Merc Enthusiast Mag

[Bearcat]

if you can get get your hands on www.mercedesenthusiast.co.uk magazine, May issue has a W113 special in it. You state siders might turn your noses at it but I think its a great read and see how the other half adore and enjoy their pagodas too!

Regards

280SL 1970

[JamesL]

The magazine can be bought online and shipped out of the UK

[Douglas]

FYI: People in the US may have luck finding it in the magazine rack at either Borders or Barnes & Noble.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[Mike Hughes]

The newest issue of Mercedes Enthusiast on the stand at the Borders down the street from my office is the MARCH issue.  Of course, they already have the newest issue of Mercedes Benz Classic, which has not arrived in my mailbox yet, even though I get my subscription direct from Germany.  Go figure!

quote:Originally posted by Douglas

FYI: People in the US may have luck finding it in the magazine rack at either Borders or Barnes & Noble.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

[rwmastel]

I have issues 1 - 36 (Oct. 2004).  It is a good magazine.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[Douglas]

Apparently, the May issue of Mercedes Enthusiast is expected at my neighborhood newsstand on 4/27. Perhaps that's a reflection of when others can expect it to appear here in the US.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[Ben]

Yeah its an excellent feature.......the largest write up on Pagoda's I've seen !

I am curious though as to why Micheal Lavers from Silver Arrows claims the car is a fragile Classic not suitable for daily use ??

Also they claim there is no difference is suspension set up between 230SL and 280SL !!

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[JamesL]

Ben

Me too, as it's not what he told me when I bought mine from him....[!]

Don't forget though that Lavers is in Putney and one thing I do know about the 113 is that sitting in traffic is not it's favourite pastime.

(That said, the wife has been using ours all week as the SLK fainted (battery died and I have been too busy to sort it out this week))

[Bob G ✝︎]

IIf anyone can send me a copy of the may issue I would be very happy to cover the expense. It seems the the borders books I deal with still has april copies in stock and no date set for receiving the may issue.

Bob Geco

[rwmastel]

quote:I am curious though as to why Micheal Lavers from Silver Arrows claims the car is a fragile Classic not suitable for daily use ??

Maybe to help increase the allure or value of the cars?  He is in the business, after all.

quote:Also they claim there is no difference is suspension set up between 230SL and 280SL!!

I don't think there is, if you define "set up" as the basic engineering pricipals.  That is, they both have kingpin front ends, sway bars only in front, trailing arm rear ends, etc.  Basic components are the same, but sway bar thickness and other details changed.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[mdsalemi]

Gents,

There was an article on 113's last year in Mercedes Enthusiast magazine as well.

Over the pond here in the USA, I don't think the May issue is available yet...Barnes & Nobel only had the April, so keep a look out.  Border's should have it as well, so if any "Yanks" like me are interested, just keep a lookout at one of these two major booksellers.

I did peruse the April issue, and sure enough, they indicated an article on the Pagoda would be in the May issue.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[hauser]

My local Borders and Booksamillion did not carry this publication.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by hauser


My local Borders and Booksamillion did not carry this publication.

You can subscribe on-line:
http://www.mercedesenthusiast.co.uk

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[Ben]

quote:Don't forget though that Lavers is in Putney and one thing I do know about the 113 is that sitting in traffic is not it's favourite pastime

.......true !  I know that Silver Arrows ALWAYS favour the Silver with Red Auto 280 SL and it seems that their customers do too !

Fair enough I guess !

 

quote:I don't think there is, if you define "set up" as the basic engineering pricipals. That is, they both have kingpin front ends, sway bars only in front, trailing arm rear ends, etc. Basic components are the same, but sway bar thickness and other details changed.

..........I know they arte basically the same but there is always talk that a 230SL feels better than a 280SL. The roll bar diamter would explain this as would different shock/spring rates. I dont recall hearing anything about the shock/springs being different but they should've mentioned the roll bar issue and also the fact that later cars dont have as many grease points !

