MacIntyre Lane Yarra Valley

[Gary Crutchley]

Spotted a lovely 230/250/289 SL in mid/light blue around 4:30 on 01/04/17.  Looking magnificent.

[RobSirg]

Think it was me that day Gary.

[Peter van Es]

We have a WINNER... unless I'm mistaken, this is the first Pagoda spotting anyone has owned up to having been seen!

[49er]

Hmmmm, maybe not

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=616.msg101062#msg101062

John

[Peter van Es]

Thanks for putting me straight... so you're the Winner!

[Gary Crutchley]

Hi Rob, bit of a late response. That's a very nice stable of cars you have indeed.  It's hard to beat the Yarra Valley for a quick squirt in the old SL's.  I'm still amazed at how rewarding it is to drive the SL round the twistyand hilly bits.  I had a mate of mine following me in his English classic a while ago and he commented on how good the SL looks from the rear especially when it's enjoying the twisty bits.

[RobSirg]

Thanks Gary,

I haven't updated my list yet partly because I don't want to jinx it - but I am waiting for the delivery of another Pagoda.

A Gold (Tunis Beige) 250SL. Managed to find an original RHD (ex Scotland) in the USA for what I thought was a decent price - so clearly it needs work. It's about to leave Longbeach CA port any day now. It's a manual so I am looking forward to keeping it as a "driver" and will try resist the temptation to restore it.

My Burgundy (Dark Red) 280SL restoration is about 75% complete - its been a 3 year process and ridiculously expensive but I am sure it will be worth it. I will keep it as a display car for a while. Clearly I have a sickness but I just love these cars and the increase in value has made it easier to justify to the wife.

Have to catch up some time

Cheers

[Garry]

Rob,

How have you got around the latest ruling that there is to be no asbestos in any vehicle imported. Brakes, exhaust gaskets etc.

 I had heard it had stopped all imports dead as of a few weeks ago and thost that have been landed have been getting big bills (like they are doing destructive testing on the vehicle unless you have got the vehicle certified before landing)

Garry

[Gary Crutchley]

Rob, clearly you have a love of the finer things in life.  Goodness knows how you keep track of your cars (and their registrations)!  Would love to see some picks of your Burgundy 280SL.  Also the Tunis Beige 250SL when it arrives - it's a brilliant colour.

Garry, I too heard about the asbestos it'll be interesting to see how it works out.

Cheers

[Garry]

Gary,

I heard it is really bad and hope Rob had made some pre arrangements.

One friend said that they really messed up his import of a Jag, looking for asbestos as he did not have any documentation certifying that it was free of the stuff.  I believe they pretty much took the car apart and it cost him thousands in both replacing items that they tested as they destroy the part and then getting it all together again.  His comment was that he would never bring in another car.  They gave the car back with engine out, all exhausts removed all gaskets on engine tested to destruction, heads off, brakes removed and pads drilled, a washing bill before removal, Firewall cover removed and destroyed, some hoses drilled, under floor sound deadener removed and destroyed and so it went on and on and on. Cost the same as the original purchase.

[RobSirg]

Wow! That is scary stuff indeed! (and just plain wrong)

I did hear something about that also - hopefully settled down now.

Actually the Nissan Figaro I bought for my wife (from the UK) hasn't arrived yet - it was delayed 3 weeks due the cyber virus shutting down the shipping company. For that car my clearance agent had the seller complete an Asbestos Declaration - hopefully that is all that is need.

I better check that we have one completed for the 250SL

Gary will send photos of the other cars soon - I have plenty but never get around to sorting them.

I'll keep you posted on the customs clearance experience....fingers crossed!

Rob

[Benz Dr.]

So, is there any in a 113?

[Gary Crutchley]

Thanks Garry and Rob,

we should have all gone into the asbestos removal business!

cheers

[DaveB]

I think the only asbestos might be inside the manifold heat shield? Or in older brake pads but there shouldn't be too many of those left. And those rings sealing the headers to the exhaust look fibrous..
There's definitely none in the firewall padding so don't let them remove that!

[Garry]

Will be very interested in how it goes.  My mate tried to argue black and blue with them but they decided that anything that looked remotely fibrous on the Jag had to be taken off and tested.  This was only a month ago.

