customized 280sl

[hauser]

Check out this customized '70 280sl.http://www.oursl.com/listing-forms/listings-det.php?op=showdet&aid=648

Looks like Jaguar mirrors.  The dash looks nice but too bad all the wood doesn't match up.  Looks like three different types of wood has been used.  

Nice touch with the side vents ala 300sl.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[Chad]

With all that "stuff" he did he still kept the rubbery bumper overriders...

Actually, he seems to have used some material for the firewall pad which at least looks more original than the repro firewall pads available. I wonder what material he used. Clearly there is a commercial meterial out there to cut.

Polishing the cover and manifold is not the best thing to do from some mechanical reason, didn't a few people mention? Thermodispersive considerations or something?

It is an interesting example of artistic license.

[tuultyme]

I wonder if functional side vents would aid in the cooling of the engine compartment?

Bruce; 268Blaugrun(green) 1970 280SL; IL

[waltklatt]

This is the 2nd SL I've seen with the seat adjuster knobs on the inboard side.  The other one is in my garage (1963 230SL).  I'm surprised that the seat backs can be swapped and still function.  But the wood tray in the middle would hinder the knobs.
Anyone else out there with the switched seat backs?
Walter Klatt
1967 220SL-diesel
1963 230SL-gas

[TheEngineer]

Nice looking car! But help me out here - Dr. Phil: Why would one modify a perfectly good, regular 280SL? Why spend the time & money? why not just restore it to original appearance?

[hauser]

For those of you that have the book Faszination SL check page 4 for the side vents on an early design model.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[Chad]

Walter:  During seat rebuilding and reskinning my furniture restorer and myself switched the seat backs on the 230SL seats here.  I noticed it by putting them side by side and feeling for the adjusters - they were on the inboard side.

This mistake can be performed easily by novices like myself (not that the antique furniture restorer is a novice, but he doesn't work with cars much). They fit together in the wrong way just as easily.  They are very easy to switch back to the correct formation, as all work done to the reskins was symmetric and easily adapted to the normal order once switched.  Anyway, the feeling is 100% better now after a professional rebuilt the seats.

Oh, and cleaning/lubing the rail tracks made a 100% difference for my sorry car, too.

quote:Originally posted by waltklatt

This is the 2nd SL I've seen with the seat adjuster knobs on the inboard side.  The other one is in my garage (1963 230SL).  I'm surprised that the seat backs can be swapped and still function.  But the wood tray in the middle would hinder the knobs.
Anyone else out there with the switched seat backs?
Walter Klatt
1967 220SL-diesel
1963 230SL-gas

[Raymond]

It isn't heresy to make a few tasteful tweaks to a driver edition of our great cars.  There are plenty of "original" one's out there to insure the purity of the model.

This one's nicely done.  Except for the burled walnut clashing with the wheel and dash wood.  I like the side vents and the wheels look good on the black.  I wonder if he has tire rubbing problems?



Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe

[Ricardo]

It would have been a tad nicer, in my humble opinion, if they had got rid of the sidemarkers and bumper overiders and put some nice cone shaped chrome mirrors on the fender....those later mirrors are too big and clunky looking....must have steering stops and a lot bigger turning circle though....

[Douglas]

I think the beauty of the Pagoda is its understatement. IMHO, chromed wheels, aggressive louvers (even if they harken back to its older brother), large chromed mirrors that stick out twice as far....... these are not  consistent with its restrained lines and make it feel less cohesive. They feel like an afterthought. But hey, that's just my opinion.