New member introductions

[NotRed]

Hey George. Been a while - last time I saw you our kids were in diapers. The Dino is gone - I have rejoined the FCA though and hope to bring the 250 out to some events. Would love to see your Pagoda this summer.
Campbell

[Tomnistuff]

Hello NotRed,
I've perused your posts and saw your post about meeting with local members in the Toronto area, but didn't find anything about coming to Meeting of the Clans II.   I hope to see you there.  I know your name "NotRed" from Tomyang.net, but can't remember meeting you.  I am reasonably sure we were at the same FCA annual meeting in 2008 in Toronto, but I would have been hanging around the 365GT2+2 row of cars with my car, since I had just finished my restoration.
I hope to see you in London and Port Lambton.
Tom Kizer
Levis, Quebec, Canada

[NotRed]

Hi Tom,
I believe I replied on March 16 about going - no matter. I don't think I was at the 2008 TO meet as I haven't been a member since the early 90s. Since then, I have been really focussed on vintage French and British rally cars. Looks like I started my 250 restoration just as you got yours done. Tom's website has been amazingly helpful. Looking forward to bringing it out after such a long hiatus. BTW my car came from Quebec.  Cheers Campbell

[rodlilyquist]

I have been driving a 250SL (body number 2776; serial number 3562) since 1970.  It's considered a 1968 model, having been produced in August, 1967.  My father bought it new in November, 1967, from the San Francisco Mercedes dealer.  He drove it 15,000 miles before giving it to me as a wedding present.  It is light blue (334 G), four speed, both tops, and now 160,000 miles.  It has been a working car rather than a show car, but the annual mileage has dropped since I retired in 2007; last year I only put on 600 miles.   I have all the service records.  Being in Rancho Santa Fe (near San Diego), it mostly is driven as a convertible.  I was named after my father, so for 52 years, it has been driven by someone named Rodney O. Lilyquist.

[mrfatboy]

Welcome neighbor 😀  Another Pagoda in the Ranch is always welcome👍

[mclewis]

You have a great history with the car.  What a great wedding gift!  Photos (old and new) are always appreciated.

[neelyrc]

Welcome to the group Rodney.  We need to here and see more about this special Pagoda. 

Jonny B, I think there is a story here for Pagoda World!

[rodlilyquist]

The car looks the same as it has for 52 years:  Navy blue soft top (723), dark blue seats (115) with graphite grey carpet (6117), tinted glass wrap-around (598), and 2-piece hubcaps (641).  My wife put a photo of it on Facebook (Rodney Lilyquist) that I'm told anyone can view.  Not being computer literate, I would need easy to understand instructions on how to post a photo of it.  My father and I bought several Mercedes in the 1960's and 1970's, but this is the only one left.  Probably the best driving trip my wife and I ever took was driving up and down the coast of California in 1985.  I have a hoist in the garage that lifts off and stores the hardtop with the push of a button.  That's a big plus for me.  I'm on the wait list for the PagodaFest in October; I live only 10 miles from the venue and am very much hoping to attend. 

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hello everyone,

I like to introduce myself, my name is Rolf-Dieter S, retired Mechanical Engineer. I was born in Magdeburg, Germany some 75 years ago (still feel like 55) and immigrated to Canada in 1957, married now for 52 years one daughter. I purchased a partly reconditioned 1969 Mercedes 280 SL last week from a local collector of mainly 1950s to 1960s cars. The 280 SL was his wife's car. The car rolled off the assembly line in late 1968 and was shipped to Florida USA for the first owner. The second owner also lived in Florida, USA. The car left Florida mid 1992 for Canada with 65,102 Miles on the odometer where the third owner had it restored here in Ontario. When the car had 67,027 miles on the odometer the odometer had to be replaced. The new odometer now has 4,400 miles on it, therefore the total milage on this car when I purchased her was 71,427 total miles. From what I understand in the past 20 years the previous owners wife has only driven this car 4,400 miles. She eventually gave it back to him since she mostly started this car without driving it. As we all know this car loves to be driven and starting it only is not a good idea.

I own two late model cars (a 2011 Mercedes C350 4MATIC and a 2011 BMW M3) and purchased this 1969 Mercedes 280 SL since it will not only be great fun to have and drive to car shows, also I will enjoy working on the engine as I am now retired. When I was a young fellow I drove this type of car in Montreal and at that time the price was around $9,000- Canadian if my memory serves me right. I mainly drove American cars up to the age of 50, after that mainly Mercedes and BMW's. My love for German cars comes from watching my dad carefully taking his engine apart and labeling every part for reassembly  Back when I was 17 I worked part time as a student in a small company, the owner had a Mercedes and I was allowed to drive this car out and back into the garage after washing her ... what can I say, I'm a car nut

Anyway ... I've done a lot of research before purchasing this car and I am glad I found one in such great condition. I look forward visiting this forum and once I figure out how things work here to become a Full Member.

