New member introductions

[ricrose]

Hi to all members of this terrific forum.

I have been 'lurking' on this site for a while while I looked and finally bought a 230sl - auto with dealer fitted air. The car is in good condition - never restored - but has had a couple of panels etc repainted over the years. I have the history going back to 1977 (2 owners). What the car really needs is to be used and thoroughly gone over.
I have been involved in the Vintage car movement for over 30 years and have always built cars up from the chassis, so getting an original car is going to be a real treat for me!
I'm going to try and insert a photo - hope it works out as I see there is no way of reviewing it.

Sorry - didn't work, also still figuring out how to load an image into the profile. I have uploaded one but only get a broken link.

Cheers

Richard Rose

[Garry]

Hi Richard,

Great to see you on the Forum.  I got my car back yesterday, so when you want to get together let me know, I will bring it down to Melbourne and I can show you how to upload photos.

Now if we can just get a few more Australian members we could beat those Brits again!

Garry

[ricrose]

Thanks Garry

I think I have finally figured out the images - so here goes for the second time!

This photo was taken yesterday, on the third day of our winter, so you can see we can do top down motoring all year round, if we rug up and choose our days.



Richard

[Iconic]

I'm glad you figured out how to post pictures, because that one is BEAUTIFUL !
Welcome to the group and enjoy your close proximity to Garry (hopefully future Board Member).

[Else1969]

Congrats Richard. Beautiful car. I noticed that you have the new club plates on the car. I just swapped over as well and it seems to be sooooo much better than the old system.
Unlike you we have succomb to the onslaught of winter and have the hardtop on..which is a nice change actually.

G'day Garry. Haven't spoken to you in a long time (I have not spent much time on this forum lately). Let me know if you want to catch up again.
We went to the Soffitel on Collins over the weekend with Else and gave the bellboy a thrill when he got to park the car. Apparently they don't get too many Pagodas valet parking in big city hotels.

Cheers,
Dirk

[Wing]

Hello,

I am new here. For that reason a little introduction.

My name is Wing. Last name Tang. Living In Holland and owner of two MB's. A W113 230 SL Pagode and a R107 450 SL. I am owner of the 230 for over six years and over two years of the 450.
I love the looks and the technique of this cars. Driving them is very nice. But I only drives them on sunny days and on special occasions. The 230 was owned by a prince of Holland :-). He bought this car in de US when he was studying there.. And when he returned to Holland he brought it with him. He also restored the car for almost € 22.000,- (with a refurnished engine). So the car is in a good condition.

This is the car


Two years ago a bought a 450 SL. This car also came from the US. The first owner (a lady) drove in this car till 2005. Then the car is sold to Holland and the second owner tendered the car by repainting it (glance was gone because of the Carlifornian sun). The car is also in a very good condition.

Both cars have automatic gearbox. The 450 even with electric windows, central lock and A/C.

I also make some repairs myself. Therefore I am always looking for informaiton. I hope to find the answers here.

This is a photo of my 450:


Best regards,

Wing

[Peter van Es]

Wing,

welcome to the forum. I'm sure you'll find lots of info on your W113 SL here... I m afraid we do not specialise on the R107 but then there are other sources of information for that elsewhere on the web.

Keep reading the site, for events that we will organise in Europe... I hope to meet you at one of these!

Peter

[tel76]

With reference to the above white cars  owned by Richard and Wing the bonnet/hood MB motifs appear to be in different locations ,ie the MB motif on Richards car appears to be further back than the one on Wings.Is this possible or is it an optical illusion?
Is it possible for Richard and Wing to measure the distance from the front of the bonnet/hood to the motif.

[ricrose]

Hi Eric

That was observant. I have just measured mine and from the very 'tip' of the end of the bonnet (hood to some) to the bottom of the logo disc is 65mm. I do know that my panel has been resprayed about 15 years ago so it could easily have been relocated.

Cheers

Richard

[Wing]

indeed very observative of Eric!

I measured mine just now. I also measure 65 mm. Only, from the "end" (the point) of the bonnet to the top of the motif ..

Richard,

Your car is very nice indeed. Only the steering is on the "wrong" side  

[pfraud]

If you have a left side steering wheel, the top of MB disc is 65mm from the end of hood...
Welcome to you both.
Hello to Gary and to Peter.

Pascal

[kerrygeoff]

Good day all-

I'm a new member, finally able to start looking for the "dream car" after a lifetime of  responsibilities/family/blahblah duly discharged!

This car would be a decent/great 250SL anywhere in North America, for import to Western Canada. (Failing finding the 250, I'd "settle" for a 230!!) Budget available: unfortunately only $25,000 (+ a bit if necessary). I'm not a "purist" in the truest sense of the collector- just want to drive it every summer till i pop my clogs.
I have seen a couple of possibilities in California, one or 2 in Florida, so my plea to all of you wise and knowing W113-ers out there is this:
-Is there any reputable agency I can employ to appraise/test drive in California (dealers are Legend Classic cars in Venice; Beverly Hills Motor Cars;...... ); Another in MicKinney, Texas
-Any advice on importing to Canada?

Any other tidbits would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanx in advance...
kerry
(ps- also posted this in the "EBay/Vendor" Forum... just findin' my way round this site...)

