Author Topic: New (ecstatic) 113 owner  (Read 10073 times)

johnshenry

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New (ecstatic) 113 owner
« on: November 08, 2009, 01:25:41 »
Well after 1.5 years, and lots of reading here, watching all kinds of sales and asking lots of questions, I am now (for about 2 hours now) a pagoda owner.  I have had vintage VWs for the last 20+ years, and still have 3 of them, but started looking for a 113 a while ago.  I have always loved these cars and life is short....!

A '69 280SL was advertised in Craigslist and was about 30 minutes away from me.  I looked once, test drove, and went and looked again after reading the "buying" stuff in the tech section here.  The car drives wonderfully, only issue is I went to check the heater controls and I literally only touched it and it fell off in my hand.  Common problem, cheap part, but all day job, I can handle it.

This car has its original engine with 110k miles, number on top matches the body #, new tires, new black soft top, seems to run and drive great.  The PO had it for 10 years and drove it about 1000 miles a year.  Claims interior is all original, it looks it.  Only other issue I found is that the bottom of one of the frame rails in the back, feels a little "soft" on the bottom.  Other one like the side of a battleship.

Sadly, I may not register and this and be able to drive it until spring.  It is technically a gift for my wife for our 20th next May.  I will order a vanity plate "HER 280" and that takes 6-8 weeks.  By time that gets in, winter will have a chokehold on us here in New England.  But it will give me time to go over the car in my heated shop, fix the heater controls and anticipate the spring.

Anyway, here are some pics.  I am hard core vintage guy, I run a part time hobby-business making some parts for very early VWs (zarwerks.com), and basically do all my own work.  Please let me know what you think from the pics.  I hca tell you the name and specs of the 4 companies that made fender bolts for split window VWs but I really don't know the "details" of the 113s.

Yet.



























SteveK

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Re: New (ecstatic) 113 owner
« Reply #1 on: November 08, 2009, 01:53:41 »
Very nice, looks like it's in great shape for lots of small winter projects.  My trunk looked exactly like yours when I bought my 230 a year ago.   I hit it with some POR15 until I decided it becomes a priority, which may never happen ;).  I predict a fun winter for you!

KevinC

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Re: New (ecstatic) 113 owner
« Reply #2 on: November 08, 2009, 02:18:40 »
The car looks nice. Where are you in MA? I bring my 113 to a few Massachusetts MBCA events each year. You may want to join as well, if you aren't already a member!

w113dude

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Re: New (ecstatic) 113 owner
« Reply #3 on: November 08, 2009, 02:41:01 »
Very nice car, there is not much work to be done!
Why wait till next spring? if it's a nice dry sunny day, why not drive it? For those of us on the east cost good driving season is way too short & can't be too choosy if we want to enjoy out Pagodas. Right?

After spending all winter tinkering with this car your wife will soon realize that the vanity plate should have said "HIS 280"  :D

Congrats,

johnshenry

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Re: New (ecstatic) 113 owner
« Reply #4 on: November 08, 2009, 03:09:25 »
The car looks nice. Where are you in MA? I bring my 113 to a few Massachusetts MBCA events each year. You may want to join as well, if you aren't already a member!

I'm in Dunstable.  My wife and I went to Mercedes day at Lars Anderson in Brookline in '08.  Will go in '10 in our new ride for sure!

sjiatrou

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Re: New (ecstatic) 113 owner
« Reply #5 on: November 08, 2009, 04:11:36 »
Is that the Caviar interior (code 116)?  If it is I recommend you hold on to those carpets. You can't find that color anywhere! 

Welcome aboard!

Steve

johnshenry

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Re: New (ecstatic) 113 owner
« Reply #6 on: November 08, 2009, 04:42:27 »
Is that the Caviar interior (code 116)?  If it is I recommend you hold on to those carpets. You can't find that color anywhere! 

Welcome aboard!

Steve

How can I tell?  I don't have the data card, would like to get one. If it is really rare, should I remove it if I am going to driving the car and put some after market thing in there for "everyday use"???

Flyair

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Re: New (ecstatic) 113 owner
« Reply #7 on: November 08, 2009, 07:05:37 »
Hi
I am sure that now you will have to switch the main focus  ;D Having looked at your pics, this will be definitely MB and not VW
Stan
1971 280SL
2011 SL550 AMG
2011 GL
2015 GLA

johnshenry

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Re: New (ecstatic) 113 owner
« Reply #8 on: November 08, 2009, 23:33:56 »
My '57 Beetle I spent 8 years restoring (thebugshop.org) and finished in '99.  Have put 11,300 miles on it:



My 1950 Sunroof Beetle, currently for sale:



I'll always be a VW guy, but will enjoy this Benz.

