they put on THEIR vehicle. It's not yours? Why at every opportunity will a person belittle someone or spout all the reasons that that person should be ashamed of what their doing with THEIR vehicle. I just don't get it. Can someone please explain why another person feels justified in such actions? I read these things all the time and am tired of such nonsense.

[spdickey]

Originally Posted by Karl Roth

http://www.mbusa.com
and the American Importer says...LOL
karl

Mercedes-Benz USA is NOT the importer of the smart. Diamler went around their USA distributor and dealer network to set up smartUSA with Penske. Makes it even more complicated!

Of course my smartie has a sticker that says DiamlerChrysler on it. But that doesn't make my smart a Dodge, either. Just a cousin now related by divorce.

[GiantKiller]

Originally Posted by spdickey

Mercedes-Benz USA is NOT the importer of the smart. Diamler went around their USA distributor and dealer network to set up smartUSA with Penske. Makes it even more complicated!

Of course my smartie has a sticker that says DiamlerChrysler on it. But that doesn't make my smart a Dodge, either. Just a cousin now related by divorce.

Hey I thought the name smart came from Swatch/Mercedes/Art.

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by spdickey

Mercedes-Benz USA is NOT the importer of the smart. Diamler went around their USA distributor and dealer network to set up smartUSA with Penske. Makes it even more complicated!

Of course my smartie has a sticker that says DiamlerChrysler on it. But that doesn't make my smart a Dodge, either. Just a cousin now related by divorce.

That they are not, was my point, I am glad Penskie took a chance and made it possible for us to have a car that was specifically produced for our market. We are in the third month of vehicle deliveries of this launch of the smart brand in the US. MBUSA wanted nothing to do with smart I want nothing to do with MBUSA. Glue what you want on the car.
karl

[74AMX304V8]

hey smarts built where Renault was,Schembri worked for American Motors Corporation,which was bought by Renault, Penske used to race AMC's, I'm stickin' some Javelin or AMX decals on it! ..I'll consider it an AMX for the new millenium!......Yee Haw......

[Evilution]

Originally Posted by Razorback

Can someone please explain why another person feels justified in such actions? I read these things all the time and am tired of such nonsense.

Because everyone has an opinion and forums give people the chance to express these opinions. It's called freedom of speech. You should know that, your country was founded on that motto.

The facts have to be presented in case the person adding the Merc badge honestly thought the smart was a Merc. This gives them a chance to see their error and consider not making it.

If it was a Merc, it would have a Merc badge as standard, it doesn't.

Yes it is Swatch/Mercedes/Art but that was coined 3 years before the car was built and a new company was started specially for it.

We have had many official smart events in Europe and it is quite normal for cars bearing Merc logos to be banned from any of the competitions, and that is by smart, they don't want people to think it is a Merc either.

[StevenM1TX]

Kind of a silly discussion, but from the Smart USA site, you will find the following quote when looking at the About Us page:

"smart remains a vital member of Mercedes-Benz Cars, a Daimler AG Company."

So it appears even Smart USA is not opposed to having the Mercedes connection.