Abano Terme Italy Pagoda

[George Des]

My wife and I were in Abano Terme on Saturday sitting in the Centro on a gloriously sunny day eating some gelato and observing all the German and Japanese autos including many, many SUVs--what a surprise--only saw a few of the once plentiful cinque centos--when low and behold we heard the familiar sound of a Pagoda. We caught a quick glimpse of it as it came through the centro with hard top on--a gleaming white one but could not catch the exact model. My 67 230SL ZF 5-speed was born and raised just down the road in Rovigo before I purchased it in Vicenza back in 1976 so perhaps it was a brother or sister from long ago. Anyone who hasn't been to Abano should consider a side trip there with a few days to enjoy the beautiful spa and Colle Euganea. Spent 4 years in this area when assigned down in Vicenza and forgot just how beautiful and peaceful Northern Italy can be.

[rwmastel]

George,
My SL was originally delivered in Bergamo.  Is that near where you were?

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

[George Des]

Rodd,

Bergamo is about 2 hours to the west and about 20 minutes before you get into Milano. Drove through there yesterday morning in our rental Renault about 7:00 on the way to the airport at Malpensa. As I understand it, most of the 5 speeds were delivered to the Italians and almost all have the side directional repeaters that were common on all Italian cars as well as the amber-red old style tail light lenses. When I got mine in 76 they were very plentiful since most Italians could not afford to keep them fueld back then. Owing to the wine industry, other heavy industry and the opening of the east, the area north of the Po River appears to very affluent now--truck traffic on the A4 autostrada is maddening and posted speed limits although not often obeyed are comoon place now--very different from when I first arrived there in early 75.

George Des

George Des

[joelj]

Hi George,
What are the directional repeaters? Are these the side markers found in US cars.

I was informed that my 280sl came from italy. Iy has side markers but i though it came this way since it was federalized in the USA.

Thanks

joel-i

[George Des]

Joel-I,

The Italian side marker directional repeaters are round and they only operate when the directionals are used. Most are made by Marelli but there are others. These were a pretty std item on all cars foreign and domestic that were licensed in Italy.

George Des

[Cees Klumper]

These round Italian side marker lights / repeaters can still be purchased new at suppliers for the Fiat 500 and similar cars. I have a couple of sets around for anyone in need of a set, they cost next to nothing.

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

[joelj]

Hi Cees/George,

could you kindly post a photo of the side marker lights and where it is located on a pagoda.

Thanks

Joel-j

[Cees Klumper]

Here's a photo:


Download Attachment: side marker Italian.jpg
64.85 KB

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

[Bob G ✝︎]

Threre are three manufactors used by Italian automobile manufactors .
Altisimmo
Stars
Carello.
I used to sell the Italian amber turn signal lenses to Alfa and Fiat owners. I imported them direct from a parts house in Bennasso Torino Italy. Had I the forsight I would have bought some stock in thoses small side turn signal unites.

Bob Geco

[Franz W]

Hi,
i am the owner of a pagoda 230SL, 1964, in Austria. My car was originally licensed in Austria and has also this italien side markers. I have seen already some pagodas in Austria, that have this side markers. Do not know why. I could not find this lights in the spare parts list of DC and had problems to find new side markers. I found some in an old shop in Vienna, so it is interesting to hear about the fiat side markers which are the same and are available in Italy.

best regards Franz

[joelj]

Thank you for the photo Cees Unfortunately my 280sl was federalized so they must have taken out the round signal lites from italy. How unfortunate.

Do they lite up when you turn? or they just reflect?

Thanks

Joel

[rwmastel]

They only light when you are signaling.  They are not reflectors or side markers, just turn signals.  Here's my car.

Download Attachment: Copy of Pic 0702.jpg
78.57 KB

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

[pagodino]

Well, I know the car it is a 280 in white, very nice! I hope the next time, if you are in Abano you will call 00393924689421 (dr. Patrick Welte), because the other one with the red one (230 Sl) in Abano its me!
So we can get a cup da "Bano" and get for a ride!

Well I think for a lot, wouldn't be nice to organize a international meeting here, Vebice, Verona, Padova with Prato della Valle e Adria to race a little with the cars?

For the next: Pagodino

Pagodino

[Cees Klumper]

An international meeting in Bergamo - Northern Italy sounds very nice. If you are serious about organizing it, I would seriously attempt to attend - next year summer?

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

[eboati]

Hi Cees,
I am from Bergamo, Italy! I actually live in Geneva, Switzerland, but my parents are still there... Hence, I can definitely help out to organize it.... what about a tech session like Blacklick, but in Europe?

Alternatively, we could do it in Geneva... we have 4 members down here...

Cheers,   ennio

1964 W113 230SL
1982 W123 240d

[Cees Klumper]

OK ... we had a tech session in The Netherlands in 2003, and could probably put one together somewhere in Switzerland or Italy next year. We would need a host (garage specialized in Pagodas) though; would you know of such a place that might be interested?

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

[France]

Hi guys,

We are in Neuchatel most of the time working, so we'd be very interested in a meeting in CH or IT.  You'll just have to put up with our 500SL or one of the other huge-engine options from the garage, because Carling is far away...

Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder
Sarasota FL; Alsace France
There's two theories to arguin' with a woman.  Neither one works.

[eboati]

Hi Cees,
a couple of ideas... In Milan, Luca Meroni (a Pagoda fan many of you know...he's got 4-5 of them) works closely with the garage of Enrico Pighetti, an old-school mechanic who basically deals only with older MB, and in particular Pagodas... at any time you may find a number of them in his garage for servicing..
However, the area is not so beautiful and green as Blacklick (judging from the pictures)..as Enrico's garage is in the outskirts of Milan.

Alternatively we may ask the guys in Geneva if there is a garage they know... my house (in Chautagne, 50kms from Geneva, on Lac de Bourget) has plenty of space in the garden for the cars, but no tools for mechanics!

Let's continue the brainstorming...

Cheers,   ennio

1964 W113 230SL
1982 W123 240d

[ja17]

Hmmmm,

A Tech session in Italy? A good excuse to visit all my relatives there!

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[66andBlue]

Although I don't have relatives in Italy I am sure that I'll find another valid reason to join you all.  
However, can you fellows find a time when the airfares are in the "low" or "intermediate" season, please? That is, preferably before May 1 or after October 1.

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

[Tom]

I would attend a tech session in Italy next year-maybe we should conduct a poll to determine interest and then the board could consider the interest and coordinate as appropriate.

1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic (restored & enhanced)
1971 280sl Tobacco Brown (low mileage stock)
1970 280sl Medium Metallic Blue Beige Interior (project car)