Author Topic: Who has information about my pagoda? (Read 12413 times)

Andi_Heritage · « **on:** April 20, 2021, 19:46:27 »

Hello pagoda enthusiasts

My name is Andy. I am a proud owner of a 1968 280SL Pagoda.

I am living in southern Germany, close to Stuttgart.

My car was delivered as a california Version in dark brown exterior to the US - somewhere to the West Hollywood/LA area.

I bought my car in Germany with a silver painting, red leather interior and fully functional convertible top.

The history of the car is very good since it is back in Europe in 2011.

There does not exist any history for the time the car was in the US.

A guy of Mercedes Benz gave me the hint to post a before and after picture in this forum to get any information.

So my question would be - especially to the US members here - if someone of you has any information about a brown pagoda which was modified in this way?

It is not my intention to blame anybody, I am just interested in the history.

Thank you in advance for your support.

I am happy about any information you can give me.

You are my last chance...

Kind regards

Andy

MikeSimon · « **Reply #1 on:** April 20, 2021, 23:13:05 »

Wow! It is hard to believe that this is the same car. All the changes that were done should have cost as much as buying another Pagoda.

calhippie · « **Reply #2 on:** April 21, 2021, 00:13:06 »

The prior, brown iteration of that car is for sale? Old listing, perhaps?

https://www.classic-racecars-sales-events.com/verkaufte-fahrzeuge-und-referenzen/280-sl-pagode-braun/

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #3 on:** April 21, 2021, 02:07:01 »

Nice sleuthing Geoff - though the listing you linked to is classified under 'sold cars' so likely this is more of the 'before' history.

You may get lucky and someone recognizes their old car, or their friend's or neighbour's old car etc. Being a California Coupe certainly makes it more memorable.

Andi_Heritage · « **Reply #4 on:** April 21, 2021, 04:15:13 »

Dear appreciated members.

Just for clarification: the brown pagoda is just a picture how my car looked like according to the data card.

The silver color is how the car looks like now - and yes, it is really astonishing that this car was changed this way.

The only possibility this could be worth doing is that the car was a complete wreck and should get pimped for export...

Kind regards

Andy

mnahon · « **Reply #5 on:** April 21, 2021, 10:31:20 »

You seem to be saying the repaint/mods were done in the US. I would think it more likely the brown car was imported to Germany and redone there. In that case, you'd be more likely to find information by tracing back to 2011 in Germany.

Andi_Heritage · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2021, 10:49:13 »

Yes of course. That is also possible.

I already tried to get more imformation of the first known dealer here in Europe (Du Parc in the Netherlands). Unfortunately they say they do not have any records about the car as according to their law they only have to keep them 7 years. So that is way I tried it of the other direction...

Bonnyboy · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2021, 15:10:27 »

Andi, I wouldn't automatically assume your car was a wreck. The modifications just made a cool car even better.

I met a guy who did the same modification to his car because he wanted a soft top incase he ran into rain. His car had sentimental meaning so he had to keep it. For some body work guys this would just be a fun project / challenge and easier to start with a good straight car.

neelyrc · « **Reply #8 on:** April 21, 2021, 15:53:58 »

Andy, it is a long shot but have you checked the car registry here to see if a previous owner might have had it registered here?

kampala · « **Reply #9 on:** April 21, 2021, 15:55:03 »

Andi,

I don't know if you want to "go down this road" as it may be slippery but have you fully confirmed that the data card you have is really for the car you have?

Yes - of course one can convert a California to a softtop - not easy but it has been done.

However:

Have you confirmed that the VIN stamped under the throttle body matches the Data Card?

Have you confirmed that the body number matches the Hood stamp and the hard-top Stamp?

A USA car of 1968 will most likely have USA lights and sider marker lights - have you checked if these holes were welded for side marker and headlights changed?

What about interior - USA would car would have soft-door pockets - Euro cars would have hard pockets -- again this can be changed but it's more and more work.

How about your dash gauges? is temp in F or C?

How about Oil pressure is it in PSI or BAR

Wiper arms - matte finish of polished chrome?

Steering Wheel horn Ring - matte finish or Chrome?

Many of the above are often not changed from USA to Euro when making conversions -- of course someone could do a full on conversion.

My point is - is there a chance your silver car was always a soft-top car?

Digging history can be interesting.

badali · « **Reply #10 on:** April 21, 2021, 17:55:55 »

A quick way to see is to look at the paint plate under the hood. It should have 423H 423H 7 on the paint line if it was Tobacco Brown and a California Coupe.

Andi_Heritage · « **Reply #11 on:** April 21, 2021, 18:02:05 »

Thanks for all your answers and good questions:

@Ralph: just had a quick check on the registry - unfortunately/fortunately no hit

@kampala:
VIN stamp under throttle body matches data card

Hood stamp matches body number

Engine number matches data card

In the trunk you can feel that there have been sidelights

European head lights

Hard door pockets

Instruments in C, bar and km/h

Wiper arms matte

Wheel horn ring chrome

No chrome under the license plate at the back

In some places especially deep down in the motor compartment you can still see the brown body color.

Yes, digging can be exciting. Sometimes I am not sure if I really want to find out the truth - but on the other hand it cant be this bad if all the numbers are matching...

Andi_Heritage · « **Reply #12 on:** April 21, 2021, 18:02:52 »

Yes Brad. This is the case.

badali · « **Reply #13 on:** April 21, 2021, 18:05:37 »

Can you post some pictures of the soft top compartment. It must be done well if it looks like it never was a California Coupe.

Andi_Heritage · « **Reply #14 on:** April 21, 2021, 18:20:35 »

Of course Brad. I can post some pictures tomorrow. Just now the kids ask for a good night story...

Andi_Heritage · « **Reply #15 on:** April 22, 2021, 18:33:28 »

Please find attached some pictures Brad:

Andi_Heritage · « **Reply #16 on:** April 22, 2021, 18:36:05 »

Number 2

Andi_Heritage · « **Reply #17 on:** April 22, 2021, 18:37:51 »

Outside view

Andi_Heritage · « **Reply #18 on:** April 22, 2021, 18:39:41 »

Chrome parts

GM · « **Reply #19 on:** April 22, 2021, 18:44:26 »

Are you aware of the springs?

zak · « **Reply #20 on:** April 22, 2021, 20:55:32 »

To my untrained eye the work looks well done.

jz

badali · « **Reply #21 on:** April 24, 2021, 12:01:35 »

It looks like a nice job done on the soft top compartment. The must have had a good donor car to get the parts from.

Andi_Heritage · « **Reply #22 on:** April 24, 2021, 17:33:56 »

@Gary: seems that the springs are at the right places

Andi_Heritage · « **Reply #23 on:** April 24, 2021, 17:49:45 »

But I just recognized - when I compare your picture to mine - that I do not have the big spring on the left. What is the function of this spring?

GM · « **Reply #24 on:** April 24, 2021, 17:52:20 »

It's like a garage door spring - it offsets the weight of the soft top for easier setup
See https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=19797.0

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Author Topic: Who has information about my pagoda? (Read 12413 times)

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