Author Topic: The Big Five-Oh (Read 4064 times)

49er · « **on:** September 18, 2018, 21:15:39 »

Fifty years ago tonight, I drove my 280SL home from the dealer never thinking that all these years later I would still own it let alone be driving it. It was beautiful here today and perfect weather for a nice top down drive in the country a little different from that misty evening back in '68 as I lived near the ocean in Southern California then. Here are some BW pictures that I have previous posted taken that evening when the car had less then 20 miles on the odometer followed by a few taken today. Car (and navigator) haven't aged a bit. The driver, well thats another story. It has been quite an enduring love affair I have had with that little car and am looking forward to many more "Birthdays" with it. Thanks for letting me share this day with all of you.

John

49er · « **Reply #1 on:** September 18, 2018, 21:17:08 »

And a couple more pictures....

dirkbalter · « **Reply #2 on:** September 18, 2018, 21:28:43 »

Congratulations.
Beautiful.
Dirk

Pawel66 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 18, 2018, 21:32:25 »

John,

What a truly beautiful anniversary! I wish all of you many many clebrations to come!

THANK YOU for sharing.

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎ · « **Reply #4 on:** September 18, 2018, 21:51:18 »

Hi John,

Congratulations on this the 50 Anniversary of your nice Pagoda! Many more years to come I’m sure. Thanks for sharing this with us and the nice photographs.

Best,

Dieter

johnk · « **Reply #5 on:** September 18, 2018, 22:03:52 »

Your car and ownership are priceless John. Congratulations and thanks for sharing with us.

I would actually be interested in hearing if your ever "almost got rid of it" and what kept you from doing so?

Garry · « **Reply #6 on:** September 18, 2018, 22:11:40 »

John,

What a wonderful affair. It is such a pleasure to see an original owner celebrating a 50 year love of the car.

Congratulations.

Garry

49er · « **Reply #7 on:** September 18, 2018, 22:46:49 »

Quote from: johnk on September 18, 2018, 22:03:52

Your car and ownership are priceless John. Congratulations and thanks for sharing with us.

I would actually be interested in hearing if your ever "almost got rid of it" and what kept you from doing so?

I did actually but my "navigator' put her foot down and nixed the idea, god bless her

. My "story" was in Pagoda notes a while back (thanks to Jon Bernardi).

https://www.sl113.org/wiki/uploads/Restricted/PNv7i2US.pdf

neelyrc · « **Reply #8 on:** September 18, 2018, 22:58:02 »

Congratulations John! Thanks for sharing. Wishing the three of you continued togetherness.

PSB · « **Reply #9 on:** September 18, 2018, 23:07:14 »

Great story John ! Great pictures.
Congratulations and hope you will have many more birthdays together .

Regards
Pedro

Jonny B · « **Reply #10 on:** September 19, 2018, 11:25:19 »

Let me add my congratulations! Just damn wonderful.

MichaelB. · « **Reply #11 on:** September 19, 2018, 13:27:15 »

Yes that is a great post.

calhippie · « **Reply #12 on:** September 19, 2018, 18:35:09 »

John: thanks for sharing this with us. These cars deserve a caretaker like you. And a special 'hat tip' to your navigator, who saved you from certain regret.

cfm65@me.com · « **Reply #13 on:** September 19, 2018, 20:20:09 »

Congrats John,
50 years are quite something.
If I may ask, are you a CX 49er?
Regards
Chris
Cape Town

kampala · « **Reply #14 on:** September 19, 2018, 21:40:33 »

Happy Birthday !

Appreciate your participation in this group.

Congrats.

Mike Hughes · « **Reply #15 on:** September 19, 2018, 22:17:49 »

That's a milestone worth celebrating! Although not the original owner, I've owned one of my M.G.s for 45 years, so I understand something of a long-term commitment to a special car. I know there are a handful of other original Pagoda owners in our group (Ralph has already chimed in) who wish you joy.

gimp · « **Reply #16 on:** September 20, 2018, 04:28:27 »

Happy Birthday
I have owned my 68 for 46 years and still enjoy shining it.

49er · « **Reply #17 on:** September 22, 2018, 19:42:41 »

Just a note to say "Thank You" to all of you and your kind comments. This is a great forum and am so happy to be a member to share in the love of these great automobiles. Ralph, I know you beat me by a few years and yes, there are a few other original owners out there that also hung onto their cars as well. We were pretty damn smart, weren't we!

And to Chris in Cape Town, no connection to the SF football team. We live a few miles from where Gold was discovered here in California back in 1848 which started the great gold rush a year later. "49er's" was the nickname given to those thousands of prospectors then came west to seek their fortune. I, like most of them, have never found any gold either

John

neelyrc · « **Reply #18 on:** September 23, 2018, 05:59:56 »

Quote from: 49er on September 22, 2018, 19:42:41

...............Ralph, I know you beat me by a few years..........??

Yes, but only if you are counting MY birthdays, John! ☹️ I will celebrate the 50th anniversary of my car’s delivery early next year.

My car (007749) is several months younger than yours.

su8pack1 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 23, 2018, 13:10:19 »

That's fantastic, congrats on the long time ownership.

News:

Author Topic: The Big Five-Oh (Read 4064 times)

MichaelB.

gimp