Photos of my new addition can be found here ----> http://rolf-dieter.smugmug.com/Cars/280SL-Photo-Shoot/

EDIT. 1… My former Mercedes C350 was my company car I sold her to a lady in Ottawa, Canada since our plan was to go to only one Daily Driver. Once the C350 Benz was gone my wife became unhappy with our joint decision to give up the Benz, so we traded the BMW M3 in for a nice 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 4MATIC last month now both the wife and I are happy after all I do have the 280 SL to play with Also note once I became a member here I changed my handle from Alter Peter to my real first name Rolf-Dieter. During this edit I also corrected the milage I earlier stated in this post.

EDIT. 2 ... June, 2016 Update Last year I changed my DD to the C63 AMG [btw I drive my AMG for safety not for speed, it's nice to have those 481 HP under the hood when needed, also love the sound] for I missed my M3. I like to think of my 2 cars as ...

EDIT 3 .... June 2019; last year in May I found a low mileage 2011 SL 63 AMG after a 6 year wait. I saw this car first in Berlin during an interdiction of this model and fell in love with it. At that time I purchased the model and took it back home for my MB salesman. I told him “Bill if you ever get a low mileage trade in, call me I like to purchase it” well it took 6 years when I got the call “Dieter your car is here, come and see it” 2 other customers wanted to purchase the car, however, since I made the request so long ago I got first choice to purchase the car and so I did. The car was driven by our airport manager and had only 37K KM on the odometer, Hartley driven in yet. Last fall I had both in the parking lot were I did some cleaning. See photo. I am quite content now with my SL 63 AMG from 2011 and my 280 SL Pagoda from 1969.

Something New and Something Old

... and not nessesarely in that order. I'm found of both cars and I drive my Pagoda at least once a week during the summer months ... Also going to car shows. Soon I will have driven my Pagoda 10,000 Miles since I found her in May 2013.

[nicocastibz]

Hi everybody and thank you for the admission 
Im a french man living in the balearic islands, Spain.
I drive every day a 1990 W126 300se and almost every sunday a 1975 W107 450sl.. but I never got in or drove a Pagoda!
The Pagode, as we say in France, is my dream car since I've opened my eyes in 1968..
As a mid-century self birthday gift, I plan to purchase a 280sl from 1970. The seller would accept "Sue Ellen" my red 107 as a part of the deal... it's still a complete dilemma for me, but that is not the point.
I'm talking about an original 1970 european with 2 owners (and two tones), still with its original plates, very nice but i can't say much, its not mine yet...
So yes, every tip is warmly welcome! (Im not familiar with any forum, only to reach here cost me half hour..) Some nice people from facebook sent me to this forum, as I was searching a buyer's guide 
Best regards

[neelyrc]

Welcome to the forum nicocastibz.  I wish you success with your purchase.

I suggest you read a few posts from each main category on the Home Page to get a feel for the subjects being discussed and the assistance  being offered by fellow members. 

Also browse the Technical Manual, especially the section on buying a car, to get a feel for the valuable information there.  There are some restricted areas reserved for full members.  After you are familiar you may want to consider full membership. 

Again welcome to the group and good luck with your purchase.

[teahead]

Hello Group,

Sorry to interrupt this enjoyable discussion thread with "business", but I have two friendly request of forum users.  In the menu in the top right corner of this screen, you can click on "profile" and enter information about yourself.  This is all voluntary, nothing is required.

1.  I would like to see more people simply include their nation of residence in their profile.  Currently, 77 of 325 (23.7%) members of the forum do not designate this.  It would be good to include this for several reasons, two of which are:
- It helps people answer your questions with regards to local laws, local parts or service suppliers, shipping questions, local events, and other issues.
- It helps those who operate the W113 Pagoda SL Group to get a better feel for the demographics.  We can better provide local services (social get togethers, car meets, driving events, parts swaps, tech sessions, etc.) if we know where the members are.

2.  Use a signature.  Often times people will ask a question and not include basic information, as in do you have a 230, 250, or 280 SL?  Is it a manual transmission?  Don't hesitate to describe your vehicle in your signature, it will be posted every time and you won't have to remember to include any of the basic info.

I hope everyone is enjoying the web site, we're glad you chose to belong to the W113 Pagoda SL Group.

Thanks,

Rodd
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

Yes, profile filled out, avatar, and signature!

BTW, some of you have already seen my recent posts, but here it goes:

Wife and I reside in the Seattle, WA suburb known as "Des Moines).  About 15 minutes outside of Seattle.

Big carnut.  Grew up around muscle cars.  Had numerous Dodge CHallengers and Plymouth Cudas.

Then became enamored with European cars.  My 1st was a 76 Jaguar XJC coupe with a Chevy V8 lump.

Then my 1978 Austin Mini (see picture in Gallery).

Then my 1971 BMW 2800CS (ditto).

