Author Topic: One Gullwing down (Read 17013 times)

friendofaustria · « **on:** March 27, 2013, 21:09:38 »

Check out the the attached link. unfortunately in German.the Restoration shop MECHATRONIC, received the 300SL for routine inspection. workers took the car for a spin and where to fast going into a curve, accroding to Police.

Result is a totaled 300SL GULLWING

http://www.spiegel.de/auto/aktuell/unfall-in-pleidelsheim-mercedes-300-sl-erleidet-totalschaden-a-891281.html

Gerhard
-----------

66 230SL

enochbell · « **Reply #1 on:** March 27, 2013, 21:27:20 »

What a shame but, as the story says, the kids (26 and 19) will have a great story to tell. BTW, if you open the link in Google Chrome it will automatically translate.

Greg (the other Atlanta 230sl)

Bonnyboy · « **Reply #2 on:** March 27, 2013, 21:28:46 »

Surely that wouldn't be considered totalled.

Pull up the nose a bit, straighten the bumper, pop up the roof, replace the windshield, brush away a bit of the grass off the roof, replace the passenger headlight and grill and you should be good to go.. And close the drivers door so you don't fall out.

The drivers side mirror isn't even damaged.

Brian in NL · « **Reply #3 on:** March 27, 2013, 22:15:09 »

At the prices Gullwings go for today, anything short of an explosion in which the tubular frame melts can be considered salvagable!

pj · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2013, 18:23:53 »

this article is about a Gullwing that crashed
www.businessinsider.com/super-rare-mercedes-gets-totaled-after-mechanics-take-it-for-a-joy-ride-2013-3

I hope the article remains on the website server. In the incident, a mechanic "26-year-old and his 19-year-old apprentice from Mechatronics... were unharmed after their joyride north of Stuttgart went sour... and the two seat car with 4-speed manual transmission went off the side of the road and rolled over... Both the car and the garage are insured."

71Beige280SL · « **Reply #5 on:** March 29, 2013, 13:56:08 »

What a shame. I imagine the owner of the garage said something like..."You did what?!"..."The car is totaled you say"..."Are you two ok?"..."Good, I am glad you're fine...now, YOU'RE FIRED!" This is the clean version minus the expletives.

Flyair · « **Reply #6 on:** March 29, 2013, 16:40:27 »

what a publicity for Mechatronic….

after that "joy ride" their insurance premium is likely to skyrocket :'(

Kayvan · « **Reply #7 on:** March 29, 2013, 23:35:59 »

VIN plate alone is qaurter million

Restorations are $500k

If rare (rudge, comp. axle, etc) will bring $750k-$1 million

Benz Dr. · « **Reply #8 on:** April 12, 2013, 23:20:57 »

Quote from: Kayvan on March 29, 2013, 23:35:59

VIN plate alone is qaurter million

Restorations are $500k

If rare (rudge, comp. axle, etc) will bring $750k-$1 million

Actually, more than that. I have one available in silver with red interior. Rudge knock offs, 35,000 original miles. Sold new at Toronto in 1956.

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎ · « **Reply #9 on:** October 26, 2013, 21:05:23 »

I wonder if the mechanic still works for the garage

Translated from German to English (not always a perfect match ~ read between the lines).

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spiegel.de%2Fauto%2Faktuell%2Funfall-in-pleidelsheim-mercedes-300-sl-erleidet-totalschaden-a-891281.html&act=url

Flyair · « **Reply #10 on:** October 26, 2013, 22:40:56 »

R-D

This mishap was widely commented on the forum shortly after it happened in March. It would be obviously interesting to know how Mechatronic treated their personnel involved in this ultimately prejudicial "restoration" case. Also, despite the statement about the insurance covering all damages I wonder how much higher did their insurance premium go as the result of that single event?

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎ · « **Reply #11 on:** October 26, 2013, 23:42:37 »

Hi Stan,

I had no idea it was already posted before ...

Alfred ... As a German/Canadian I don't look down on a 300 SL I don't think our Pagoda's would look down on a 300 SL either

Last summer I parked right besides a 300 SL at a local car show my 280 got along very well with the 300. Anyway, thanks for moving the thread.

Flyair · « **Reply #12 on:** October 27, 2013, 09:21:50 »

Thankfully, people have different tastes, otherwise there will be only one car model on the streets...

Speaking about replicas, some time ago (more like three four years) I saw a webpage of a shop in Brazil that advertised Pagoda replicas for sale. Wonder if other people spotted such shops any place else?

pdc · « **Reply #13 on:** October 27, 2013, 09:53:58 »

what a sad situation;

You'll be the owner of the car.... even if there is insurance the emotions all people involved need to go through. Good that the guys weren't hurt , I am sure they got their lesson learned there.... And the owner(s) of Mechatronic, I don't think he will have been happy with such publicity, after all this is also a management's fault. Test-driving such machines shouldn't be done by youngsters.

I read somewhere that the Gullwing was rather a very unpredictable car and I am sure that Mechatronic knows this well, thus the more they need to be selective about who they send on the road with customers cars. Look at this video http://www.kewego.com/video/iLyROoafYrxQ.html at 1m50 s, widow-maker they name it....

When I bring my pagoda in for service at the Benz garage I talk with the mechanic who will work and test it; If I would see feel uncomfortable about him I talk with receptionist about it. Than again it could still happen...

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎ · « **Reply #14 on:** October 27, 2013, 16:29:21 »

Stan, when I was in the Philippines (Manila) I saw a shop that made replica BMW's was quite funny to see.

pdc · « **Reply #15 on:** October 27, 2013, 21:05:55 »

I am somewhat confused since there is the Gullwing down subject and replica's

Anyway,

Stan, your note about brazilian replica's of the pagoda reminded me of a video I once found on You Tube; I just looked it up and is this the company you talked about? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQlU6jkXc_s

114015 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 29, 2013, 17:18:03 »

Quote

What a shame. I imagine the owner of the garage said something like..."You did what?!"..."The car is totaled you say"..."Are you two ok?"..."Good, I am glad you're fine...now, YOU'RE FIRED!" This is the clean version minus the expletives.

Quote

I wonder if the mechanic still works for the garage

Well, maybe. Maybe in the US. Not so in Germany, there are still quite some more employees' rights out there...

Car is currently being restored again, see link:

http://blog.mechatronik.de/

Achim

pdc · « **Reply #17 on:** October 29, 2013, 20:45:56 »

Interesting Achim,

thanks for posting this,

In der Krise liegt die Chance, indeed.

GGR · « **Reply #18 on:** October 29, 2013, 20:46:26 »

I don't read German. Is the car being restored with insurance money? Could be quite an income generating trick to send youngsters test drive the cars (2nd degree humor! I'm specifying, just in case!).

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎ · « **Reply #19 on:** October 30, 2013, 00:28:47 »

Quote from: GGR on October 29, 2013, 20:46:26

I don't read German. Is the car being restored with insurance money?

GGR,

Here is the web site in English … ---> http://translate.google.ca/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.mechatronik.de&act=url

You can almost treanslate any web site into English … joust type "Translator" then select Google Translator and copy the website link of interest into the Google Translator space select the languages of choice and you are done …

They don't talk about insurance only about what work they can do and will do to restore this car again. I would never purchase a car like that not many people would. I think from earlier posts on this both the Restoration Shop and the Insurance company of the original owner will pay the bill. Naturally we all know how the insurance premiums will then skyrocket

pdc · « **Reply #20 on:** October 30, 2013, 21:15:54 »

Rolf,

I see you got yourself a new E coupe in stead of the M3 ? Did the pagoda increase your love for Benzes ?

Here in Europe the all buy the A5 Coupe, it is amazing how popular that car is. I looked at both but can't let go by E estate.

btw is the E you have with the new headlights ? I like that one so much more than these split headlights they used to have.

News:

Author Topic: One Gullwing down (Read 17013 times)

friendofaustria

enochbell

Kayvan