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[Bob G ✝︎]

Why Michael Lavers would call the Pagoda a fragile classic is beyond me. I would have to say come to California and take a look. before Lexus , Nissian and even BMW Mercedes-Benz Set the standard. People like me grew up in the time when seeing a Mercedes-Benz  was a real obsure sit,you knew it was something special. I think if you hit the tennis courts and the golf clubs of southern california you would fine a few classic W113 SLs doing what they do best, that is maintain the comfort and reliability of motoring in a class by its self.
There are more
Oh by the way than a hand full of Pagoda SLs in my area that I ocassionally pass on the street going there own way. I am waiting to get my car's suspension height corrected so I can do a pass & flash with the headlights to see if I can get a response. That is what it used to be like when theses cars were new, Drivers of these cars acknowledgeed each other by a flick of the head lights or sounding their horns at each other. It would be nice to see if anyone remembers this today.I  understand why Michael Lavers says our cars are not daily dialy drivers, just tell that to the people who are hooked on driving them every day.

Bob Geco

[Douglas]

Just got my copy. it's wonderful reading. Here's the opening to the first article:

"SL Celebration. Welcome to our Pagoda special issue and an all-encompassing look at everybody's favourite SL"

This is a must-read.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[Mike Hughes]

I like the breadth of subject matter of the various articles, and also the side bars that feature photos of owners with their cars from all over the world with a little background story.  A local MBCA member is featured with her 230SL which she autocrosses quite successfully.  Makes one wish that they had done 40 pages!

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

[Jonny B]

I finally tracked down a copy. I bought two extras and will have them at Black Lick this summer.

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

[Vince Canepa]

The differences between the 230, 250 and 280SL suspensions are very minor.  The early 230s had a thicker sway bar, but that was changed to reduce oversteer.  On the 280 the idler arm bushing is rubber; the 230 and 250 have a bronze bushing (and that is the one less grease fitting than the 230 and 250).  That hardly constitutes any of the retoric that was tossed about years ago that said the 280 had gone "soft" with rubber in the suspension.  Bull pucky.  I've driven both extensively and can't feel any noticeable difference.  You can make a bigger change in character with tires.

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex

[joelj]

Yea its a great read. I got mine from a bookstore here in the Philippines and i ordered another copy from the UK. the copies flew out the bookstore so fast I got the last copy.

cheers

Joelj

[Douglas]

You can order a copy, see the cover, and check out the contents at:

http://www.mercedesenthusiast.co.uk/cgi-bin/get_issue.cgi?i=0543May

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[Ed Cave]

Its really not that tough to find. Just check the rack at your local Borders or Barnes & Noble. The Borders just up the street from me had a stack of them.

Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA


1971 280SL
1973 911S
2004 A4 3.0 (wife)
2006 GS430

[Cees Klumper]

I got my special order issue in the mail last week and it's fun reading. Two of the 'owners around the world (in Malaysia and Kenya) are also in the 42nd anniversary Poster.

As Bob mentions, the classification as a 'fragile classic', that is not to be driven routinely, is off the mark though. It's also unfortunate, as it may turn potential enthusiasts off. I drive my car any opportunity I can create (3 times this past week, for a total of about 240 km's) and drive it quite brisklý; every year since I got it (5 years ago now), it keeps getting better through this use + the care given.

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[Cees Klumper]

Hey Bob - when I drove my Pagoda from a business appointment last Thursday (top down in blistering heat, me wearing my suit-and-tie) a 6o-ies MG with the top down came from the other direction and, upon seeing my car, the driver waived his hand in greeting. I greeted back - so the custom still exists ...

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[ChrisInNashville]

Got three today at Barnes & Noble.   We're a little behind in Evansville, so I can still buy it.   Besides, it was tucked on the backrow behind the dog-earred copies of American Muscle Car Weekly...

Anyone need one?