Getting pretty behind on these posts, as we're already back in the States, so gonna try to upload them in bulk. From where we left off, we're now heading down Champs Elysees, the famous shopping row of Paris. And what better way to start off than with some car pics eh? The new S class is still just beginning to reach its new owners and is easily my favorite looking S class in years.

Of course, nothing beats a good ole classic Bentley. I may have grown fond of the newer Continentals, but the old ones still ooze class.

What's this? And where did the windshield go?

Apparently it was used to break some records for diesel cars. Not sure what the records were, most likely speed-related, but it sure looked cool.

Got that 50's flare down.

I thought this was pretty nice for a dealership, adding a mini-museum inside, but I'd later learn this was a special treat that Champs Elysees would serve for all the dealerships along the street.

The Kart Up! Growing up I had a book about concept cars creatively titled "Concept Cars" by Jonathan Wood. Fun book for an adult, but absolutely amazing for a kid that couldn't stop soaking up everything in the automotive world. This was one of four little concept cars Peugeot introduced at some car show as part of a "City Toyz" group. Nothing significant came out of them, but of all the things I could have guessed to see while I was in Paris, this wasn't even on the list.

Sitting next to the Kart Up was a rather interesting firetruck concept. Looked like a life-size toy.

And here is a car they actually sold, the RCZ R. Kinda weird that a dealership had a handful of cars, but only actually sold one of them. Good looking cars though. I could see someone choosing this over a TT, looks sleeker.

Next up, Mercedes Benz. Fortunately, despite having them available Stateside, they had plenty to show that still fascinated me such as this gorgeous 300SL.

IMO, this is just one of those cars that's a rolling work of art. It looks amazing no matter what angle you're looking at it from. However, while it'd be fun to drive every now and then, this isn't the gen I'd want sitting in my garage.

Nope, for me, I prefer the understated W113. It's elegance lies with it's simplicity. It is as straight forward and un-messy as a design can get and for that it is the one that I'd chose over any other generation (although admittedly I would never imagine myself turning down a Gullwing).

Perhaps another reason why I like it so much is because this was the smallest of all the SL's, and while there are many large cars that are great, I don't believe that increasing a car's acreage directly increases the cars allure. I'll take small and simple over large and flashy any day.

Speaking of large and flashy, I like how G wagons are so unapologetically utilitarian with the general design. Like the Land Rover Defender, it is a design that has no design but because of it remains timeless. Unfortunately, it won't be long before Mercedes too decides it's been long enough and will give the car an overhaul. While MB's current design language as produced some real winners (have I mentioned I really enjoy the new S class before? Because I really do), it doesn't always translate well with some of the other platforms.

Such as their latest mass seller, the CLA. I like the S, E, and C, but as the package gets smaller and smaller, it begins to lose any stability in the design (formed with the longer lines of the longer sedans) and eventually turns into the roly poly that we see here. Some folks may like it and I'm sure it'll sell well, but it just doesn't feel like a balanced design to me.

Unlike this beauty here, which I find very well balanced. If there was any modern (well, 90's-'10's) GT I could one day have as my own, it'd be this battling it out with a new '13+ Aston Martin Vanquish. Mmmmmm....