The Mercedes GL450 in Louisiana
Another great story in the journey was the Mercedes GL450 that we purchased in Louisiana.
My father and I flew down to Louisiana to meet a fine Southern gentleman who was selling the vehicle. He had originally purchased the Mercedes for a business he wanted to open, but things just were not working out the way he had hoped.
I had found the vehicle for sale online, and before we even flew out, we already had the deal lined up with the bank so that once everything checked out, we could call and have the wire sent.
This was one of those rare situations where the Mercedes GL450 pretty much did not need anything.
That almost never happens.
The gentleman selling it was clearly very skilled and had done work to the suspension himself. He had also recently had the vehicle repainted at a local Maaco — and they did a phenomenal job.
What made the trip even more memorable was the gentleman himself — a true class act.
After we looked at the vehicle, he took my father and me out for gumbo. That is something I will always remember.
By the time we got back, the bank was closing. He trusted the process and let us leave, knowing the wire would arrive in the morning.
So we drove that Mercedes all the way back to Indiana. It was a perfect drive.
This became another vehicle I tracked down from a promise I made to myself — to find these coaches, bring them back, and give them new life.
This Mercedes was one more chapter in that promise.
These were the for sale photos I found on limosforsale.com — listed out of New Orleans.
A Rare Turnkey Vehicle
It was such a delight to have a vehicle that I did not have to do much work to. Right out of the box, it was ready to go and serve our loyal clients.
That is extremely rare in this business.
Of course, there were a few things here and there, but for the most part, the Mercedes was in fantastic shape.
We did later replace one of the glass panels, as it had developed a crack. This was due to how the vehicle settled over time — the glass had been installed too close to the edge of the stretch.
Once the vehicle settled, it created a spider-line crack down the window. Aside from that, the vehicle truly was in excellent condition.
