Mercedes-Benz Urban Legends Part II
Urban legends are stories that are passed from person to person in an attempt to teach a lesson, make a moral point or share a joke. Although many urban legends are based on a grain of truth, some are outright fiction. Even those that are based in truth generally have so many details twisted and changed that they are no longer strictly true. Nonetheless, the stories persist because they capture the imagination.
Many urban legends surround companies that are well-respected and enjoy a brisk business. Whether it is a fear of what we view as impersonal corporations, a desire to knock an empire down a peg or two or a simple love of seeing the little guy get his revenge, corporate urban legends tend to be extremely long-lived and strongly believed.
Mercedes-Benz is not impervious to the urban legend rumor mill. Yesterday, we presented the story of the joystick-controlled Mercedes. Today, we will touch on a legend that has much less to do with Mercedes itself and more to do with how we feel about the big oil companies.
Diamond Mercedes
With gas prices continuing to skyrocket, many people have a few choice words for what they perceive as the greed of Middle Eastern sheiks drunk with the power that an unlimited supply of oil wealth can provide. It becomes easy to believe the worst of people when we feel (rightly or wrongly) that they are taking advantage of us.
A set of pictures has been making the rounds of the internet recently, that allegedly depict a $4.8 million diamond encrusted Mercedes-Benz. According to the legend, the Mercedes was custom designed for an oil-rich sheik. It is allegedly on display, but the sheik charges $1000 to touch the car.
However, according to Snopes, this legend is simply untrue. The photos are real, but are of a Mercedes SL 600 encrusted with Swarovski crystals worth $1 million. The car does not belong to a sheik, but was an exhibit car at the DUB Magazine Custom Auto Show & Concert Tour. The vehicle will be on display again at the November 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. The car was not purchased with gasoline dollars at all.
Urban legends are fun to pass around, but it is wise to be skeptical. Like most legends, this one has a grain of truth that has been widely expanded into a frustrated and untrue tale. If you know of any Mercedes legends, we would love to hear them! Feel free to join us in our Mercedes forums. You can also share your thoughts at Benz Insider or eMercedesBenz.
Filed Under: Mercedes-Benz
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