Author Topic: Desert pagoda find (Read 12021 times)

JosephBach · « **on:** October 21, 2013, 21:53:19 »

long story short, I came across this pagoda after someone told me "hey theres a car like yours by my house."
I am now the third owner, the P.O bought it in 2000 from an estate.
it has all the repair paperwork. original engine rebuilt in 89,' rebuilt front end, & brakes

it has sat outside since 2004 , and has the windows smashed out by a neighbor so the interior is toast. 80k original miles supposedly

my plans were to salvage the motor and keep it for my car, then sell off the rest of the car. but after discovering that the engine is matching numbers, I cannot bring myself to desecrate this car. i paid $1200 usd for the car because letting it sit there was not okay.

its a 64' with 4sp manual.

Its got rust from a terrible paint work job in the past, but too much of a project for me to handle. i figured I'd get it running nice then part ways with it. everything is complete, only missing ashtray

Bonnyboy · « **Reply #1 on:** October 22, 2013, 00:08:20 »

Well done. A quick power wash and spray down with WD-40 and will look 100X better.

For the price paid rip the engine and tranny out - put it on a shelf and call it a day. Keep what you need and part the rest out.

Matching numbers isn't such a big deal on these cars anyways.

That's only 9 years outside - engine should be fine if you are careful about waking her up.

stickandrudderman · « **Reply #2 on:** October 22, 2013, 06:11:15 »

I'll double your money if you like! I

magicman · « **Reply #3 on:** October 22, 2013, 15:49:50 »

Nice find, can't beat the price. If you decide to part out I would be interested in the grille.

pj · « **Reply #4 on:** October 23, 2013, 05:43:55 »

Fix it up, please! It will be beautiful once again.

JosephBach · « **Reply #5 on:** October 23, 2013, 17:26:35 »

I've decided to give new life to this car, it's really not THAT bad
It has been "well maintained" but poorly serviced by incompetent technicians. Then neglected

1st engine rebuild - (44k miles) in 1979.... Records show then in 1987 their was ring trouble on #5
2nd engine rebuild - (68k miles) in 1992.
Trans rebuild - (68k) in 1992

So the current "new" power plant has just a hair under 10k miles

Front subframe rebuilt top to bottom 3 times in its written history since 1978

Some People must drive the living piss out of these manual versions.. I can't imagine 2 rebuilds in such short time

66andBlue · « **Reply #6 on:** October 24, 2013, 05:01:18 »

Well, if those "incompetent technicians" forgot to put the donut seal into the canister after a routine oil filter change then two rebuilds are not so surprising. There are lots of post on this item, here is just one: http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=16330.0
More importantly, it is nice to know that you are keeping the car alive - congrats!

JosephBach · « **Reply #7 on:** October 24, 2013, 05:31:08 »

Thanks!
Just changed the oil today 66andblue, Funny you mention that! It IS missing. So it will be added before its new life begins.
Hopefully this engine will last more than 30k now

66andBlue · « **Reply #8 on:** October 24, 2013, 05:47:23 »

Make sure it is not the only seal that is missing.
Here is a list of what should be in the canister: http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=2589.msg39395#msg39395

pj · « **Reply #9 on:** October 24, 2013, 16:44:13 »

Have you already moved the car to a workshop of some sort?
Do you mind posting the VIN, so we know where it fits in with the rest of ours?

JosephBach · « **Reply #10 on:** October 24, 2013, 22:05:57 »

Sadly it is still sitting in the middle of the PO's property.
I don't have garage room for it, he is allowing me to work in it in the mean time on his land thankfully.

here's the VIN
113-042-10-006014

It's been registered as a 1966 since the late 70's?

GGR · « **Reply #11 on:** November 30, 2013, 01:00:29 »

That car is for sale on eBay now by a dealer in Florida: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271330080806?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2648

Reserve not met at $12,800 and 35 bids.

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎ · « **Reply #12 on:** November 30, 2013, 02:03:39 »

What do you fellows think the good restoration on something like this will be? Funny how it vent from $1,200- to the e-bay price …

Will it be SOLD or NOT SOLD

A …. $40K

B …. $45K

C …. $50K

D … $55K

E … More then $60K

My vote would be "E"

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #13 on:** November 30, 2013, 06:37:14 »

You mean the cost of the restoration? Depends on who does it: the buyer / hobbyist himself (sorry ladies, but I've not yet heard of a female DIY Pagoda restorer) or a professional garage. If the latter then most likely > $50K. There's just so much to do on this car.

Flyair · « **Reply #14 on:** November 30, 2013, 08:55:48 »

Cees,

If the price exceeds 50k, then the other Mercedes that is on the picture should be included....

badali · « **Reply #15 on:** December 02, 2013, 00:58:14 »

This car just sold on ebay from FL today. He must have sold the car to Mike in Daytona. Mike sells a lot of rough and rusty cars...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271330080806?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

rmmchl · « **Reply #16 on:** December 02, 2013, 01:37:20 »

Wow! A few years back I remember a lot of us complaining about the low prices our cars were getting. They were not appreciating. A good pagoda could be had routinely between $15-$20,000. I can rest easier, knowing what kind of cars some of us have. I was thinking about what a really nice pagoda would go for. I had Rolf's gorgeous blue pagoda in mind. I think my wife will feel good knowing a "total rebuild" project car got over $12,000.00 on an E-Bay sell. I have always been a bit concerned that if something happened to me, my 250Sl would be a challenge for my wife or daughter, to sell .

Flyair · « **Reply #17 on:** December 02, 2013, 05:59:35 »

Sharing M-R's view, I am however very impressed by the video attached to the link on eBay.

The car, after a few cosmetic gestures looks already much much better than on the original pictures.

Besides, after all those years in the desert it actually starts straight away and runs quite correctly. OK, it is still a project car, but what a durability!

pj · « **Reply #18 on:** December 03, 2013, 03:56:27 »

Hold on, please, I'm missing something. Did our contributor JosephBach sell the car to Mike in FL? Or are we saying there's a mistake in one of the VINs?

badali · « **Reply #19 on:** December 03, 2013, 10:02:13 »

Looks like he sold it to Mike in Fl

JosephBach · « **Reply #20 on:** December 10, 2013, 22:15:03 »

Sorry been away.
But yes, car was sold to the Mercedes man "mike"
He wanted it real bad, sold it for 11k to him

Amazing what people will pay nowadays for these little gems

Despite starting up well,
Engine had terrible main bearing knocks, a twisted front crank damper ( reason of main failure?) and bad rings on cylinders 2,3,5, and terrible valve train chatter.
2nd gear synchronizer was toast.
FI pump leaking gas into oil sump
Complete rust thru of floors, rockers and hardtop

Was able to drive it 10 miles off the farmland to Walmart on 12 year old tires for pick up

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Author Topic: Desert pagoda find (Read 12021 times)

JosephBach

magicman

JosephBach

JosephBach

JosephBach

JosephBach