Was 65 degrees today, was killing me not to be able to take the 113 for a drive.  It is in my storage bay and my wife doesn't even know it is there!!

KevinC

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Re: New (ecstatic) 113 owner
« Reply #9 on: November 08, 2009, 23:43:56 »
The V-Dubs look great. My wife and I went to the Lars Anserson event this year. 12 113's!

bossanov

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Re: New (ecstatic) 113 owner
« Reply #10 on: November 10, 2009, 01:45:48 »
That Pagoda looks Great! And from your VW pics, I predict that the Pagoda is going to be a real gem in a year or two.

BTW, keep her dry.

Best Regards,
Bossanov
'71 280SL Horizon Blue (under restoration)

cascadia

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Re: New (ecstatic) 113 owner
« Reply #11 on: November 10, 2009, 06:16:23 »
Congrats on your new purchase!  Have fun!
Bob in Portland, Oregon.

Ulf

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Re: New (ecstatic) 113 owner
« Reply #12 on: November 10, 2009, 13:52:57 »
Congratulations! I vividly remember the feeling of buying a Pagoda - and the good thing is that you almost get the same feeling every time you drive it after not driving it for a while. My car is garaged in my summer house about an hour north of Copenhagen. I don't go there very often during the cold season, but when I do - the first thing I do is to take the Pagoda for a spin...
Hope your car will provide you with as much pleasure, pride and adventure as mine does for me!

Best regards

Ulf
1965 230 SL in silver (DB180)
1982 Land Rover Series III SWB
2008 Jaguar XF 3.0
2005 Mini Cooper

johnshenry

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Re: New (ecstatic) 113 owner
« Reply #13 on: November 13, 2009, 16:21:44 »
Ok!   Looks like we'll be on the road Sunday! 

Gave my wife the keys in an anniversary card last night, wrapped  red ribbon on the new 280.  She loved it.  She picked up the insurance paperwork at the post office today, and I'm meeting her at the registry this afternoon to get plates.  Tomorrow we get this east coast storm all day, but Sunday is supposed to be mid 60s and sunny.  So I invited her to feel free to take me out to dinner in the new Benz somewhere.  I think we'll yank the hardtop off and leave it at home.

Since I don't think I have even an owners manual for the car, some quick road prep questions:

What tire pressures do you run?

I'll check all fluid levels of course, anything else I should look for?  I'll have most of the day Sat in my shop.

The seller said he drove the car pretty much every weekend, and drove it 20 or so miles to my house last weekend, this 113 was not a "sitter".  But I want to give it a once over tomorrow.

Do I presume that timing can be checked the typical way, strobe light on #1 wire, marks on pulley (I'll look in the Technical manual)?

Hoping to get as much driving days as I can in before the snow flies and the sand and salt gets dumped on the roads here...

JH

dldubois

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Re: New (ecstatic) 113 owner
« Reply #14 on: November 18, 2009, 01:19:41 »
Welcome....Been a great fall to get the cars out.... I can't believe I've still driven mine in the last week with the top down in Cleveland....

PS.  Heater levers aren't too difficult, I've now done it a couple of times....
Dana DuBois
1969 280sl
Pembroke Pines, FL

Eryck

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Re: New (ecstatic) 113 owner
« Reply #15 on: November 24, 2009, 14:35:12 »
Nice find.  Nice color!  My 230SL was in worse condition when I bought it but a lot of TLC makes a lot of difference.  And I'm not talking about spending a lot of money to get it restored by a specialist.  Just time and dedication do wonders.  Judging from your V Dubs, I know you'll have fun and the car will turn out really nice.  I am not sure about the red floor mats though - look out of place.  Someone else commented on the carpets but I'm no expert so I might be wrong.  Anyway, welcome and I know you're gonna have lots of good memories going forward.   

glenn

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Re: New (ecstatic) 113 owner
« Reply #16 on: November 24, 2009, 15:52:38 »
jsh, Found(from independent research) there is a direct correlation between engine 'purr' and the cleanliness and shine of the valve cover. ..

john.mancini

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Re: New (ecstatic) 113 owner
« Reply #17 on: November 25, 2009, 14:37:25 »
Hello JH,
Congratulations and welcome aboard. If you are ever in Chatham please come and visit. I love talking 113's and restorations.
John Mancini
Chatham, MA
John
65 230SL 519 Red 4-sp
98 911 cab
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badali

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Re: New (ecstatic) 113 owner
« Reply #18 on: November 26, 2009, 06:51:11 »
To get a copy of the data card send an email copy of your title to the classic center and they will send you a copy in an email with an explanation of the data.
Brad

1961 220 Sb
1966 230 SL (Sold)
2019 E 450 4 Matic
2022 GLC 300 4 Matic