I think the answer on a MB W113 will be that any very old brake pads, exhaust manifolds and maybe the heat shields. The brake booster hose at the rear of the booster (RHD) looked very suspicious on one of my old Pagodas.  Firewall pad would be a no.

[RobSirg]

Garry,

Do you know if your friend with the Jag had an Asbestos Declaration before it arrived?

Rob

Might have answered my own question here Garry :
"One friend said that they really messed up his import of a Jag, looking for asbestos as he did not have any documentation certifying that it was free of the stuff"

It sounds like your friend didn't have the 'Asbestos Declaration' - Declaring there was no asbestos. This is something new that has just been introduced.

[Garry]

Rob,

No he didn't as they changed the rules after he purchased it but was still in the process of shipping. (I think the rules were always there but had not been applied to classics, but rather at the grey market from Japan. ) If you can, definitely get a declaration of asbestos free, as they are being pedantic at the moment with every import and you may get away with out too much hassle.

Word is, that they are hitting those that are still trickling in before this was known and they are being very strict. Most classic imports are at a dead stop. There was a story of a top end Ford Shelby Mustang that cost $17k to repair after they were finished with it.  Didn't find any asbestos though!!!

Let us know how you go.

Garry

[RobSirg]

Been doing some research and there is no shortage of horror stories.

Can only hope the madness has settled down in recent weeks/months.

Sleepless nights ahead!

I'll keep you posted.

[RobSirg]

Guys,

It is with tremendous relief that l report the safe arrival of both my wife's Nissan Figaro and ( more importantly) my Tunis Beige 250SL ( manual).

I can only assume that having an Asbestos Declaration helped the smooth transition through Australian customs. Perhaps those horror stories were caught in the transition phase without having had the chance to get their paperwork sorted.

It was indeed difficult getting the US Dealer to sign the declaration for the 250SL as the language in the Declaration is frightening- referring to Australian importation laws, 0% Asbestos, and even NATA approved certificates ( where required). It had me pleading with the dealer for approx 1hr in the wee hours of the morning to sign - which thankfully he did.
Penalties for false information are severe.

I will now hopefully resist to restore the 250SL as l want to use it as a driver warts and all. I know it will have issues as the price was more than fair......so looking to drive a manual

Will send photos when l can - Cheers

Rob

[RobSirg]

On my way to see it now - the Tow truck driver just sent me this

[DaveB]

Looks OK! (from 10m). A right hand drive in the US is a nice find.

[RobSirg]

Yes Dave  - a genuine 10m Champion!

Had a good look at it and it is as I had hoped and matches the upper end of my expectations (having only seen it from photos - albeit 240 of them)

It was originally a Scottish car that ended up in Connecticut (private import) and thankfully was never converted to LHD - and I purchased it from a dealer there. I found it advertised on a U.K website and with the favourable AUD it was worthwhile to buy it.

Had rust in all the usual places and most of it properly repaired (also verified by a photofile / receipts) the rest is coated with - I assume POR15. I will do more POR15 type repairs to keep it as a Driver.......and a pretty one at that

BTW - The Pagoda shell in the background is my Dark Red 280SL which has had extensive bodywork and has been undergoing a full restoration the past 2-3years and is about to start mechanical reassembly before going to final exterior paint.

Here are some photos literally off the back of the truck - in its (for now) filthy state.

Cheers

Rob

[RobSirg]

last one

I am happy to leave the 250SL there whilst they do the reassembly of the 280SL to act as a guide.....especially as both cars are manual.

[batman]

Rob-

Now that's job done: One for you and one for each of your daughters!!

cheers

[RobSirg]

Er....some people don't quite realise when the job is done (like me).

I actually have 4 daughters and now, one son. My son will get the Alfa Duetto as it arrived in Australia (from the UK) the day he was born (early this year). If I'm lucky I might be able to talk one daughter into taking the White Alfa (she has driven it a few times and quite likes it - why not, it is truly awesome to drive!).

Fear not....I think I have worked out what has caused this reproduction issue....and whilst I am not intending to do anything permanent to stop it, I am confident of being able to control it ......now.