Then, I picked up a 1955 Chevy Nomad (ditto)

Then now, picked up this beautiful W113 (ditto)!

A lot to learn, but I enjoy learning about different cars and how they run and how to maintain.  Quite a bit different than my BMW.

I also have a 1990 300CE coupe that I bought for $400!  She runs and looks pretty good and I actually drive it to work 2-3x/week!

Wife's daily driver is a 2006 Chrysler 300c SRT8.

My daily driver is a 2012 G37 convertible

And my truck is a Dodge Ram 2500 to help trailer my 28' Crownline.

And have a CM400A Honda for the wife, and a 2005 Victory Hammer.

[neelyrc]

Interesting fleet, teahead.  Welcome to the forum.  It appears you have yourself a beautiful 113.  Enjoy!!

[nicocastibz]

thank you very much 

[Crestfyre]

Interesting story, my 230 SL was a revenge purchase back in 1975. My first wife left me for another guy when I was only 23 years old. Her favorite things were snow skiing and 230 SLs. So of course I bought a 230 SL from a guy in La Jolla for $6000 put my skis on the roof and drove over to her new apartment to get some made up thing. Felt good. I drove and loved that car but started noticing things like a bad paint job, low compression on a couple of cylinders, and a front end shimmy when I got over 100 mph. So in 1982 I tore the car apart, rebuilt the engine and tranny, tore the front end apart, removed all of the chrome and most of the leather, bought new chrome and had the rest replated. Then life happened, new girlfriends, new wife, new house, and of course children. Interests changed, bought land, bought horses, and showed horses all over the U.S. The pagoda suffered moving from house to house disassembled and I always wanted to finish it but never had the time. I am happy to say I have restarted the restoration and to my surprise the car is in decent shape and it appears I have very few parts missing after moving so much. Fortunately over the years I have kept the piston cylinders and fuel injection oiled and the motor turns nice for not being started in 37 years, I still have a half a tank of leaded premium which I will dump. One problem I found yesterday some rodents ate some of the wiring under the dash so I will start there cuz I want to hear it run again. I will post updates. So about me - I love my wife, my daughters, old Mercedes, new Acuras, and any year Chevy truck.

[neelyrc]

Welcome aboard Crestfyre. We look forward to updates on your Euro 230.   Lots of resources  available here should you need assistance.

[Jonny B]

Crestfyre, not only a lot of resources on the web site, there are a lot of resources in the SD area. We all want to see another Pagoda on the road!

[Crestfyre]

Thank you so much Ralph and Jonny B! I look forward to sharing this 37 year old project with the group and I am sure I will be using every resource available. No way I remember how everything goes back together. Thanks again

[pj]

Welcome, Crestfyre!
Good luck with the project.
You had me up until "...Chevy truck" 

[Crestfyre]

Thanks pj - Nothing better than a Chevy truck for hauling horses around.

[Shvegel]

Welcome Crestfyre.  You have me beat.  Mine has only been apart 13 years.

[MikeSimon]

Welcome Crestfyre.  You have me beat.  Mine has only been apart 13 years.

Welcome Crestfyre!  ...and we are not having a competition about that, are we...

[Crestfyre]

No competition - Besides regrettably I think I would when this one. Thanks for the welcome Shvegel and Mike.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Welcome to our truly International Pagoda SL Group Crestfyer.  You certainly have found the right site for your project. Very interesting story , something to share with other Pagoda owners once you have her all together again Quite a few of our members have done a complete Restauration. You are so close to our October 4 and 5, 2019 get together just north of San Diego. Perhaps you like to see some of the Pagoda’s of our Group taking part of the Poker Run we are having on Saturday October 5. One car participating comes all the way from Melbourne Australia.  For Details of the Agenda of our PagodaFest go to our Event forum section or check out the site ...

Here ——-> https://www.pagodafest.com/

And

Here ——-> https://www.pagodafest.com/pagoda-run

It will certainly give you a chance to see and hear the great sound of our engines and give you the willpower to put your now valuable Pagoda back together again

Once again Welcome to our Group!

Dieter

PS. I recommend you start a new thread once you start your Restauration detailing your work and asking questions as you need help. You will find quite a few knowlagable Members that will help. Use our “Search” Funktion and you will find some of the members having gone thru a full Restauration and that have documented there steps with photographs, descriptions and questions. Good Luck.

[Crestfyre]

Thank you so much Dieter for the welcome and all the info. Yes I noticed a couple of months ago that Pagodafest was right up the road from me and I tried to get a pass but to no avail, they were sold out. I was disappointed but now it appears to have been a blessing. My youngest daughter will be in an equestrian competition in Texas the same days so I couldn't have made it anyway. But I did so want to see all of these beautiful cars, and so close to home. My loss. Also thanks for the advice about posting during the restoration and I will do so. I have already watched several slide shows on the restorations and have learned quite a few pointers. Thank you again for the very nice welcome to the group and looking forward to sharing this project.