TAXI!

The idea of running a Mercedes as a taxi has always seemed a bit incongruous here in New Zealand, where much more mundane but long-legged Holdens and Falcons did the bulk of the work — while they were in production, anyway.

Here, Mercedes were almost always the preserve of the executive class — exotic, expensive, and pampered, as any repairs would come with a hefty price tag. Of course, in markets closer to Germany, Mercs weren’t as dear to fix and the extra cost was offset anyway by the car’s durable construction. The brand’s MB Tex vinyl upholstery, for example, would last twice as long as leather or fabric alternatives. The car’s metal was thicker than rivals’, the moving parts were the product of careful development and,