>andrew what do you mean?  Mercedes owns chrysler, and freightliner.
>the Sprinters are not sold here in the US under the Mercedes marque,
>they are sold as freightliners or Dodges.   still the same mercedes
>tho..
>
>dont know where you think the VW LT series comes into this..  the
>LT's are VW, the Sprinters are Mercedes..

Chris, it's called badge-engineering. Your Lexus LS400 is in fact a
Toyota Celsior (and that's within the company): likewise your "Acura"
Legend is a Honda Legend. The badges are changed for the US (or
whatever) market.

Other examples:
Opel senator: Cadillac Cimmaron (spelling?)
Chevrolet Camaro: Pontiac Firebird
Suzuki Cultus (Swift) (late 80s): Pontiac Firefly, Chev something,
Holden Barina
Mazda Familia:  Mazda 323, Mazda GLC, Ford Laser, Mercury something in USA
Opel Kadett (late 70s): Isuzu Gemini, Holden Gemini, Buick Opel
Ford Sierra: Mercury Merkur
Mitsubishi Delica van: Hyundai H100
Holden Monaro: Pontiac GTO
Nissan Infiniti: Infinity Q45
Toyota Altezza: Lexus IS200/300

It's rife! The same car may be sold at the same time in the same
market under 3 different names, sometimes with minor or major
cosmetic differences, at times with zero difference apart from the
badges.

The Sprinter and LT are the same vehicle; they are probably made on
the same assembly line in the same factory. They get different
cosmetic nosejobs and dashboards. nd of course badges. This has come
up on the list before.

The other European vans are different, though sometimes similar,
designs. Though I have suspicions that the larger Mercedes campers
here are Ford Transits... I have yet, however, to see examples parked
side-by-side so that I can compare them.
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
64 (3) 473-8863
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Fossil preparator
Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut