Author Topic: still "Summer"  (Read 5500 times)

49er

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still "Summer"
« on: January 27, 2014, 17:35:55 »
Yesterday was yet another dry, warm, sunny day here in Northern California and records are being broken every day for high temperatures and no precipitation. The weather people are predicting "a shower or two" by the end of the week. Sure hope they are right.
 Took our car out for a drive up the hill where the temps were in the mid 60s but kept the top up to keep the navigator happy. Haven't driven since right before new years but it started right up on the first crank. The vineyards look pretty sad this time of year and the waterwheel would normally be spinning but it still was a beautiful day for a drive.

John
1969 280SL 003820
Un Restored, All Original, including the paint
Original Owner, Purchased September 18, 1968
4 speed manual, PS. 77217 miles
7280 miles since awoken from her 20+ yr "nap" in 2010

kampala

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Re: still "Summer"
« Reply #1 on: January 27, 2014, 20:55:42 »
Sounds like a very scenic drive.  Love the waterwheel.  I don't think I have seen a photo of your car with the soft top up.  Is it also the original soft top?   Looks pretty nice if it's 46 years old. 

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Rolf-Dieter ✝︎

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Re: still "Summer"
« Reply #2 on: January 27, 2014, 21:35:18 »
Nice pictures John, thanks for sharing ....

The weather this year in North America is sort of 180 degree opposite the west (at least up here in Canada) is mild this year and out east we are getting all the snow and cold fronts with the wind this time of year we have seen -40 C and as you know that is also -40 F Brrrr pretty cold so the Pagoda stays in the garage all coverd up :)
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49er

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Re: still "Summer"
« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2014, 00:17:50 »
I don't think I have seen a photo of your car with the soft top up.  Is it also the original soft top?   Looks pretty nice if it's 46 years old. 
Hello Oz, Yep, that is the original top. When I got the car home from the shop back in 2010, one of the first things I did was hoist off the HT to see what condition the ST was in. It had been stowed for close to 30 years, as the few drives I took in the early 80's, the HT was always on. It was as good as new with no sags or holes and the plastic rear window was still crystal clear as well! Amazing! Here is another photo I took a year or two ago.

John

1969 280SL 003820
Un Restored, All Original, including the paint
Original Owner, Purchased September 18, 1968
4 speed manual, PS. 77217 miles
7280 miles since awoken from her 20+ yr "nap" in 2010

49er

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Re: still "Summer"
« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2014, 00:27:11 »
Hi Rolf, 14f (-10c) was our coldest temp here which occurred the first part of December last year. That was cold enough for me:-) Clouded over here today so we are keeping our fingers crossed that there might be a few drops heading our way.

John
1969 280SL 003820
Un Restored, All Original, including the paint
Original Owner, Purchased September 18, 1968
4 speed manual, PS. 77217 miles
7280 miles since awoken from her 20+ yr "nap" in 2010

Garry

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Re: still "Summer"
« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2014, 00:31:55 »
That top is amazing for being stowed for so long.

I always leave my hard top off now having dropped one several years ago and I also have the soft top stowed all the time and only put  flannel sheets over the car when not in use and was always worried that the top stowed for 6 to 12 months at a time may damage it.  I am about to replace it as it has a few rub holes from a PO and will still keep it stowed and only put up if needed which is only once or twice a year.

Temp here today going to be 40 degrees c. (105f) and the same each day for the rest of the week.  To hot for driving with top down so it stays in shed :'(
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
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1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G
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