# Bob and the Miracle Car: April 1974

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/bob-and-the-miracle-car-april-1974/53074>\
**Category:** The Show\
**Created:** [August 6, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bob-and-the-miracle-car-april-1974/53074 "2010-08-06T19:19:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mrwinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@mrwinky](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mrwinky)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bob-and-the-miracle-car-april-1974/53074/1 "2010-08-06T19:19:03Z")

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Regarding the July 26 puzzler, I’m stumped at identifying any car that fits the description.  
  
  
  
 What pre-1961 sedan came with with a manual transmission, a column-mounted shifter, an alternator, power windows, a diesel engine, and tail fins?  
  
  
  
 Does anybody know what it could be?

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**Author:** ![ignoramus9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d07c76/32.png) [@ignoramus9](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ignoramus9)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bob-and-the-miracle-car-april-1974/53074/2 "2010-08-06T19:21:05Z")

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the cord.

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**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 2:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bob-and-the-miracle-car-april-1974/53074/3 "2010-08-07T14:12:43Z")

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Probably a Citreon or a Mercedes Benz.

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**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bob-and-the-miracle-car-april-1974/53074/4 "2010-08-07T14:25:06Z")

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The 1961 Mercedes Benz Fintail had all the items that you stated. Since a lot of them were built in 1960 it could be considered a 14 year old vehicle. My uncle owned a couple of these vehicles back in the early 60’s and both were black.

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**Author:** ![mrwinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@mrwinky](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mrwinky)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bob-and-the-miracle-car-april-1974/53074/5 "2010-08-07T18:40:21Z")

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Thanx, missileman.

After posting the question, I subsequently found the 1961 MERCEDES BENZ E-Klasse “Kleine Heckflosse” (W110) 190Dc. But it still seems a bit of a stretch as an answer. The model was introduced in April 1961, so if it was built in 1960, Mercedes would have been sitting on a three month inventory of cars.

Plus, Bob was cruising around 80, though the car’s top speed is rated at 78 mph:

> **[MERCEDES BENZ E-Klasse "Kleine Heckflosse" (W110) specs - 1961, 1962, 1963,...](https://www.autoevolution.com/cars/mercedes-benz-e-klasse-kleine-heckflosse-w110-1961.html)**
>
> Heralding the inception of the successful "Fintail" dynasty, the W110 appeared as a little gorgeous four seater in the 1960's. Introduced with a choice of one petrol unit and a Diesel...

Guess I figured the correct puzzler answer should have included a make and model, not an unnamed (or obscure) diesel-engined car.

Oh well…