A lady in a Mercedes yapping on the phone. An occurrence that is not strictly a modern phenomenon, as today’s picture shows. So, give us the caption that you would affix to this photo. I see several possibilities, but will keep my own yap shut (for now) so as not to impede your imaginations.
New for 1966! With our new Dail-a-Gear technology you can talk to your transmission directly thus avoiding those pesky missed gears.
Mercedes finally developed a knockoff of Edsel’s wildly successful Teletouch transmission.
Derek Flynt, We have been waiting for you.
I’ll just call down to the engine room and let them know we’re ready to get underway.
Love it!
Introducing our new portable phone! The “miniaturized’ transmitter is small enough to fit in the trunk of a car!
“Can you believe it Marge? The no good cheap so-and-so wouldn’t even get me one with an automatic transmission!”
Talk about distracted driving. A floor mounted rotary phone and a three (or four) on the tree!
4-speed manual. This is a Heckflosse (W110?) from ’65 or so, guessing from the strange vertical speedometer and the clearly visible clutch pedal.
Was this phone an actual option in the cars or is this a stage photo (more likely)? Were carphones even invented in the 60s?
I guess Sweden had a rotary-dial car phone system in 1960. I presume this picture may have been taken somewhere in Europe – that handset was never found on any American phone.
Before cellular technology, a few cars in major cities had mobile telephone service, using analog radios and dedicated mobile telephone operators.
A character study of President Lyndon Johnson on the PBS NewsHour website has this little story about LBJ, when he ran the US Senate in the 1950s: As Majority Leader, he was thrilled to be the first legislator in Washington with a car phone. When Everett Dirksen, Republican Minority Leader and a friendly rival, also acquired one, he telephoned Johnson’s limo to say that he was calling from his new car phone. “Can you hold on a minute, Ev?” Johnson asked. “My other phone is ringing.” ….
LOL.
Typical LBJ!
I’m currently reading the first volume of Robert Caro’s three- (soon to be four-) volume biography of LBJ, and that sounds entirely plausible. You may have liked or hated him, but what a fascinating figure.
He also had three TVs installed side-by-side in several locations in the White House, so he could watch the news on all three networks at once (and presumably hear what they were all saying about him).
Watch the film “Blow Up”. David Hemmings has one of these in his Rolls Royce and uses it a number of times during the movie. Basically, it was like a 1910 landline: You called up the operator, who connected to your call, then got back to you to let you know you could talk.
Operator, Deforst 9530 please. Nevermind, I’ve just smashed into a parked car.
Would this work better with right hand drive?
Scooby? Shaggy? You won’t believe where I’m calling you from. That’s right! Mr Oldfield’s Mercedes. He’s in the trunk mumbling something about “Pesky kids…”
Although Max liked the Mercedes, he decided to stick with his Sunbeam Tiger and shoe phone.
it’s a toss up between Agent 99 and Velma from ScoobyDoo! She’s pretty hot in a demure secretarial way. me like!
“Hello, Mr. Garmin? . . . . . I wrote down those directions you gave me, but they led me into this blind alley. . . . . Yes, I will hold while you recalculate.”
DINGDINGDING! We have a winnah!
“Ms. Davis later plowed directly through the brick wall pictured in this candid photo. Authorities say distracted driving may have been a contributing factor.”
What do you mean I’m getting a ticket for not using a hands free device? And what the hell is a bluetooth?
Recieving a TXT must be quite a trick
The obvious…”What does THIS button do….?”
You can tell this is an old photo, not because the car is old, not because the woman’s attire is from an earlier period, but because she’s trying to talk on the mobile phone instead of texting on it. I mean, who does that?
HA! Good point. You want me to TALK? On a PHONE??
Yeah… I’m hot… and good with my fingers. (wink wink)
Dial “M” for make-out!
The Mercedes-Benz Safe-T interior with the Western Electric Safe-T dial!
Your Safe-T way to travel!
No seatbelt using phone cops sweat on people like this to make their daily quota
You should see what the in dash nav looked like……
I remember reading something about a fighter in the Century series having an actual map that would move according to your current inertial calculated position but I can’t find it on Google. I’d bet it would look like that.
I found it! It was in the F-111 and HERE IS A PIC!! It’s the big round glowing thing in the middle. It’d be in use at just about the same time as the car…
Kinda of what they used for the tracker in Bonds DB5 in Goldfinger.
Her smug look says: “I’ve got one and you don’t!”.
Shock! Newly declassified Mercedes-Benz photos show they anticipated BMW’s I-drive by 40 years.
Bond didn’t care for her glasses, but had to admit that the new girl had skills that Moneypenny lacked.
Hello?…
Good morning Mr Bond…..
Yes, I will be there straightaway….
Yes, in the Mercedes. (click)
Dobie, this is Zelda. Chatsworth loaned me his Dad’s car; I’ll pick you up in 10 minutes.