Time to Hit the Road...

One of the things that always intrigued me about the Mercedes Benz 300SL Gull-Wing Coupe was the fitted luggage that was sold with it.

Every once in a while I will see one of those incredible cars and there lies the set of luggage, now a very elusive item for those already blessed with the means to own such a vehicle.

When I got the Crossfire I started surfing the web to see what I could learn about it.  I soon found a discussion group where talk about a set of luggage for the Crossfire came up.  While the luggage is not, strictly speaking, "fitted" in the same sense that the 300SL luggage was, it is designed specifically for Crossfire owners and evokes many design cues of the car.  Purchasers of the car new received these luggage sets in the mail.  As my car was purchased used, it did not come with the luggage.  I considered purchasing the luggage online but hesitated because the cost was just enough that I considered that it was money better spent in other ways.  I already had luggage and this would fall solidly into the "nice to have" category.

Then one day a chance meeting of a woman who asked me for help selling her beautiful car led to my acquiring a set of the luggage in exchange for my work to sell the car.  She got top dollar for her car and I got the luggage, brand new and never used!

Today's luggage has evolved from the days when it was more likely that the traveler went from cars to trains.  Now luggage must fit in "the overhead compartment" of a plane, and often will be carried by the owner for considerable distance before finally being checked or stowed.  It is very common to have wheels to ease this part of trips.  The Crossfire Touring Gear Carry On has wheels that imitate the factory wheels of the Crossfire.

The zipper pulls on all three pieces of luggage imitate the design of the air vents on the side of the Crossfire, right down to the strakes and vents.

Each piece also carries the Crossfire name and Chrysler badge.

The duffel has massive capacity.  To give it shape for the photographs I stuffed about two weeks worth of clothing into it and there was still room to spare!

Great detail in the Chrysler Badge!

 

The Satchel is likewise built to suck up large qualities of stuff.  Like the other pieces, it's badged and embossed with Crossfire and Chrysler logos.  Added to this is the repetition of the cars factory wheel pattern in the rivets that hold the unit together.  Lots of neat details!

So it's nice, sturdy, practical luggage.  But what about actually using it with the namesake car?  I loaded up the three pieces of gear and carried them out to the car.  It was possible for me to carry all three pieces without any trouble.  The Carry On has a loop to enable strapping an additional piece to the back, and the duffel has a generous padded strap for shoulder carrying.

As I noted, the luggage is not fitted.  The priority appears to be on assuring the luggage will fit onto commercial aircraft.  Notwithstanding that, the luggage does fit comfortably into the Crossfire. 

One could pretend that they're fitted because they do fit snugly with just a little side-to-side flexibility, and plenty of front-to-back room for a few other items.

The pattern pressed into the cars hood is repeated on the Carry On, so all in all, the luggage looks pleasing in the car.

 

I am not generally one of those who collect things and then keep them pristine.  I like to use my cars, and to me, an accessory like this was also made to be used.  Having said that, I will only use this gear when traveling entirely by car.  Luggage has a way of getting trashed when it's checked, and I have more efficient luggage for air travel.

Here's the info for registering the luggage.