One of my longstanding wish-list items has been to find a hardtop for my 230SL. Now I have one and it's a one-in-million story.
Gernold from SL Tech made arrangement to buy a top in New York. He arranged for a friend who was driving from the Northeast to Florida in a 113 to pick up the top and put it on his car. Then he would drop it off at my place in Falls Church. Gernold was coming to the DC area for Tom Sargeant's fall gathering and was driving a 113 from the area back to Maine for some work. So the plan was that he would put the top on that car and take it back to Maine. Pagodas are the best way to transport hard tops.
So the top arrives on a nice dark green 280SL. But wait! It's Light Ivory with red trim, perfect for my 230! So we lift it off with my 107 hoist and it dangles for about an hour, and then I can't resist, and I put it on the 230. A few days later, Gernold arrives and after much delicate negotiation, (Gernold and me, me and wife) we reach a deal.
What are the odds of the correct hardtop in good condition arriving in your garage?
Now all I need to do is paint my hubcaps.
