quote:
Originally posted by J. Huber
Not to restir anything, but Michael does have a point about the "mint" aspect of the description. I for one actually opened the pictures expecting a pristine car that had somehow cheated the sands of time. You know, like a Van Gogh bought at a garage sale covered with dust... What I discovered, instead, were some very interesting and no doubt useful shots of a nice car that is quite original and apparently "unmodified." For this, I thank you Neil. Not your fault, I had such high hopes...
As an aside, in addition to these original pics, I also welcome photos from nicely restored cars such as Michael's (and Ed's and others). These can also be very instructive and motivating.
James
63 230SL
"Mint" has been removed to pacify those so upset by it. I still stand by it, however. Dealers and experts who have seen the car in the flesh (remember that I am exposing, in detail, the least flattering aspects of the car here for the benefit of others, not myself, in direct response to requests by fellow enthusiasts) have described the car in the same way. It is they who have walked around, crawled under, investigated in the tiniest detail the car when I found and purchased it constantly repeating the words "totally unmolested". It is they who marvelled at the fact that the paint was so near perfect, yet original. It is they who almost were almost talking in tongues when carefully checking the interior details, the mats, the carpets, the vinyl, and who were aghast at the time-capsule that awaited them when they opened the soft-top cover, pointing out to me the rare 'early weave' canvas, the as-new rear window with the original raised markings.
I have not yet detailed under the engine bay. I have not even cleaned it yet! Ditto with the underside of the car, and a lot of aspects of the bodywork.
I have been too busy spending many, many hours photographing, editing, creating and hosting a web page at my own expense and generally enjoying the sharing of what is an extremely special vehicle with those with a similar passion. I am simply presenting, for the benefit of many, a car that has emerged from 40 years of hiding
exactly [/b]as it emerged.
Anyone who knows my cars will know that in a few months this thing will positively glow, but will still be faithfully original; not 'dolled up' for exhibition.
Any images then, however, would be for my own benefit more than others, and as I am not ego-driven or a show-off I would not be interested in displaying them. There are many, many such pictures available everywhere, including this forum. Not my scene at all, just like car shows.
I apologise that I have upset a few (even if I wonder what really caused the obvious upset). I keep in perspective, however, the vastly greater number who have found the resource a helpful and valuable one. My inbox is full of warm and enthusiastic emails from contributors who have elected to contact me directly rather than post their comments on the board, for reasons that only increasingly become obvious to me. Their genuine enthusiasm and lack of ego are refreshing, and vastly outweigh (and outnumber) the negatives.
Cheers,
Neil Rote
Melbourne Australia
"quite nice" and "apparently unmodified" '64 230SL
