Buyers who are new to Pagodas....

[john.mancini]

Lately, there seems to be more "low mileage, original cars", for sale. For those buyers who may be looking to get into the Pagoda hobby, please be careful when someone tries to represent a car as a low mileage, original. Case in point, check out the silver and black 1971 280SL that carsschmitt.com has on eBay. He represents the car with 38,000 original miles. I would have to ask myself, why would a car with 38,000 original miles have a completely new interior? Why would it have a reproduction firewall pad? Why would the engine compartment be blacked out? Why are all of the inner fender welds covered with bondo and repainted? Why...........?  It goes on. I do realize that a 40 year old car with 38,000 miles may simply need things replaced due to age, but, BE CAREFUL NEWBIES!!! Pagodas are great cars, but there's no need to be stung by a pig wearing lipstick. 
John

[Jordan]

Absolutely.  It is not that difficult to remove and reinstall another speedometer.  Take my car as an example.  I know that the speedo in the car is at least the 3rd one.  Originally had a KPH speedo (German 1st owner) which was changed to a MPH speedo when it was exported to the US by the second owner and then changed back to a KPH speedo by myself last year.  It may say 40K kilometers but I know it is probably closer to 240K based on the vehicles records.  One of these days I'll have to sit down and go through all the receipts and calculate how many kilometres have actually been put on the car.

[jaymanek]

Cars more than a few years old should be bought on condition only, speedo reading I'd irrelevant.

Always buy with your eyes, buy the car not the paperwork.

[graphic66]

You can make these "wheel" odometers say anything you want very easily and the hardest part is getting the speedo out and back in. I have yet to see one you couldn't change with a little patience in any car. It's all about condition, in 40+ years these cars go through a lot of changes, not all good.

[Ulf]

My car only has 96k kms/59k original miles on it and it look like s*** :-)

[mdsalemi]

These situations are no different for Pagoda than any other cult car or collectible.

When people value "California Cars" there are plenty of them for sale.
When 5-speed are desirable, people find ways of creating them.
When originality is highly valued, you will find more original cars for sale.
When restoration is sought, there will be plenty of those.

The sellers, some unscrupulous of course, go with the flow!

[john.mancini]

Absolutely correct Michael.
John

[dseretakis]

My pagoda has the hardtop sunroof option, factory five speed, 10,000 original miles and original paint. I'm selling it for $125,000. Anyone interested? Haha, just kidding!

[Erik]

Great, does it also has the original Becker G.P.S.?  I might be intrested  )
Greetings,
Erik

[dseretakis]

Yes. Original Becker and beautiful original leather with warm patina. It even has the original dry rotted Firestone tires with virtually no tread wear! Oh I forgot to mention all new floorboards, rockers.

[john.mancini]

Is the original air still in those Firestones?