karl k

Since Mr. MAFF (according to my 'Myth v Fact' post below) is going to the AMG factory in Bremen, Germany next month,- at their invitation,- I would like to suggest that he be nominated the "MB World Forum Honorary Ambassador" for this visit.

As such, AMG most likely would extend extraordinary courtesies, not offered to us less privileged mortals.

Mr. Maff has shown his talent for sharing insights via his posts and his photojournalistic presntation is simply commendable.

Mr. Vanos, I hummbly submit this suggestion for your kind consideration.

Karl K

Mr. Vanos

Well, your nomination has been accepted. Will this mean that we all need to pitch in and buy him a CL55 AMG F1 Edition with official counsel/ambassador plates so he can drive as fast as he wants anywhere he wants?? Heck, can I nominate myself?!!

karl k

Sure - you are the Forum CEO.

Ambassadors are usually independently wealthy, - unless they are career State Dept. types. pipe smoking, deep thinking, educated beyond intellect.

Thought a letter of intro. for Mr. Maff would carry some cloud with the Bremen AMG crowd (Kraut).

Maff

Well, what do I say?! I’m honoured to have been nominated, let alone accepted!

I’ll try my best next month, and I’ll make sure the digital camera’s working overtime. I’ll post a thread a bit nearer the time, and see if we can get some questions together for me to ask on behalf of the group.

Now, about that CL55 F1, shall I set-up a pay-pall account for the donations!???

LouZ

Looking over his credentials, he has a skeleton in the closet.......... a 1993 BMW Estate!

Oh wait, with a checkered past like that, he'll make a perfect politician. He gets my vote.

Maff

LOL! :o

Mr. Vanos

Matt,

I love your signature and new title!

Maff

It's looking good Mr. V !

I own a picture of a CL55 F1, I think that's as close as I'll get for awhile.

Blue Benz

Maff, how did you get invited to the AMG plant?

Maff

I originally applied to visit the factory through the MB lifestyle magazine invitation around summer 2000, but they couldn’t accommodate me at the time. A few months after the lady phoned and asked if I was interested in going in Feb this year, which I did. At the end of that trip she mentioned that there was going to be a private trip organised at the end of this year for about 8 of us, and asked if I would like to come along – and of course the answer was yes!

Blue Benz

Maff I remember the pictures you took from last time you went to the AMG factory, can you give me the link if it's still online?

Maff

Try http://www.maffs.org/2001amgfactory

And some from an AMG day in the UK: http://www.maffs.org/2000amgtrackday/

The server it's on is a bit wobbly at the mo.

Blue Benz

Thanks. I can't wait until I see the pics you take when you're going to go the factory again.

karl k

I found this in the the British Car Magazine CLASSIC DRIVER:

http://www.classicdriver.com/uk/maga...0.asp?id=10663

"Mercedes-subsidiary AMG doubles business year 2000`s turnovers.

The Stuttgart-based company Mercedes-AMG GmbH registers a gain of nearly 50% increased sales in the year 2000 – turnovers nearly at 6.000 million German Marks.

With more than 11.500 delivered cars during the last year – mostly to USA, Canada and Germany, the tuning company reached a new record in sales increase.

To be able to react to the increasing demand, AMG invested about 44 million German Marks in production and product development. By founding 50 new jobs, the amount of employees was enlarged to nearly 470.

Besides vehicles based on CLK, E- and M-Class, the AMG-S-Class S 55 and the CL-Coupe CL 55 were sold about 2.000 times."

Mr Ambassador, could you please obtain production stats for 2001/2002? I realize that it is priviledged info, but since Mercedes-AMG GmbH is a publicly held firm, those stats w/ projections are perhaps not so priveledged and are published in their annual report to their shareholders.

Many thanks & enjoy your trip!

Karl K