Posted on 07/27/2011 1:44:42 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
Sheryl Crow will be auctioning off her 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster to raise money for the tornado victims of Joplin, Mo. The money raised from the auction of the car will go to benefit the Joplin Schools Recovery Fund, a fund created by Community Foundation of the Ozarks and its Joplin-based affiliate, the Community Foundation of Southwest Missouri, Inc. A fitting charity for the former schoolteacher turned rock star.
Crow donated her car to Gooding & Company, an auction house in Pebble Beach, Ca., where it will go up for auction the weekend of Aug. 2oth and 21st. The “100 Miles from Memphis” singer said of the charitable act, “After the tornado in Joplin I was moved to help rebuild a city so close to where I grew up in Missouri. My hope is that the auction of my 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Roadster will bring in funds to help rebuild the schools in the area.”
The car has an estimated value of $50,000 – $80,000, but Crow is hoping to get $100,000 out of it for the Joplin Schools Recovery Fund. The car has been a favorite for her however she doesn’t drive it anymore so the next best thing to selling it was to raise awareness for the people of Joplin.
Louise Knauer, foundation vice president for the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, spoke of recent donations by Brad Pitt and his partner Angelina Jolie and of Sheryl Crow’s car auction, “It’s just great that they remember their roots and are paying attention.” Pitt and Jolie donated $500,000 to the foundation last month.
The tornado that hit Joplin, Mo. on May 22nd was the deadliest tornado the U.S. has seen since the early 1950s. Over 159 people lost their lives and over 30% of the city was destroyed. The community of Joplin has proven to be resilient in the wake of the destruction by pulling together and utilizing the help of celebrities who raise awareness to bring in funds for rebuilding.
Nice gesture, ugly car.
To me, it looks like someone tried to build a midget Corvette on the cheap, using parts from a Corvair.
Car wasn’t ugly..but very underpowered...I had one in the early 70’s...merging onto a highway was...well..exciting....you had to shift, and shift, and shift..
When I moved to Dallas in 1958 I noticed quite a few airline stewardesses drove 190SLs. Also, the first night after I moved in, I went to Sears to get some apartment stuff, and lo and behold, a 300SL Gullwing in the parking lot. I’m thinking this must be a high rollin’ place!
It must have looked different in real life. ;>)
MB originally viewed it as a ladies car..But it was soooo underpowered...and the gearing was sooo bad...I think 0-60 was like 84 seconds...
Me too. I believe her "one square" remark to be satire and a joke, and while I disagree with her politics, she seems to be a charitable person, and to that I say "good for her!"
In the 50s ....90% of Jewish people, and a good number of NYers..wouldn't own a German car..
The 300SL..had an option...a set of hand made leather fitted luggage for the trunk...today a set sells for $20k
The Gullwing was a pain to climb in and out of..and very hot in warm weather....door windows were worthless. The roadster is a gorgeous car...
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