Another year

[49er]

 Yesterday was our car's 48th birthday but it was too darn hot (near 100f/38c) to take it out so we missed our annual celebretory drive. We did manage a trip up to the local apple growing region near us for coffee and apple donuts a few days ago . It was a beautiful topdown day and car was happy to get out for some exercise.  Haven't driven the car as much as I would like lately as we have been traveling and spent most of August with our son up in Seattle welcoming our new grand daughter to the family.
 
 Two more years before the big Five-Oh and the car still looks as beautiful to me as it did all those years ago

John

[neelyrc]

Happy 48th John and many happy returns. 

Do you call your Pagoda a 1969 because the dealer sold it as a 1969 model?

Regards,
Ralph

[49er]

Thanks Ralph, Yes it was registered as a 69 model here in CA as the model year switch over occurred the beginning of September. A credit of $71 for ommission of the headrests was shown on the invoice. The car was ordered on May 12, 1968 and built sometime in July.

John

[neelyrc]

OK. Take a delayed birthday ride when the temperature drops a bit.
Ralph

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Congratulations John, as Ralph noted take a delayed ride when the weather allows

BTW, the LOCKED STEERING catched my eye under the standard invoice description. I never knew since I got the car 3 1/2 years ago that my steering wheel locks when the key is removed. Goes to show we learn something new every day

Best,

Dieter

[neelyrc]

John, the document above appears to be the window sticker that the dealer displays on the car and not the invoice.  Did they cut you any slack on the final price when you made the deal?
Cheers,
Ralph

[49er]

No "invoice" received at delivery other then the hand written Purchase Order. Discount (that was agreed too when ordering the car in May) was approx 10%

John

[neelyrc]

Great price, great souvenirs!!
Ralph

[Cees Klumper]

Indeed. What caught my eye was the 'electrical windshield wipers' as a bonus feature on the window sticker ...

[114015]

No "invoice" received at delivery other then the hand written Purchase Order. Discount (that was agreed too when ordering the car in May) was approx 10%
John

Dear John,

You didn't pay more than $$ 2386 for your 280 in the old days (plus the accident-repaired 250 of course) ??
That's sooo cheap in comparison to today's prices ....

Achim
 

[49er]

Dear John,

You didn't pay more than $$ 2386 for your 280 in the old days (plus the accident-repaired 250 of course) ??
That's sooo cheap in comparison to today's prices ....

Achim
 

Gas was only 25 cents a gallon too

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Speaking of 0.25 per Gallon of gas, I remember having gone shopping with my wife for the week (we had no car back then) we each carried two full grocery bags full of food for the week and it only cost us $6.00 back then.

My salary back then was less then $2,500-/year as a junior mechanical draftsman, the Pagida I test drove then was just short of $8,000-

How times have changed .... Then again come to think about it, a good car (that some of the junger generation likes, mind you also some of us older folks)  like a ///M3 or the C63 AMG cost around $100K today. With some of the junger fellows making near $100K/year times seam to actually have improved. I say this only since I would have had to work 3 years back then to pay for a Pagoda

Then I have one today ... So it's all good as we say.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Speaking of Prediction .... I predict that some day (I don't know when Boris Bracq. son of Paul Bracq. the man we all admire for creating our toy/dream auto or as most of us refer to it "real automobile") will some day soon post here in our forum. A week ago or there a bouts, I noticed that Boris signed up on our forum. So I send him a welcoming e-mail. Yesterday I did get a reply (see attached). So I know it is the son of Paul B. and not some pretender.

Perhaps years from now it might come to pass and my prediction might come true ~grin~ I plan to stop by his shop next time I'm in Europe (hope to make that next year).

[ck1]

49er...my california coupe was purchased from Carwell also only on 5-25-68 with the same salesman!.my last 5 of the vin is 01836  i don't have head rests nor a credit listed on window sticker (early 68 i guess??). I thought by 68 that they were mandatory...very interesting  My car has spent its whole life life in Palos Verdes, Manhattan Beach and now in Murrieta...I wish I can figure out how to post my window sticker and bill of sale.
Cameron

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Ck1, you need a scanner or have it scanned by someone that has a scanner. You can then post the file here as an attachement.

Dieter

[49er]

49er...my california coupe was purchased from Carwell also only on 5-25-68 with the same salesman!.my last 5 of the vin is 01836  i don't have head rests nor a credit listed on window sticker (early 68 i guess??). I thought by 68 that they were mandatory...very interesting  My car has spent its whole life life in Palos Verdes, Manhattan Beach and now in Murrieta...I wish I can figure out how to post my window sticker and bill of sale.
Cameron

  Wow, small world! I placed the order for my 280SL on May 12, 1968 just a few days before your car was delivered to the original owner. The salesman I dealt with then was Allen Ivanjack. When I took delivery that following September the Salesman was Mike Catella. Headrests were not standard until later on for Model Year '69 SL's. I will be interested in seeing the Bill of Sale. Dieter is correct in his advise.

John 

[ohoraherecaptain]

Wow, small world! I placed the order for my 280SL on May 12, 1968 just a few days before your car was delivered to the original owner. The salesman I dealt with then was Allen Ivanjack. When I took delivery that following September the Salesman was Mike Catella. Headrests were not standard until later on for Model Year '69 SL's. I will be interested in seeing the Bill of Sale. Dieter is correct in his advise.

Hi John.
Another John here [in the UK]. I purchased a 68 280sl last year and it currently does not have headrests. I'm about to have the interior redone and have headrest covers sent to me with the seat covers - so wondering if I should acquire a pair - and have them covered/fitted at the same time??
look forward to your thoughts on this.
John.