Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => Photo Gallery => Topic started by: jedwards on May 21, 2013, 08:02:45
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This is my little red mistress and the strange journey that bought her to Perth, Western Australia
She is an early 250SL, bought new in London by Henry Drettman, of Active Tool and Manufacturing fame, who purchased the car as a gift for his wife on learning that she was pregnant with their first daughter. The Drettman family had been in the automotive industry since 1903 and Henry Drettman was consulting to Ford UK and living in London at that time.
In late 1968, the Drettmans returning to Michigan, to their ancestral home and brought the car with them. The car was treasured but rarely used as it was RHD in the very LHD-centric country.
On the death of Mrs Drettman in 1995, the car passed to Kaye, the daughter whom the car had first been purchased in celebration of. Kaye Drettman kept the car until 2012 when she was transferred to Florida University, where the lack of A/C would have been an issue.
She sold the car in January 2012 to Graham Wadsworth, an Australian born automotive design engineer working with Jaguar USA in Detroit. Graham bought the car to bring back with him to Australia but by the time it arrived in Melbourne, Graham had been transferred to the UK to lead Jaguar's new design Engineering Centre.
I purchased the car in late 2012 and have been working on her since then.
She has 60,000 genuine miles from new and is in remarkably good all-round condition and a pleasure to drive in the pleasant climes of Western Australia.
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That'sa great story.
Love the radio unit - tell us more
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The car has had a lot of interior modification. Did you purchase the car in Melbourne as there was one at the Healey Garage last year that I think was similar.and do you know the story on the background to the new interior and mods?
Garry
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this car travelled through three continents, probably more than any other Pagoda… Europe (although some would say the UK and not Europe ;D) - Australia, US and Australia again…. Impressive
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The center console is very unusual. Looks very nice.
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Hey Gary,
I spy a RHD km speedo - there is hope for us yet.
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Perth,
Lovely place to own a lovely car..
Congratulations..
(James L, I think the radio is a RetroSound ,probably a Model 1)
Keep well
Paul
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Correct Paul,
The radio is a RetroSound unit which was given to me by a friend for my '69 Aston. I do plan to install the correct "Becker look" facial panel, which I woll pick up next time I am in the US, but in the mean time, I used a bit of matching coloured leather to make it look a little more appropriate. Great units. Comes with SD card reader, iPod interface and all the modern stuff and very reasonably priced.
I have not touched the interior since purchasing it. I believe it was reupholstered in the US before it came to Australia but its top quality leather and very nicely done, so I plan to leave it that way.
Yes Garry, I did buy it from Russel at the Healey Factory who was selling it on behalf of Graham Wadsworth, both of whom have been really helpful.
The speedo is KPH but using one of the stickers from Germany. Good and simply solution, but a bugger to fit. I'm currently designing on new cogs to convert the odomenter as well.
Jeff
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Hi Jeff,
The "Becker" facia is good,(about £25 here in UK) - especially the knobs - they match the Pagoda ones perfectly, I have a Model 2 - very happy.
Your car and Perth must fit very well together - Enjoy .
My sister lived in Sydney & Perth for a while, and when they returned to Wales, her boys did not appreciate the fact that they had to stay in school ALL day.......
They had been used to the afternoon on the beach, learning lifesaving, surfing and safety.....
Keep well
Paul
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Beautiful Car!
Waiting anxiously for my Red on Black to arrive any day now, apart from the steering wheel being on the wrong side on mine,
if it ends up looking like yours i am going to very happy!
Enjoy.
Soul.
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Great story and fascinating history! Love the car looks like she is in great shape.
Congratulations and Happy Motoring!