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Author Topic: Vale Tom Collitt  (Read 4339 times)

Garry

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Vale Tom Collitt
« on: July 30, 2019, 04:58:59 »


Yesterday Tom lost his battle with cancer. Tom was one of the original members of the Group and one of the gurus of the Pagoda world.

I heard today the sad news of Tom’s passing.

Tom and i did a wonderful road trip after one PUB from Ohio to Los Angeles in my E Type Jaguar, or as Tom called it, the small moving space. It was a wonderful trip which i will fondly remember.

I had the opportunity to catch up with Tom again only a couple of weeks ago when i first arrived in LA with my car. He was so hoping to get his Oldsmobile Cruiser finished, sadly not to be.

Tom Colitt July 18, 1963 ~ July 28, 2019
« Last Edit: July 30, 2019, 14:44:30 by Garry »
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Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, Tourist Delivery.
1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G
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JamesL

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Re: Vale Tom Collitt
« Reply #1 on: July 30, 2019, 06:27:37 »
RIP Tom
The big C is no respecter of age...
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Taleb

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Re: Vale Tom Collitt
« Reply #2 on: July 30, 2019, 08:15:10 »
Rest in peace Tom
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kampala

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Re: Vale Tom Collitt
« Reply #3 on: July 30, 2019, 11:40:14 »
Garry,  even though we knew he was not well, this is still shocking.   So sad. 
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250sl - later - manual
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Rolf-Dieter ✝︎

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Re: Vale Tom Collitt
« Reply #4 on: July 30, 2019, 14:25:35 »
Very sad to hear this, too young to leave us. Let us hope more research in future will slow mankind to fight this cancer killer in future that touches too many of our loved ones.

RIP Tom

Dieter
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114015

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Re: Vale Tom Collitt
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2019, 17:41:52 »

So sad...., always the wrong ones.

Remember very well a longer phone conversation with him a longer while ago.
Tom, who lived for many years in Germany,
was extremely friendly, helpful, knowledgable and modest.
Learned a lot from him.

A big loss indead.

So long, Tom ....
 :'( :'(
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Achim
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sandcrab59

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Re: Vale Tom Collitt
« Reply #6 on: August 03, 2019, 19:54:19 »
Gary:
I remember that road trip with Jaguar to LA.
He was a great fellow.
Sorry to hear the sad news.
As they say, the good ones go first.
Tom
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Peter van Es

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Re: Vale Tom Collitt
« Reply #7 on: August 05, 2019, 10:33:22 »
Sad to hear. At least we have good memories of him and he will live on through this.

Peter van Es
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teahead

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Re: Vale Tom Collitt
« Reply #8 on: August 05, 2019, 16:27:50 »
Very sad indeed.

 :'(
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Alan Smithee

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Re: Vale Tom Collitt
« Reply #9 on: August 09, 2019, 23:47:47 »
Not unexpected, but very sad to hear.  Glad I got to know him (thanks to this forum)...both of us worked in the movie biz and of course loved cars...I always looked forward to conversations when I brought my 280SL to him for the last decade or so.
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ksalzer

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Re: Vale Tom Collitt
« Reply #10 on: August 15, 2019, 03:10:03 »
Tom did a lot of work on my car and I was amazed by his passion for Mercedes and for the pagoda in particular. He was kind and knowledgeable (and sometimes a little cranky!) and was a vast library of insights into our favorite pastime. Even though I only knew him through emails and phone calls, he is sadly missed.
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Benz Dr.

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Re: Vale Tom Collitt
« Reply #11 on: August 15, 2019, 04:41:00 »
Was he the one who turned a 280 engine into a 3 liter by offsetting the crank? Pretty sharp thinker.......

I may of talked to him a few times and even though I didn't ever meet him in person he still touched a lot of owners around here.
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114015

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Re: Vale Tom Collitt
« Reply #12 on: August 15, 2019, 10:26:04 »

Yes, Dan...,

That was him...
The 3-liter M130 ....

So sad to hear that he is not more around with us ....
 :'(


Achim
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Achim
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gugel

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Re: Vale Tom Collitt
« Reply #13 on: September 11, 2019, 20:39:24 »
Really sorry to hear about Tom's passing.  He worked on both my 230SL and my 3.0CS, and we saw each other often at various Concours.  He was always very helpful in sharing his vast knowledge.  I'll miss him.
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Benz Dr.

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Re: Vale Tom Collitt
« Reply #14 on: September 11, 2019, 20:54:51 »
While I've always held that knowledge is valuable, so is the sharing of that knowledge. Tom, and many others here, clearly understood this over the past number of years and we have been enriched as a group by that generosity.   :)

   
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1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

dstritzi

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Re: Vale Tom Collitt
« Reply #15 on: June 10, 2020, 00:32:31 »
Hey All,

I was just looking for some parts for my Pagoda and can't believe I am just now finding out about Tom's passing. I had him completely rebuild my 1969 in my garage and he convinced me to upgrade it to a 3.0L.... he always laughed when I asked him to come tune my 3L.... anyway, FWIW, RIP Tom.... what a crazy/wonderful/talented soul...

RIP, TOM!

Dave
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