Author Topic: Critique this car please  (Read 7042 times)

jameshoward

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Critique this car please
« on: August 19, 2015, 16:16:51 »
As per the title. Critique this car to death, please. I've picked up a few things that on a car of this price shouldn't be there, but would appreciate mucho pairs of eyes on this. I ask because an acquaintance is thinking of buying it. Personally, as I've said to him, I think it's over priced, but he doesn't seem to mind. I'd like to help him by giving him a list of things for them to put right at their cost if he does want to buy it.

Things I've spotted on a brief look on an ipad include missing bonnet bump stops (3 or 4 - did we decide on that yet? Mine has 3, btw and I believe they're original); what looks like an oil drip on the underside of the transmission (#47); one of the hoses in the foreground on an engine bay shot looks a bit ropey; the battery seems to be held in place by gravity, or maybe double sided sticky tape, but the holddown plate is missing; the front plastic shock cover plates are missing; the labels mostly aren't there; are the shocks bilstein? (I have konis by choice, but it would be useful to get a view from someone who knows what Bilsteins look like); the 2 nuts on the accelerator linkage aren't together (suggests a bit of lazy workmanship to me). What else?

All of that said, it is a very pretty car indeed and has some original features.

Danke!

http://www.hofmanns.co.uk/car-sales/mercedes-benz-280-sl-pagoda-0
James Howard
1966 LHD 230SL

d8ean

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Re: Critique this car please
« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2015, 16:23:31 »
how funny I just noticed the same car for sale and have ended up back on here after a year off to see if anyone was talking about it.
looks a very nice car, but im not up to speed on all the bits it should or shouldn't have
just been looking at what cars have been making at the auctions in the UK and abroad - crazy money
will watch this thread with interest

PaulT

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Re: Critique this car please
« Reply #2 on: August 19, 2015, 17:32:40 »
Hi Jamie,

A lovely looking car.  If your acquaintance is interested, I think the first thing he should do is to speak to John Haynes who I use, and who appear to have carried out substantial work on the car.  I am sure they would give an honest opinion on it.  Given what other dealers in the UK seem to be asking for good 280s at the present time, I though the price, whilst a lot of money, was about what I would expect.     

Great to see you at Cranleigh last Sunday!

Regards

Paul

scoot

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Re: Critique this car please
« Reply #3 on: August 20, 2015, 13:58:13 »
I would want to know more about the condition of the "original hardtop" which is not shown in any of the pictures.
Scott Allen
'67 250 SL (early)
Altadena, California

Jonny B

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Re: Critique this car please
« Reply #4 on: August 20, 2015, 17:23:18 »
Very much in agreement with Scoot about knowing the condition of the hard top (the tool kit and manuals also)

The shock towers in front after the 250 SL do not have covers.
The firewall pad looks a bit shaky, and the flange should have three bumpers (the four I had asked about before, and the picture were from a pre-production prototype)
Would also be good to look under the trunk mat
The hood rod should have two little round bumpers
The center hood/bonnet latch should be body color
zip ties on the breather pipe  cover from the manifold
coolant tank is in backwards?
connector for the battery appears to be in sorry shape.
The hood/bonnet fit is a bit off, wider on the driver side
The tie rod connector looks pretty nasty (photo #47)

It is a lovely color though!
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

RobSirg

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Re: Critique this car please
« Reply #5 on: August 23, 2015, 13:24:17 »
Nice looking car James,

I would be interested to know if it was the original colours. I'm guessing the steering wheel was black originally as the centre star is still black ( pretty sure white wheels have a white or cream centre piece).

I don't have headrests on either of my cars so I don't know if they are correct - they appear to be tilting type?

In the engine bay the firewall lets it down for me. Could have also improved the fuse cover, radiator cap, hood strap, etc, given all the work they did.

I see a relay in the drivers side corner near the firewall which should not be there.

One of the horns appears to be on an odd angle

I couldn't see the hazard light switch - figured an August 70 car should have it but maybe it is earlier than that. Need the data sheet.

Soft top has one edge lifting up but most do that I guess.

