Number of Pagodas left in the U.S.

[terry shores]

From the book, The Original Mercedes SL by Laurence Meredith.  It says that 4,752 230sl's were sold in the U.S.  1,716 of the 250sl's were sold in the U.S. and 12,927 280sl's were sold here!

My question is, with accidents, deterioration, parts cars, cars shipped to Europe ETC. ETC.!! DOES ANYONE HAVE A EDUCATED GUESS AS TO HOW MANY PAGODAS ARE LEFT IN THIS COUNTRY??

[Cees Klumper]

Answer would be no.

DMV won't divulge information and, even if they would, it would be of sketchy quality at best.

Besides the new sales as quoted by Meredith, there are untold numbers of cars that were imported to the US some years after the original (mostly European) sale. Just an example: American servicemen who purchased a Pagoda when stationed in Germany, then upon moving back home, taking this car with them. There are many euro spec cars in the US, Rodd Masteller's with the round Italian fender turn signals is an example of this.

And, yes, over the past 15 or more years, many Pagodas found their way back over here. For example, in Sweden there are now more Pagodas registered than were ever sold new there originally! Many came over from the US.

So it's anyone's guess really. Mine is that roughly half of cars survive today - that would make it 25,000. But some who might know better than me put this figure higher, around 30-35,000.

As to your specific question, I would guess that, although half of the cars were originally sold to the US, some 20-30% of those (and of later imports) were later exported back out, to Europe but also to other continents. In my estimates then, this would put the remaining number in the US at around 9-10,000. Then again, with all of the estimating involved, I would not be surprised if it were substatially lower or higher.

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[terry shores]

I came up with about the same number, but going about it a different way.  I figured about 19,000 sold here. 10% went to Europe NET.  Which leaves us approx 17,000 and half of those lost to different reasons.  I came up with about 8500 in this country.  TALK ABOUT AN UNEDUCATED GUESS!!!

What I can't figure out is I have lived in an area of around 300,000 people between San Diego and Riverside California for 25 years.  I have only seen 2 pagodas and both of them were mine!! Even in my many trips to LA and SD and all my travels, still very rarely ever see one!!  IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THERE ARE EVEN ALOT FEWER PAGODAS AROUND THAN WE THINK?

[Cees Klumper]

Well, even in a small country like The Netherlands (17 million inhabitants, so about 6% of the US' population) there are continually about 100 Pagodas for sale. Estimates of the number of surviving cars here from some experts are between 800 and 1,000. So extrapolating that to the US, which should not be all that unrealistic, puts the number there between 13,500 and 17,000. No, I don't think there are a lot fewer cars in the US than 10,000. I just think they don't get out as much as they should!

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[J. Huber]

Interesting questions. Terry, I am also from So. Cal (until 7 years ago)and have made some observations. I lived 30 years in S. Barbara and would say there are more than a handful in that area. They tend to be 3rd cars though, and don't seem to get out at the same time very often. I also lived in San Diego for grad school, and same thing (especially around La Jolla area). One phenomenon that likely cut down the numbers is their younger brother, the W107. A ton of well-to-do Californians purchased these. They are still everywhere you look.

James
63 230SL

[terry shores]

I couldn't agree more, I have had 11 107's in the last year and a half.  My neighbors think I am crazy!!  Everyone of them was red!! I tried to download pictures, but I couldn't do it. Files to big, I think. Now, just down to Red 71 pagoda and Red 01 sl500 sport.
_________________________________________________________________



Interesting questions. Terry, I am also from So. Cal (until 7 years ago)and have made some observations. I lived 30 years in S. Barbara and would say there are more than a handful in that area. They tend to be 3rd cars though, and don't seem to get out at the same time very often. I also lived in San Diego for grad school, and same thing (especially around La Jolla area). One phenomenon that likely cut down the numbers is their younger brother, the W107. A ton of well-to-do Californians purchased these. They are still everywhere you look.

James
63 230SL

Download Attachment: red 280sl 5-15-5 015.jpg
47.37 KB

[mbzse]

quote:Terry shores wrote

From the book, The Original Mercedes SL by Laurence Meredith it says that.../.. 1,716 of the 250sl's were sold in the U.S../..  

Actually, the number of 250SL to the US should be 1761...  I can now add to my "Meredith got it wrong" list  ;-)  thank you

/Hans in Stockholm

[France]

Hi Guys,

I lived most of my life (except for occasional forays to live in Europe) in the SF Bay Area (Alamo/Walnut Creek), went to UCSB and worked for years in Irvine (SoCal).  I left 3 years ago for France/Sarasota. Through the years I've seen many Pagodas on the roads around the Bay Area and also in SoCal.  The wonderment is I've seen none in Sarasota, although a Russian pulled a big Lexis up next to me last month and hailed my gorgeous car, thinking I was someone else (or pretending to, anyway).  My guess is that the distribution of Pagodas is heavily on the Coasts, with a limited sprinkling internally.  James' observation about the Panzerwagen is probably correct--people went for their flash rather than the earlier, more stylish Pagoda.

Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder
Sarasota FL; Alsace France