San Francisco Bay Area Pagoda Owners

[Nate]

As I made the trek down the Peninsula this morning on a gorgeous fall day in stop-and-go traffic, I was pleasantly surprised to see a beautifully restored '71 Tobacco Brown/Cognac SL instantly gain my attention and pull up next to me.  I flipped the switch to lower my window on my C320 daily driver and chatted it up with the owner for a minute.  I believe this is the car Roy Spencer restored for a client (I assume the current owner) almost 2 years ago, he had an article about it on his website for those of you who subscribe to his newsletter.  Anyhow, as my second 280SL nears completion after an 8 month restoration, I'd like to get in touch with other Pagoda owners in the area, including the owner of the Tobacco Brown SL I saw on the road this morning.  Maybe this could be the beginning of the Bay Area Pagoda SL Group.  Are there any Bay Area Pagoda owners out there?
Cheers,

1971 280SL
Arabian Gray

[J. Huber]

Hey Nate. There is a pretty good contingency of Pagoda owners in the Bay Area. Getting them all in one place is the challenge! Back in 2002, I think it was, there was a gathering of about 12-15. The following year, we did another in Los Gatos/Palo Alto -- with 10 I think. It was a lot of fun -- and while a few of these owners have moved on, many new ones have surfaced. I am technically outside the "Bay Area" but don't mind the 2 or so hours getting there -- if its a good weekend for me.

Initially, I thought the brown Pagoda you saw might be Robert Schilling. But he probabaly would have mentioned his "baby" -- the Bay Area MB Club's Sunday Drives. He orchestrates monthly drives -- each is a unique Bay Area drive with lots to enjoy. There are often a few Pagodas, but it is open to all Mercedes. Pretty neat to be toodling down the road with a Gullwing in front of you and a AMG or SL600 behind... search the web for firstsundaydrives.com for more info.

Finally, our own Pete Smith here has a nice e-mailing list of Bay Area folk going -- so hopefully you are now on it! Good luck and count me in for the next Big One in the Bay Area!

James
63 230SL

[sjiatrou]

Nate, et al.

Count me in! I'm about 1.5 hours south in Seaside/Monterey.  My car was raised in San Francisco (purchased at European Motors Ltd. in April 1964 and owned by the same couple until I acquired it last year.)

Steve
Seaside, CA
1964 230sl roadster
White (050)/Black (116)

[bjudd]

Hi Nate,

there are a handful in my neighborhood in the east bay.  I haven't made the Sunday Drive yet, but I'm on the list and plan to soon.  I'd be up for coming to SF to see your car when complete and learn about some of the resources you used.  Mine's a rolling restoration with a long way to go.

bjudd
1969 280 SL 5 sp

[awoodw111]

Sir: my name is Anthony Wood and I would like to join a Bay Area Pagoda SL club. However, I have a 250SE coupe, not an SL. Assuming I could join in some capacity I request contact information. Thanks for your help. Regards, Anthon A. Wood, Atascadero CA. cell: 805 550 0255

[Sigman]

I have not been checking the forum in years... It would be nice to have a local SF Bay Area SL club...

Michael