Nice drive to see the beginnings of Alex's journey

[mdsalemi]

As many of you know, our board member AlexD's car was in a crash earlier this year. After a lot of back and forth with the parties involved and the insurance companies he's on track with a plan to get the car fixed. His Mechanical work will be done locally in Chapel Hill, NC by "A Better Wrench". He was at odds with finding a reasonable shop to do the bodywork that  knows the cars and one he could trust; he didn't want a shop wanting a blank check. I convinced him to send it to Motorwerks in Commerce, Michigan after the mechanical work is done. So, the owner of Motorworks, Satish Tummala, came down yesterday from Detroit to Raleigh to take a good look at the car "in the metal" and come up with the plan. You have to admire a proprietor who will get on a plane, take a round trip to see the work ahead of him!

It was going to be a nice day, so I told Alex I'd drive to see him and see my old friend Satish, and see the car for myself. Motorwerks has done a lot of work on my car over the years. It was a nice drive, with the hardtop. About 2.5 hours each way at 4000 RPM. My car ran like a charm, though I used a tank of premium gas on the trip. Good to get it out and going now and then!

[AdelaidePagoda]

Michael, what a true Gentleman you are! This is a wonderful gesture to help a friend in need. This is the true sport of selflessness and community that the SL113 Forum exemplifies, Bravo!

[DaveB]

That's a sorry sight. At least the bumper and tail light look ok, and maybe the front is ok?
Surely the wheel got trashed in the accident, I guess that is the spare.
I hope you can find a good solid matching door. There do seem to be a few out there, saved from rusty cars.

[H. Keith Henry]

The license plates are interesting. I wish we, in Virginia, could do something like you have on the front end of your car, Michael. We have to have a regular state plate. And Alex's plate?

[mdsalemi]

The license plates are interesting. I wish we, in Virginia, could do something like you have on the front end of your car, Michael. We have to have a regular state plate. And Alex's plate?

Keith, yes, NC is a "one plate" state. You can (and people do, though not quite sure of the legitimacy) put whatever you want on the front. I spent many decades in Michigan, also a one-plate state, so my ersatz German plate has been with my car for many years.

In NC they go one step further with antique plates, and don't ask me how this works because it doesn't make a lick of sense to me. Apparently if you have verified Antique Plates (as I do on the rear of my Pagoda) you don't actually have to put the plate on the car. You can have nothing, or anything at all! As long as you keep the original Antique Plate in your car, and you MUST show it to ANYONE who asks, not just law enforcement.

So one of these days, I may just get ersatz 1969 NC plate saying PAGODA, or move the front plate to the rear. Haven't given it too much thought though...

[Cees Klumper]

Alex' rear plate claims that the car is registered in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland.
Or, if in his state it is widely known that plates on vintage cars don't necessarily mean anything (as Michael explained is the case in some US states), a nice adornment of the SL.

[Amy McKenna]

I applaud all of you in helping Alex in his time of need! Thank you Satish for flying down and Michael for all your behind the scenes support!

We all continue to think of you Alex as it can happen to any one of us!

[H. Keith Henry]

North Carolina sounds like a fun place to be for plates.

[rwmastel]

I guess Maine is finally stopping their practice of allowing anything on personal plates.  They allowed all kinds of vulgarities.  I'll let you google it.

[teahead]

Good thing they make replacement sheetmetal:

https://vintageeuroparts.com/mercedes/280-sl.html?part_classification=65&product_list_limit=72

[mdsalemi]

Good thing they make replacement sheetmetal

The car's bodywork will be executed by Motorwerks Group in Commerce Michigan. The premier supplier of sheet metal parts for the Pagoda is K&K, also in Michigan, though the other side of the state.
Obtaining sheet metal isn't the issue...it's actually working the sheet metal, and Motorwerks is well experienced in Pagodas.

[zoegrlh]

Speaking of Va antique plates Keith, I have German plates from Heidelberg on front, and Va 1970 plate on rear. Rear plate is registered as my antique plate. Should have one on front as law requires, but decided to use Heidelberg plate. If ever stopped by police for not having front antique plate (which I have stowed in trunk), I just tell you hem I’m returning from classic car event and forgot to remove the Heidelberg plate. Being that you are driving a classic car, not too much concern from police about front plates. I have had the Heidelberg plate on car for 25 years, no stops as of yet. Keith, I noticed you are using current Va plates. You should change to antique plates, much cheaper.

[H. Keith Henry]

Bob, if I change to Virginia antique plates can I keep "Pagoda" on them?