Author Topic: Poll: how long have YOU owned your Pagoda? (Read 18812 times)

Benz Dr. · « **Reply #25 on:** September 13, 2004, 16:30:23 »

I've had a 113 since 1989. The first one, a 1969 280SL, I never drove and sold the car along with a restoration. It was colour changed from brown to silver and lives in the Toronto area. It's a VERY pretty 4 speed car.

The Red Rocket was bought on Dec. 13th 1993 ( my birthday present to myself on the 14th ) from a guy in Greensborough NC. I flew down there with a friend, bought the car and drove it back home. I also bought a 1961 190SL in June of that same year which I still have.

Daniel G Caron

n/a · « **Reply #26 on:** September 17, 2004, 14:12:53 »

I bought my 4 spd 66 230 in 1989 and with the exception of the past three years drove it reqularly as a work car. I started plowing gobs of money into a 500HP Honda CRX and had a lot of fun with it. That is, until last month when I rammed the Honda head-on into a concrete culvert at the bottom of 6 foot ditch at about 80 mph. My first instinct was to blame the road zombie that illegally crossed my path with a cell phone implanted in her ear (never touched her)but I'm thinking it was a sign. Not only was I alive (I firmly believe in seatbelts)but I had another very good car I knew I could fall back on.

I pulled the old 230 out, bought a new dry cell battery, pertronix electronic ignition, rebuilt power steering box and started driving it again. I'm having a hard time getting over what the 230 would have been had I put my money into it instead of the Honda. All I know is that it feels like home again driving with the top down on cool days and nights and I can't remember exactly how I ever thought I could do better.

Mikey

n/a · « **Reply #27 on:** September 19, 2004, 20:25:55 »

I fell in love with the 113 in 1979 when I saw a horizon blue one driving down Charles Street in Baltimore. In 1992 I finally bought my 280sl from a friend who had it for 13 years. He finally relented after my frequent requests.
I've had fun with it ever since.
Don

George Des · « **Reply #28 on:** September 20, 2004, 20:29:53 »

Purchased my DBO50 (white) 1967 230SL ZF 5 speed in 1977 in Vicenza Italy. Engine was rebuilt using all MB parts by Giorgio's Garage in Longare, Italy. Shipped to US in March 1978 (Wilmington Del)and used as a daily driver until loaded up and shipped back to Livorno, Italy when I was reassigned to Camp Darby. Lots of autostrada/autobahn trips between Italy and Germany running up through Milan, the Gran St Bernard through Switzerland. ZF was rebuilt in Mannheim. Finally shipped back to US from Bremerhaven in 1983. Been off the road for last 10 years while undergoing a frame up resto. Have had it out on the road for several tests and still working out all the "bugs" associated with the resto work before I declare "victory".

George Des
1967 230Sl Euro (IT)ZF 5 Speed
2001 S430

114015 · « **Reply #29 on:** September 21, 2004, 17:28:08 »

Bought my 1964 230 SL Euro in July 1995 in Seattle, WA.

Achim
(Magdeburg, Germany)

n/a · « **Reply #30 on:** July 23, 2005, 02:21:36 »

Since April 1969

mbzse · « **Reply #31 on:** July 23, 2005, 04:42:51 »

quote:

[i]Originally posted by cees klumper[/i]

I am interested to see how long everyone has owned their cars?

Since February 1995, i.e. some 10 years
Hans Strom 250SL red 568

[b]Download Attachment:[/b] [url=http://www.sl113.org/forums/uploaded/mbzse/200572364047_Strom%20250SL.jpg][img]images/icon_paperclip.gif" alt="" class="bbc_img" /> Strom 250SL.jpg[/url]
64.6 KB[/img]

/Hans in Stockholm

TR · « **Reply #32 on:** July 23, 2005, 08:38:41 »

There's some great stories on this thread.

Have owned this car since mid-1985, now 20 years. Have all service records since new.

Currently in the midst of a long, slow project with the objective of enhancements to reliability, safety, security, and performance, as well as making the car suitable for coast-to-coast drives with all the levels of creature comforts my wife has grown to demand. This means many things, such as A/C running full blast all the time in warm/hot weather, including while the top is down at freeway speeds, active ventilation seats, back massagers, all the entertainment systems...the list goes on & on.

Although we're still not done, last week the local M-B dealer described the car as a 2006 / 1971 280SL, which sounded pleasing to me. During this enhancement process no fundamental changes have been made, meaning no cutting of metal.

As the years continue to pass my goal is to keep the car current with certain technological enhancements, all of which will be reasonably well hidden.