Rob


« Last Edit: August 24, 2015, 02:24:20 by RobSirg »
1969 280SL Auto RHD 906G,  H'top 387H, Parchm't
1970 280SL Man. RHD Dark Red 542G, Bamboo MB Tex
1962 E Type Jag BRG with Tan
1974 White Alfa Spider 2000
2023 Range Rover
1982 280TE (my daily)
1967 Alfa Spider ("Duetto") Red
1977 Yellow 911 Targa
1991 Nissan Figaro
1959 190SL Black
1970 300SEL 3.5

jameshoward

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Re: Critique this car please
« Reply #6 on: August 24, 2015, 13:28:25 »
Thanks guys. Heaps here for me to go with; very grateful and agree with all the issues raised. I don't know 280s well as I own the premier 113 model (late 230); your observations are helpful.

Paul - great to see you, too. You have a stunning car. And a proper 113, of course; a beautiful 230, not like these Jonny Come Lately types... ;D

I'll let you guys know if he buys the car.
James Howard
1966 LHD 230SL

Iconic

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Re: Critique this car please
« Reply #7 on: August 24, 2015, 17:32:06 »
Missing the grommets in the headrests.
Missing the heat insulator(s?) above the muffler mount.
The carpet is a replacement, of course.
 ;D

Very nice car and color !
1970 280 SL Automatic, USA version, Grey-Blue (906G/906G), Blue leather (245)
1968 SS396 Camaro Convertible (owned since 1977 -- my first car :D)
1984 Porsche Euro Carrera coupe, LSD, SlateBlueMet/Blue
1998 BMW M-Rdstr Estoril Blue
1970 280 SL Automatic, Anthracite Grey-173G, Red Interior-132 - sold

RobSirg

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Re: Critique this car please
« Reply #8 on: August 25, 2015, 02:49:52 »
Sunvisor's look too flat and thin - hard to see but I wonder if they are crappy reproductions.

BTW - hazard switch appears to be there.

Matching seatbelt colour looks 'naff' to me - maybe better suited to owners of the older generation model ....230's  :)

Surely James you didn't think you were going to get off with those derogatory comments about the premier model ;D
1969 280SL Auto RHD 906G,  H'top 387H, Parchm't
1970 280SL Man. RHD Dark Red 542G, Bamboo MB Tex
1962 E Type Jag BRG with Tan
1974 White Alfa Spider 2000
2023 Range Rover
1982 280TE (my daily)
1967 Alfa Spider ("Duetto") Red
1977 Yellow 911 Targa
1991 Nissan Figaro
1959 190SL Black
1970 300SEL 3.5

Ulf

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Re: Critique this car please
« Reply #9 on: August 25, 2015, 08:15:19 »
Did the 280 have the hard door pockets like the 230? Apart from that and the ever-present soft top curl, this car looks quite remarkable to me :-)
Price is a bit steep though, but I guess that is something we have to get used to...

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

mbzse

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Re: Critique this car please
« Reply #10 on: August 25, 2015, 08:56:42 »
Quote from: Ulf
Did the 280 have the hard door pockets like the 230?
All W113 Pagodas (except very early 230SL:s) had the "cow horn" handle and the hard, open, door pockets.
Except US delivery (w code 491) after some point, where soft pockets and the large D shaped handle were introduced on the inner door sides.
/Hans in Sweden
« Last Edit: August 25, 2015, 17:40:23 by mbzse »
/Hans S

Brian in NL

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Re: Critique this car please
« Reply #11 on: September 08, 2015, 08:18:56 »
Yes, the soft door pockets were introduced on the 250SL in 1967, U.S. market cars only.
Brian Akre
1967 230 SL, U.S. spec, 050 White, Black top, 116 Kaviar interior, #17,030 of 48,912;
1997 SL 500 Sport, U.S. spec, 269 Tourmaline Green, Parchment interior, #145,506 of 204,940;
1991 Nissan Figaro, Emerald Green, #15,717 of 20,073;
2014 VW GTI, White, daily driver

Jonny B

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Re: Critique this car please
« Reply #12 on: September 08, 2015, 14:46:12 »
The cut off for the hard pockets on the 250 SL was at VIN 2980, after that all the other changes for the 1967 United States Dept of Transportation safety regulations took effect (soft pockets, rounded dash, matte finish surfaces, new type door handles, soft rubber heater levers, etc.
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

49er

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Re: Critique this car please
« Reply #13 on: September 08, 2015, 15:49:01 »
My 250SL (113043-10-001133) was as Jonny described. Pretty much identical to the 230 other then the engine and 4 wheel disk brakes.

John
1969 280SL 003820
Un Restored, All Original, including the paint
Original Owner, Purchased September 18, 1968
4 speed manual, PS. 77217 miles
7280 miles since awoken from her 20+ yr "nap" in 2010