Yankee Diesel ventured west to California’s Central Coast to experience one of the most coveted weeks in the collector car world. Amongst the dozens of events, auction houses, and OEMs, we found ourselves amongst thousands of enthusiasts, spectators, and professionals celebrating all aspects of automobile excellence. Although social media and industry magazines will quote the latest concept vehicles, the most powerful hypercars, and the most expensive auction results, we prefer the highlights that are true to our roots. Exploring many of the week’s events including Legends of the Autobahn, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca, and the 68th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance showcased an extensive selection of vehicles from the last 120 years. Many examples from the peak of mechanical fuel injection prevalence were scattered through the show fields and race paddocks. In this post, we hope you enjoy these unique and memorable excerpts from Monterey Car Week 2018.

Calibrating Mercedes-Benz fuel injection pumps to Bosch factory specifications is standard procedure at Yankee Diesel Inc. When Chris Abele Sr. of Autowerks in Port Chester, New York came to us, he was building something unique and needed a uniquely tuned fuel injection pump. Knowing that Chris Sr. and his son, Chris Jr., are off-road enthusiasts that also specialize in European vehicles, standard procedures quickly became guidelines as we learned about the project’s needs. Fast forward to today: both Father and son have their own 4×4 Jeep rock crawlers with custom built roll cage, long-travel suspensions with DANA60 ARB solid axles, and a Mercedes-Benz double overhead camshaft inline 6-cylinder turbodiesel engine (OM606) with stock 5-speed automatic transmission (722.6) and electronic shift controller.

Instantly recognizable by its gullwing doors and classic lines, the 300SL Gullwing (W198 I), and later on the 300SL Roadster (W198 II), are considered to be Mercedes-Benz icons. Originating from the 300 SL W194 racecar that premiered in the 1952 motorsports season, the 300SL Gullwing showcases incredible engineering accomplishments for the year 1954.

This post goes out to all the car nuts, petrol heads, tinkerers, self-proclaimed experts, pragmatists, and enthusiasts: we get it. It’s not always rational, or practical, but it is love. Whether you’re driving that old diesel Mercedes-Benz pushing half a million miles, returning that classic SL to its former glory, or have a special project that only you can envision, we’ve been there. Nearly thirty years after opening our doors, Yankee Diesel is now joining you online with the same expertise, attention to detail, and service that we have always provided. Our new website features many of the Bosch fuel injection pumps we service, and please check out our blog or follow us on Facebook for unique stories, photos, and technical articles that celebrate and preserve the golden age of mechanical fuel injection.