My philosophy is that the car should be easily returnable to orig. conditon/configuration if and when the mood should strike. Primarily that would mean removing all the new surface materials, such as stripping the leather cover from the ship's wheel, pulling up the modern M-B carpet mat'l, putting the original air filter, exhaust system, original-style rearview mirror, speakers, viscous-clutch fan, etc, etc. back in place. Not sure why I'm keeping all this stuff, because I'm pretty sure the car will not be returned to it's fully original configuration (including MB Tex) in my lifetime. We've not used this 280SL too much during the past 20 years, but intend to in the future. Can't think of a better way to kick around N. America (wife strongly prefers good hotels to a motor home).

Tom in Boise
'71 280SL 4-spd, signal red w/lt. tan interior, restored/enhanced

PK · « **Reply #33 on:** July 23, 2005, 12:38:44 »

quote:
Originally posted by cees klumper

In my case, 5 years (I bought it on August 22, 1999). I am interested to see how long everyone has owned theirs?

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

day 2 ! my wife and ihave been looking for "just the right funmobile" and fell for our 1964 230sl. it runs, needs a lot of work to get it to a safe and enjoyable level.

blairwag · « **Reply #34 on:** July 23, 2005, 17:49:36 »

Got mine summer of 2002 - so, about 3 years now. However, I got it from my father - who owned it since Summer of 1972. I wish I could say its been trouble free - but I can't. I seem to spend anywhere from 2-3 hours working on the car, for every hour I drive it. No complaints - however. I love our "Lil Red Car".

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Blair Wagner: blairwag@earthlink.net
Education is not always knowing the answer,
...but rather knowing where to look for it!
1971 280SL US Automatic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jonny B · « **Reply #35 on:** July 23, 2005, 17:53:11 »

I got mine in April 2003. I had a 107 for 13 years before that. I always wanted the 113 style, since high school, and finally found a decent one.

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

pagode.info · « **Reply #36 on:** July 24, 2005, 02:09:01 »

I got mine in 2002 and had 2 others before.

Have a nice day.

Tom

saygold · « **Reply #37 on:** July 24, 2005, 11:49:03 »

I have always liked the pagodas after seeing one while in college. Unfortunately, I'm one who is old enough to see them when they are new. I bought my 230SL in 1986 as my present to myself when returning from working overseas. I kept it parked in the garage with my wife's car outside in north-east Nevada (rather nasty weather sometimes in case you haven't been there).

When we went overseas in 1992, I sold it to my brother, then bought it back from him about 6 months later (it was parked in his garage). The interior and exterior were professonally restored over about 4 years (parked in their garage, of course), then my brother drove it once in a while. I started using it again in 1998. It's now parked in my garage in Gig Harbor, WA. I don't use it enough: I've put only about 30,000 km during this time period.

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #38 on:** July 24, 2005, 13:55:53 »

Hello Saygold - actually putting on 30.000 km in 7 years is not bad at all - most people put on less.

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

rwmastel · « **Reply #39 on:** July 24, 2005, 17:39:02 »

He might mean since 1986, 19 years.

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

saygold · « **Reply #40 on:** July 24, 2005, 20:15:23 »

Yes, I have put only 30,000 km since 1986. Sorry for not clarifying it.

Ken Deter
1966 230SL (euro)

TR · « **Reply #41 on:** July 24, 2005, 20:38:54 »

Ken -- Well, you're in a wonderful place to rack up some miles now. Gig Harbor is beautiful.

Tom in Boise
'71 280SL 4-spd, signal red w/lt. tan interior, restored/enhanced

Ben · « **Reply #42 on:** July 25, 2005, 04:27:45 »

Have mine since 1st December 2001 and I've put up over 70,000 km's since ! [:0]

I love driving it but it will be retired later this year and I'll start to do the body in 2005 !

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

Vince Canepa · « **Reply #43 on:** July 25, 2005, 05:24:29 »

Purchased used from Stahl Motor Company, Monterey, California December 1971.

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

pablo_o2 · « **Reply #44 on:** July 25, 2005, 11:59:46 »

I've bought mine 2 years ago and only drove it from the port (shippingCy) to my home. I decided to fully restore the car from the beginning. So untill now it is still in restoration and hope to have it finished at the end of this year. It was love at first sight the moment I saw a local businessguy had one some 30 years ago, almost bought one 12 years ago and finally as I said bought one 2 years ago and hope to never have to sell it again. I have 2 sons so think i will pass it to them later on...

Paul Haems
'68 280SL

News:

Author Topic: Poll: how long have YOU owned your Pagoda? (Read 18812 times)

n/a

n/a

George Des

n/a

TR

PK

blairwag

pagode.info

saygold

saygold

TR

Ben

Vince Canepa