Finding the Red Car

[Tycoon]

You may already know this but, I believe the horizontal chrome piece, on the lower rear quarter panel, behind the rear wheel in this picture, is indicative of a later model 230. The early models did not have this….the tires look very much like 5.5 to me!
Bill

[getsmart]

A Refinisher company in Melbourne are currently doing mine. They have done a lot over the years and have a few there now. They recently did a Gullwing too apparently. Good luck!

Hi Andy post some pics when you get it done! For me I couldn't afford to give up the kidney they'd want just as down payment (but actually I love giving stuff a go myself). I'm hearing bare metals resprays are commanding $35k to $50k in Australia. Not sure if thats accurate but I was quoted $20k back in 2015. All my paint (Glasurit) cost me about $3k in total including primer and undercoat and thats using the base coat and clear coat system on the exterior and using single stage on the underside, interior and engine bay.

Rgds, Joe

[getsmart]

You may already know this but, I believe the horizontal chrome piece, on the lower rear quarter panel, behind the rear wheel in this picture, is indicative of a later model 230. The early models did not have this….the tires look very much like 5.5 to me!
Bill

Hi Bill,

On a high resolution image one can clearly make out that this car, and thus all the others behind, are fitted with the early 5,5" rims. This is identified by the three lugs (pins) on the wheel rim. The move to the 6" wide rims was at the end of July 1964, so, this image is taken before that date (comments courtesy of /Hans in Sweden).

The rear horizontal plate I had not heard that before Bill, pretty sure it was on early pagodas as far back as the 63 but perhaps someone else can chime in on that one.

R/Joe

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=2133.0

[AndyMac]

Will do. Hopefully Q1 next year. Wish I could tinker. Would only make things worse! Cheers.

[114015]

You may already know this but, I believe the horizontal chrome piece, on the lower rear quarter panel, behind the rear wheel in this picture, is indicative of a later model 230. The early models did not have this….

Rubbish.
No Bill, this is not correct. The chrome piece behind the rear wheel arch is always there on any 113
(uhem..., with the exception of a couple of pre-March-1963 prototype cars without 113042 VIN).

All Pagodas had these trim pieces (A113 689 0980 and 1080) ex factory....; if they're missing they were later taken off. Most likely due to (bad) rust (repair) or a non-knowledgeable restoration team.

Achim

[getsmart]

Hello all!!!!

Steady progress continues on my restoration with many things happening in parallel all stuck in a log jam which is me with only one set of arms and legs and one brain (or half a brain!!! 

After receiving my entire interior from German Auto Tops and having to deal with American couriers (no offence to the Americans among us) which I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy I've got my first seat rebuilt. Thoughts you might be interested to see some pics...

My original mbtex was grey/white and the closest replacement was Parchment which looks a perfect match.

I had all the usual issues such as broken springs and even the frame needed a touch of welding but a light sand and paint touch up its looking good....I also need to get it out into the sun to soften up for some more adustments... I'm quite pleased with the result.

My original coconut fibre pads were not bad enough to justify replacing so I added some 25mm foam.

Hope you're all keeping well,

Joe in Melbourne

[Garry]

Nice job Joe.  Did you end up using SS tie’s or nylon’s


Garry

[getsmart]

Thanks Garry,

Black nylon ones which can be seen in one of the pics. I figure that the load is spread right across many of them so they'll last a while!!!

Nice job Joe.  Did you end up using SS tie’s or nylon’s


Garry

[getsmart]

The red car appears again in another publication (thanks to Dave Celghorn who posted the link in another thread)

https://www.motor1.com/news/656739/mercedes-230-sl-pagoda-1963-debut/amp/

and a pic of the current state - currently working on the interior, the body has been 3000grit wetndry sanded ready for the buff. Progress can be painfully slow at times for a myriad of reasons, for eg, the 3-piece windscreen frame chrome surrounds were in good condition except one had a dent in it that I could not get out - right on the corner of the rhs vertial surround so if I re-chrome that one then I have to do all 3. So the windscreen can't go in until the surrounds return from the chrome plater... 

Rgds, Joe

[Duncan200]

Hi Joe,

We seem to be in a similar place both when comes to where we are with our restoration and geographically.

Love reading up on the celebrity status of your car, mine too was delivered without the hardtop.

The last we spoke, you said you were interested in dropping past to see my glovebox lid. If you’re still interested, I’d be more than happy to have a couple of beers with you while we talk Pagodas.

Here’s a happy snap of my progress, almost as slow as yours. It took me the best part of 4 hours yesterday to pull apart the throttle linkages for plating. Still enjoying it for now😂.

Regards Doug

[getsmart]

Hi Doug that's looking good 👍

I did send you a personal message on here but you didn't reply, would be great to catchup and compare notes and cars!!!!

I'll send you another message,  check your mailbox on here 

Best rgds, Joe

[Duncan200]

Hi Joe,

That’s interesting, I’ve just checked my mailbox and there’s nothing from you.

I’ll keep an eye out now.

Doug.

[getsmart]

I sent you a message 15 minutes ago

[getsmart]

Have now gone inside onto the pc and tried for the 3rd time - if you don't get one maybe try sending me one Doug.

Rgds, Joe

ps. Might have worked as my message is now appearing in my sent folder, wasn't when i was on the phone

I sent you a message 15 minutes ago

[Peter van Es]

That’s interesting, I’ve just checked my mailbox and there’s nothing from you.
Doug.

Personal Messages do not -- always -- appear in your mailbox but on this site on My Messages.
Do note: if you do receive a Personal Message notification from this system -- do not reply to the e-mail, as that does not work.

Use the link in the mail to go to the messages page on this forum and reply there. The reason for this is because it is the only way to keep e-mail addresses private for members who have set that in their personal profile.

[Duncan200]

Hi Peter,

I was checking my messages on the site.

The 3rd one Joe sent was the first I received from him.

All good now

Doug

[getsmart]

Happy new year all!!!

My restoration continues albeit slowly though I'm always progressing in some way...

The latest item that was missing that I decided to try and re-fabricate was the rear seat vents. I almost fell out of my chair when I saw the price of them, surely they must be made from gold I thought.

I purchased 50mm x 6mm aluminium flat bar and 2 different sheets of stainless steel gauze, a fine one to hid behind the more course one. To hold the metal gauze in and also to hold the vents in the back of the seat I fabricated a sheetmetal back and attached with small pins set in expoxy into the rear of the aluminium vents.

Using a router and manual filing I managed to fabricate and install the 4 vents. I polished the aluminium and coated with a clear protective coating. I'm quite pleased with the results.

Regards from Joe in Australia

[getsmart]

and a few more pics....

[WRe]

Great work! Happy New Year!
...WRe

[AndrewB]

Nice work ! Well done

[RAY]

Amazing work.
No wonder your "handle" is Getsmart.

[Leester]

Beautiful work!

[getsmart]

thanks guys, I know its not for everyone but the fabrication part for me almost gives me more enjoyment than driving the car - though I have not yet driven it so I should refrain from commenting further until then