Tom Hanson - MB Classic Center USA

[jnes]

ADMIN NOTE: This thread was cleaved off of the HOW-TO on Rear SLS Strut Replacement, located here.

Note that there is another thread here on the forum about Tom's retirement, located here.



Great. I have purchased those mounting kits separately..

@jnes, try contacting the MB Classic Center in Irvine, CA. They may sell them around $400 USD each plus international shipping. Not many USA vendors will ship internationally.

Thanks for the tip! By the way does Tom Hanson still work with MB CC at Irwine CA? I have ordered him from the past..

 

[gsxr]

Tom Hanson was still working there in Jan-2021, but IIRC he has since retired? @Jlaa, do you remember?

 

[gerryvz]

He has retired as of March 31, 2022.

 

[sheward]

Tom Hanson passed away last year.

 

[gsxr]

Tom Hanson passed away last year.

Wait. WHAT? Right after retirement?!

 

[TerryA]

Tom Hanson passed away last year.

That’s sad to hear. I spoke to him by phone just before he retired. He told me that he really had a bad time with Covid and was still feeling the after affects.

Life is not always fair. You work your whole life looking forward to retirement Retire and die. That really sucks.

 

[sheward]

I'm sorry I can't remember any details. Like you, I talked with Him just before retirement. He was working from home and dealing with serious health issues. I may have heard of his passing with a subsequent call to The Classic Center or through another outlet.

 

[Glen]

Damn, I spoke to him just prior to his retirement too. Very sad news.

 

[szvook]

Oh man, such a nice guy. RIP.

 

[Sam SL]

Yes, such a nice guy. RIP Tom, so sad to learn this news. When I was in Irvine about 14 years ago he gave me a tour of the Classic Ctr.

 

[AMG5PT4]

Hate to hear about someone who passes away just after retiring. Just not fair. I can't wait to call it quits. A couple of car sales and I will.

Tom was a real peach of a guy and always helpful.

Sigh

 

[Jlaa]

Tom Hanson passed away last year.

Oh man that's sooooooooo unfair. This sucks.

 

[Jlaa]

Hate to hear about someone who passes away just after retiring. Just not fair. I cant wait to call it quits. A couple of car sales and I will.

Sigh

May I humbly suggest: If you are looking forward to doing so, do not delay. Time waits for no man.

 

[chicky]

sorry to learn of his passing ... he had helped with my orders and shipping to Manila. I knew of his retirement thou, and had orders processed by his replacement.

Rest In Peace Tom H

 

[Sam SL]

May I humbly suggest: If you are looking forward to doing so, do not delay. Time waits for no man.

I turn 65 this year and I retired at the end of 06. At the time some of my friends advised against my decision that even I questioned it for a few years following. Nowadays there is no doubt in my mind I made the right choice. Having said that retirement is not for everyone. It is so very sad to hear of Tom's retirement and his passing soon after. I think we hear stories like that all the time.

 

[alabbasi]

Sad news. When I was fairly green with these old cars, in my 20's and living in a 1 bedroom apartment in Dallas, I bought a W108 280SEL 4.5 that needed sorted and got taken to the cleaners by one of the local mechanics who must have seen me a mile away. Tom got in touch and told me to go see David Poole, who was an Australian mechanic that specialized in Mercedes Benz. David helped me and we became very close friends until he passed away in 2012.

Tom was a good guy.

 

[luckymike]

I'm so very sorry to hear this. Tom helped me early on with ordering a euro headlight lens for my SEC when my dealer wouldn't do it. When in Irvine once, I met him and he was so friendly. He helped me later with parts cost estimates for two accidents our cars were in. Always there for the DIY owners.

 

[sheward]

I ordered most everything thru Tom. I never met Him, but I know I would have liked Him from the friendly, helpful voice of a man that lived, worked, and transitioned thru changing times. It's reaffirming to hear so many others felt the same.

 

[chicky]

I ordered most everything thru Tom. I never met Him, but I know I would have liked Him from the friendly, helpful voice of a man that lived, worked, and transitioned thru changing times. Its reaffirming to hear so many others felt the same.

If I may share sheward, I too never met him personally ... even when I made a trip to the Irvine MB Classic Center in 2018, I asked the receptionist if it would be possible to meet him, he was busy on the phone with a client. He did send someone to help me with purchases and even to take my pictures during the visit. "What a guy" in a good sense

 

[nocfn]

I met with Tom the few times I was in socal. My last interaction on the phone was about a week after the epc was phased out, and he was recovering from Covid, before his retirement. I got to wish him well, and thanked him for his dedication to the marque and to the people he served and truly helped. We shared some other personal issues/moments that I will keep to myself. We will miss you Tom - you were a gem!

 

[daantjie]

Indeed a true gentleman, very sad to hear of his passing. He was always super quick to respond via email and went over and above to handle the odd miss shipped order. RIP Benz Brother.

 

[LWB250]

Funny story about Tom:

I rarely talked to the Classic Center, as my dealer guy is sharp enough with older cars they rarely had to go to the well for information. I was looking for a headliner for the 1965 220SEb I was restoring at the time, and found two possible part numbers it could be. I couldn't identify which one was correct, nor could my dealer guy, so I called Tom.

He was able to find a build ticket for the car which solved the problem of identification of the part. But in closing, he told me, "You're wasting your time, something like this will surely be NLA."

My dealer guy had already checked Paragon, and sure enough there were a bunch of both parts in Germany, and they were cheap, too, like $150.

I asked Tom if he wanted to wager on that, but he declined. I then told him about the inventory in Germany and he was floored. Told me he owed me one, which I was never able to collect.

Nice guy, truly the epitome of a customer oriented employee. My dealer parts guys are like that, too. Not many around like that anymore, sadly.

Dan

 

[Bogeyman]

Tom's the reason I got my Euro headlights. I couldn't thank him enough.

 

[Grant V]

It's not often that one gets to bring back someone from the dead, but I'm pleased to report that Tom is alive and well, and living in St. Bernardino. He's amused by the kind responses on the thread and would like you to know that nobody can get rid of him that easily.

 

[sheward]

I'm so sorry! I must have misunderstood a comment or just plain misheard. My apologies to everyone! I'm so glad to hear this.

Thank You.

 

[gerryvz]

Its not often that one gets to bring back someone from the dead, but Im pleased to report that Tom is alive and well, and living in St. Bernardino. Hes amused by the kind responses on the thread and would like you to know that nobody can get rid of him that easily.

He has retired as of March 31, 2022.

Yeah, I was seriously scratching my head for days with the announcement of his demise, per my comment that he had retired.

And why I didn't add my "condolences" to the thread -- becuase as far as I knew, he was just retired, but certainly not "no longer with us."

I'm glad to have my knowledge confirmed. And happier that Tom is alive, well and nicely retired after a great career.

 

[nocfn]

Well thats good news indeed. Perhaps he can be given this forum info so he can log on and see his tributes!!

 

[daantjie]

Now he can truly say "rumours of my death are greatly exaggerated"!

 

[Trae]

Glad to read this!

 

[tomhanson]

Wait. WHAT? Right after retirement?!

I’m not dead!!! (Yet )

 

[sheward]

So sorry, Tom!!!!

I've never been so glad to be wrong.

 

[Grant V]

He has risen!!

 

[036]

Germans say "The dead live longer". So.