Great article - I find that as I jump between my Pagoda and modern vehicles (including my 18yr old Dodge 4X4) that I forget how advanced the Pagodas were for their time.
I just picked up a 1965 Ford F-100 to restore which is the same era of the pagoda but is so far behind in everything. For example that truck still has 4 wheel drum brakes. Getting into and driving the Pagoda in the day must have been a real experience with fuel injection, 4 wheel disk brakes, 4 wheel independent suspension, those amazing seats........
I think I better go for a drive up the coast in my Pagoda right now to take it all in..