Author Topic: First time out after 10 years  (Read 2562 times)

dirkbalter

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Corona
  • Posts: 1476
First time out after 10 years
« on: October 31, 2022, 00:23:48 »
I am all exited and want to share.
Drove my car today for the first time after a complete restoration. Some minor parts still need to be assembled.   ;D
All that point I would like to mention that this forum and the help of the members is priceless.
I still have a little way to go, but thank you to all who helped me along the way.
 
« Last Edit: October 31, 2022, 00:53:02 by dirkbalter »
Dirk
66 230 SL
70 280 SEL
53 CHEVY 3100
18 C300 COUPE
05 HD FLSTNI

lreppond

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, CA, San Leandro
  • Posts: 639
Re: First time out after 10 years
« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2022, 00:56:21 »
Wow. She’s a beauty and your excitement is justified. And I bet you’re mighty proud too! Silver with red interior is a classic SL color combo.  What color will the hardtop be? soft top?  I hope you’ll share more pix once you’ve assembled the “minor” parts. 
~Len

1971 280 SL
576G red/251 Beige
4 speed manual
Family owned since new (father —> son)

JohnnyC

  • Full Member
  • Regular
  • **
  • USA, CA, Escondido, CA
  • Posts: 87
Re: First time out after 10 years
« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2022, 03:18:16 »
Congratulations Dirk, I’m so happy for you. You’re starting to see the fruits of your labor. It’s a big step forward and very memorable.  I saw you video you sent me, the engine sounds very nice too.

Cheers,
JohnnyC
John
'70 280SL (In Rebuild), Dk Olive/Cognac
'85 BMW Euro M635csi, Polaris Silver
'54 MG TF, Black
'01 Lazy Daze RV, White/Tan
'10 Genesis Coupe, Silver
'19 F150, Black

JamesL

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • United Kingdom, London, London
  • Posts: 3607
Re: First time out after 10 years
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2022, 06:55:30 »
Congrats and well done
(Loving the rat-rod vibe😉)
James L
Oct69 RHD 280 in DB906 with cognac leather

Jonny B

  • Pagoda SL Board
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, San Marcos
  • Posts: 4197
Re: First time out after 10 years
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2022, 15:46:03 »
A dune buggy Pagoda! Just right for the California beaches!!

Can't wait to see it at the next Pagodas and Beer.
Good Job!!
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

dirkbalter

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Corona
  • Posts: 1476
Re: First time out after 10 years
« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2022, 16:12:11 »


Can't wait to see it at the next Pagodas and Beer.
Good Job!!

That’s the goal.
Thank you all
Dirk
66 230 SL
70 280 SEL
53 CHEVY 3100
18 C300 COUPE
05 HD FLSTNI

Merc_Girl

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • United Kingdom, England, Godalming
  • Posts: 694
Re: First time out after 10 years
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2022, 23:07:47 »
Bit of a dodgy area? Drive out with a complete car and thieving little b#gg%*s taken parts off as you were driving!?! Albeit one had to admire the tenacity of the theft 🤣🤣🤣

Great job for the parts they left 😁
230SL

Pinder

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, NJ, Edison
  • Posts: 1031
Re: First time out after 10 years
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2022, 01:53:00 »
Great Work. its coming along nicely. Excellent color combo
1970 280 SL Light Ivory DB 670. 4 Speed manual shift no AC Limited Slip Diff.
1997 Corvette C5 Silver. automatic
2015 BMW 320i xdrive
2021 Mercedes GLS450 Silver

kampala

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Beach Cities
  • Posts: 1246
Re: First time out after 10 years
« Reply #8 on: November 01, 2022, 02:23:58 »
congrats Dirk !

Last time I saw your pagoda it was a shell just out of paint.   Nice work.
250sl - later - manual
280sl - 1971 - Auto - LSD

Leester

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • USA, VA, Lorton
  • Posts: 440
Re: First time out after 10 years
« Reply #9 on: November 01, 2022, 15:35:21 »
A great milestone in your restoration.  Looks great!  Lee
Lee Backus
1963 220SE Cabriolet
1970 280SL (reassembling - hopefully soon)
1978 450SL (disassembled for paint)
1985 500SEC

teahead

  • Associate Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, WA, Des Moines
  • Posts: 781
  • aka "Rob"
Re: First time out after 10 years
« Reply #10 on: November 01, 2022, 23:34:41 »
Congrats!

Are your coil springs new?  Car seems pretty high.
1970 280SL auto, AC - aka "Edelweiss"

RobSirg

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • Australia, Victoria, Melbourne
  • Posts: 568
Re: First time out after 10 years
« Reply #11 on: November 02, 2022, 01:08:42 »
After restoration my car sat up like a Giraffe……..looked awful.
The mechanic was fretting that he made an error with the running gear somewhere.

After we put the roof on, added some fuel and drove it a little …..it settled into the perfect height. ( I did some forum searches which confirmed this would be the likely result).

All that time on the hoist with its legs dangling and all new suspension …..makes sense.
« Last Edit: November 02, 2022, 04:11:18 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

dirkbalter

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Corona
  • Posts: 1476
Re: First time out after 10 years
« Reply #12 on: November 02, 2022, 01:33:07 »
That’s my theory too. All new shocks, rubber …
It needs a few more miles to settle. It will also gain some more weight when the  seats, doors, soft top …. are installed.
Dirk
66 230 SL
70 280 SEL
53 CHEVY 3100
18 C300 COUPE
05 HD FLSTNI

johnk

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, OH, Avon
  • Posts: 1166
Re: First time out after 10 years
« Reply #13 on: November 02, 2022, 11:30:35 »
My car sat the same. Took a while but it sits nicely now.
John Krystowski
Avon Ohio
1968 Euro 280sl under restoration
2016 Jag F-Type R sold june 2021
1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS For sale
2008 E350
2007 GL 450
2019 BMW 540