Walt Disney's check for his 230SL

[H. Keith Henry]

Veterans of our site know that Walt Disney bought a 230 SL in 1964, 18 months before his death in 1966. And that he, shrewdly, put it the movie, "That Darn Cat" and charged the company $100 a day rental. But how many people have seen the check he wrote as a downpayment?

[rwmastel]

Why don't the hard top and hub caps match?

[H. Keith Henry]

Don't know. According to what I read in an online feature, he saw it at the dealership and drove it away that day.

[49er]

Curious as to the Balance of $5500. My 250SL's Sticker 3 years later was $7458 and the my 280SL's sticker a year later was $7367 (no radio)

John

 

[neelyrc]

Perhaps Walt was ripped off!  My total cost was $7148 delivered at the factory in 1969.

This included 12 months of insurance coverage plus marine insurance for shipping to the USA ($326) and a refundable fee which was repaid on export from Germany ($200). I made a down payment of $1000 with order placement and made a final payment of $6148 for the balance a few weeks before delivery.

[Cees Klumper]

Maybe the $5,500 balance was before the $3,000 payment.

I've been watching the first season 'Colombo' tv series and in each of the first 4 or so episodes, a Mercedes is the car of the protagonist, or otherwise features prominently, including a Pagoda driven briskly by none other than a young Leslie Nielsen. Clear early case of product placement, which Disney could have benefitted from.

[stratamarr]

Likely was a two-tone version.

[rwmastel]

Maybe the $5,500 balance was before the $3,000 payment.

Right, and he's saying $8,500 is $1,000 more than "normal".  If anything, I would think a major entertainment celebrity would get a discount, not over-charged.

[Pawel66]

Unless he bought after someone famous. 😜😜
Maybe he loaded it with all options?

Or as it was the car already meant for someone so, as he wanted it immediately, he paid extra to buy it instead of the one who ordered. Them the one who ordered had $1000 credit for his next car.

[bogeyman]

The note on the check says down payment with $5500 balance due.
Would an LA dealer upcharge a car?  I'm shocked - shocked I tell you!

[Pinder]

Maybe the hub caps dont match the roof because someone swapped the roof at the dealership. Someone on BAT said they worked at a mercedes dealership and they would do that sometimes to customize the look of the  cars.   (probably didnt realize the body number stamped on the roof then wont match the car).

[49er]

 They knocked off $1k at Hollywood MB on the 250SL's sticker and $800 off the 280SL's at Carwell MB (Hermosa Beach). Both cars were ordered.

John

[Cees Klumper]

Those are pretty sizable discounts John! You must be a good negotiator.

[stickandrudderman]

I believe this car still exists in the Disney collection?

[49er]

Those are pretty sizable discounts John! You must be a good negotiator.

The Salesman at Hollywood MB was our neighbor's son and as I remember the other son was the Dealership's owner. As to the 280SL, I lived near Hermosa Beach and had the 250SL serviced (often, as it was never the same after the unfortunate accident I had) at Carwell and got to know a Salesman there. When I told him I was thinking about trading it in on a 280SL up at Hollywood, he offered me a very generous trade in offer and $800 off the sticker. As Carwell was close to home and didn't want to push my luck with the neighbor's son again, I took him up on it. 

[H. Keith Henry]

Not sure, but I think this is also Walt Disney's 230sl.

[Merc_Girl]

Hiya
My understanding is that hub caps are either body colour or colour of hardtop
From the images shown, it looks as if the hubcaps are body colour?
Happy to be told that I’m incorrect in my understanding  😀

[rwmastel]

Typically, 230SL hubcaps are hard top color and 280SL hubcaps are body color.  This probably changed when they went from 2 piece to1 piece.

[J. Huber]

Well, pure speculation but maybe Walt made an executive decision to have a black hard-top AND the body color hubcaps? The car with the top off would have a crisper, lighter look (IMHO) -- but with the black hard top on -- would be a subtle homage to Mickey's black ears... That way, my car would not be the only Pagoda with a Mickey Mouse paint job!! 

[mdsalemi]

And that he, shrewdly, put it the movie, "That Darn Cat"

Just watched this classic with the family. The Pagoda appeared in 5-6 brief scenes all but one basically the same. Our British members will appreciate Hayley Mills and Roddy Macdowell in leading roles.