[Matt Bowen]

My name is Matt Bowen.  I live in McLean, VA and am joining this board to learn more about the 64 230 SL my father owns.  He and Mom have been travelling quite a bit so the car has been in storage for long periods of time.  I hope to acquire the knowledge parts and tools to help him reacquire and maintain the excellent running condition he previously attained.  The car was thoroughly restored in the 1990s and he used it more frequently then than in the last 4 - 5 years.  He may be a member here, so I'll confirm this weekend when I go visit and inspect the car.  I'll also take a picture to post.

Matt

[Garry]

Welcome Matt and Kerry,

Matt pictures are always welcome here.

Kerry
A good person to do an appraisal in LA is Tom Colitt, a member on this site who is also currently working on my Jag doing a left to right conversion.

Garry

[kerrygeoff]

thx garry!

[Peter van Es]

Welcome to all new members... have a good look around and please participate!

[rolando38]

Hello

I discovered your forum yesterday and jumped in
Happy owner of a Jaguar Mk2 1961 bought a year ago , I am now considering giving her a little big sister. I read the book "Essential buyer's guide" from Chriss Bass, but I guess you have many more advice to give to a potential owner.
Is there a document on the forum gathering all valuable advice ?

I'm also considering offers for a 230SL with manual gearbox....in France where I live

[Ulf]

Welcome Rolando - a Pagoda would complement your Jag nicely, the book you mentioned is very good as a quick check list before buying and good to bring along when looking at a car - it certainly helped me avoid some pitfalls and to negotiate the price of my car down a little :-)

Ulf

[DaveB]

Hello Rolando38,

there is this document on the site www.sl113.org/wiki/Buying/PrepurchaseEvaluation

and this is helpful: www.silverstarrestorations.com/113SL.htm

[Ulf]

If you can read German, this is also pretty good : http://www.pagode.info/

[saile007]

I own a Mercedes sl 280 my dad gave it to my it is silver and it is in great condition it is the only one in my country that I know   

[Larry & Norma]

Nice, how about some pictures?

[lollo71]

Hello,

starting in spring this year I tried to gain as much information as possible about Pagodas. This forum was more than helpful in finding important information about the W113.
I started with reading every part in the Technical Manual. Then I scanned the market for possilbe buying objects - and I had to make my first learning.
I found a blue pagoda on Mallorca (an island of spain in the mediterranean sea). I saw pictures, I talked to the person who owned it via phone (an elderly lady from Germany) - and I met the person who sold it for the lady. I flew there - I organized someone who was an expert in oldtimer restoration and had already done a restoration on a pagoda - to take a look at it with me. Well, it turned out to be a rusted wreck. It was a pity about that car.

I made the decision that a rust free body is priority number one.
I found a decent Pagoda via the internet in the US - and with the help of this forum I was able to find Tom Colitt. Tom was kind enough to do a pre-purchase inspection for me. Due to his detailed report I was able to make a decision. I bought the car unseen.

I then realized, that I have to get the car through inspection here in Europe. To pass this strict test the car needed some work done on it. Since Tom Colitt knows a lot about German Engineering (he is the epitome of a Pagoda enthusiast) - he was the right one to help me. I just can say that he is a great engineer and a wonderful person.

Tom brought the Pagoda into shape and delivered her to the docks and she travelled via the Pacific, the Panama Canal, the Carribean, the Atlantic and the Channel to Bremerhaven. She then got loaded onto a truck and made another 650 miles to her new home. She was in time, because the week after her arrival it was my husbands birthday. It was my target to get her registered by that date. Due to Toms work I was able to pass inspection on the first try.

I would like to thank you all for this very terrific, informative and entertaining forum. Without this source of knowledge I would not have been able to buy a car like a Pagoda with such good confidence.
I hope I will be able to contribute with knowledge in a few months when I made my own experiences on the car.

Merci to you all,
Claudia

[49er]

Hello Caudia,
 Welcome to the family of Pagoda owners and what a great birthday present for your husband. Looks like your SL might have been a California car and always kind of sad to see another leave our state but certainly glad it has found a new home where it will be well cared for. May you and your husband enjoy many miles touring your beautiful country in your "new" Mercedes.

John

[Tom Colitt]

Hi Claudia and Jon. Yes, it was a very clean Southern California 280SL that went to Switzerland, but I couldn't be happier with the new home it found. This was the same car that was the subject of my rust-preservation presentation at the Pagoda University in Blacklick this August and one of Claudia's concerns was to insure that the car had no hidden rust. She even had me employ a commonly used tool in Europe... Dry-ice blasting the undercarriage and the wheel wells in order to remove some Black under coating that had been sprayed over the 41 year old factory paint for protection. Although I had already been able to ascertain that the car was very rust free from my inspection, we did uncover a small rust hole in the lower edge of the rear wheel well that was repaired and the whole car was Waxoyl treated, so that Claudia and her husband could use their new car without worrying too much if they should ever be caught in a unannounced rain shower.

Claudia, from the beginning, was probably the most informed and in many ways helpful owner I have ever worked with. By the way, she even helped us obtain the factory drawing for the new run of original firewall padding that Alfred has been working on. I told her that we definitely could use her talent and enthusiasm in this club, whenever she can afford to contribute. Claudia. I hope the shipping company only removed your hub caps so they wouldn't get lost?...:-) They were actually color coded in a rare two-tone color combination, along with the metallic Blue hard top on the car. I would be happy to hear frequent updates of your experiences with this car which I grew quite fond of. I didn't even know until now why I had to hurry up so much to get the car shipped out before traveling to Blacklick. That sure was a very nice birthday present....

Regards, Tom Colitt
ClassicAutosLA