New member introductions

[ja17]

Thanks alex,

I will keep you informed if we can make it this year.

best regards,

Joe Alexander
blacklick, Ohio

[Chrisheg]

Hi, my name is Chris Heg. I live in Seattle, Washington. Today I became the owner of 280SL through a long strange process:

In 1983 I bought a driver 1956 190SL, which I still own. I had it mechanically rebuilt in between '83 and '85. At the time I was working 6 months a year in Alaska so my father undertook to supervise and pay the bills on the rebuild when I was away. This got him interested in Mercedes and in '85 he bought a Tobacco Brown 1969 280SL. He drove it happily for about 10 years then offered it to me if I wanted to sell the 190SL. At the time I did not want a car with an automatic and had 2 other old Mercedes so I turned him down. He finally sold it to a mutual acquaintance in 2001 for the bluebook value, $6000, much less than it was worth. There was  Promissory note setting out the terms and interest or a 2 year payoff.

Due to work and other interests I parked the 190SL in my garage for about 8 years until last year when a friend helped me get it on the road again. One day I was taking my father (now 90 years old) out for a ride and I asked him what ever happened to the 280. He said that he sold it to this guy but he had never paid it off. I asked if I could look into it and he said go ahead.

The "buyer" still works in the same place he did when I knew him 20 years ago so I went and talked to him. He said yes, I'll pay it off, blah blah blah, here's a check for part of it...but don't cash it until I call you, there's not enough in the account. Then no call, nothing. So I asked my father if he still had the contract. He did and I calculated that the guy now owed over $10000 in principal, interest, and penalties. Also the contract said that the buyer was liable for legal fees if we had to sue him to get paid.

I went back to the buyer and explained all this and he agreed to give the car back since he didn't have the money. My father said he didn't need a project car but he would rather give the car to me than to the buyer who stiffed him for 9 years. So now I have 2 classic Mercedes.

As far as I can tell the car is rust free. It has 2 tops, Automatic, AC, original paint and interior, and the engine starts and runs well.  I found the Data Card. The car has basically been parked since my father sold it. So far I've found that I need to change all of the fluids, fix the stuck front brakes, replace the shifter bushings, and that there is a hole in the center exhaust pipe. Still, the price is definitely right.

[Garry]

Welcome  Chris,

A great outcome and I bet your dad is happy with it too.
 Some of the stories on the introductions are really interesting.  I only found out a few weeks ago myself that my car had been in New Zealand at some time in its life. Still trying to trace how it ended up half way around the world.

[Iconic]

Welcome Chrisheg !
That is a great story.
If you get a chance, many of us would enjoy seeing pictures or your cars.

[Chrisheg]

As requested, here are some pictures of my motor toys. Enjoy!


My newly acquired '69 280SL







My '56 190SL - definitely a driver, not a restoration.

[Iconic]

I can't tell from the pictures.
Is your 280 gray or brown?
They both look like great cars.
When you are ready to let go of the 280, I'll give you double what you paid. 
Thanks for posting the pix.

[thelews]

I can't tell from the pictures.
Is your 280 gray or brown?

Tobacco Brown

[KeVTRoN]

Hey everyone!

My name is Kevin, and my dad and I bought a 1964 230SL about 2 years ago. It is a grey-market car with about 80,000km on the clock and it's in great condition. I live in Spokane Washington and I am looking for sources for parts for the 230SL. I'll post pictures when the car gets out of storage 

[Carlito]

Hello all,

I'm Carlo from Belgium, currently (only) 24 years old.

Since I was little i was a big fan of Mercedes-Benz, my dad drove a W123 300D so I experienced the marque daily. When I grew up, nothing much changed. I studied Economics and Marketing, and then turned to Automotive Engineering.
Meanwhile I assisted a friend of my father with the restoration of some old Mercs.
Sadly the W123 was sold in 1999 after standing for 10 years in a shed in the garden, so when I wanted to buy my own car, I had to go and buy something else. Due to limited space i bought a classic mini to restore.
But restoration went a lot slower than life, being in my last year of college, I had to go to the Mercedes-Benz Belgium HQ every day, so I needed my car. Offcourse it wasn't ready yet. 

Luckily my neighbour just bought her new Boxster, so she loaned me her old BMW Convertible to drive in while I tried to sell it. When I graduated I had the luck to be able to start working at the local Mercedes Dealership, so I sold the mini and the BMW and bought myself a Alfa Romeo. As Jeremy Clarckson stated: "You cannot be a true petrolhead until you've owned an Alfa Romeo – it's like having really great sex which leaves you with an embarrassing itch".
Getting in my Alfa 155 was a real disappointment after spending all day between mercs, so within 6 weeks I sold the Alfa and bought myself a Mercedes SL.

Last week, one of our clients, a guy I played hockey with a couple years ago asked me to call him after work because he had a request. So I did, and so he requested me to restore his 1968 280SL.

And that's why I turned up here, hoping to find people who know what I'm going trough and can help me when possible. And offcourse I will do my best to help other people out myself.

[Iconic]

Welcome !
Which SL did you buy?
Good luck to you on the restoration of your client's 280 SL.
We always like to see pictures !
Beste Groeten,

[Carlito]

I bought myself a 1991 R129 300SL-24



And sadly I only have 2 pictures from the 280SL at this moment because restoration has'nt started yet.

2007:


Last week

[Michel Richard]

New member, not yet an owner !

I've been toying with old 2 seat European cars for a number of years on a hobby basis.  Some of the projects I've undertaken included a bare metal restoration, but I've found those take too much time and energy.  I like doing a lot of work myself even if I still don't have professional-level skills.  I have a small machine shop in my basement and I like to tinker.  Mostly, I've kept the cars I've undertaken, but I recently sold one and I now have a whole in my garage and a bit of cash on hand 
I've always had a thing for the pagoda roof cars and would like to have one as a weekend car.  I look forward to the challenge of learning new systems (never worked on power brakes or power steering, for example) and keeping a nice car in good working order.

I posted in the wanted to buy forum what it is I'm looking for: a nice red on tan or cream car, with a manual transmission.  Does not need to be perfect, just no rust, decent looking and decent running.  The rest I can work on and have fun with.

I also look forward to contributing to this site !

Cheers,

Michel Richard
Saint-Lambert, Québec
mrichard58@videotron.ca

[DDewar53]

New member, not an owner

My cousin brought an SL back from Italy when he came home from the Army, in about 67 or 68.  He sold the car a couple of years later and moved overseas again, but I still remember that car.  I was still in high school then, and really drooled over it.

Found this forum and thought I'd look around.  Maybe start looking for a new hobby...

[reggie]

hi people
new member today-my first 280 sl i bought in 1990 it was a rusty wreck - 4 new wings - front and rear panel - inner and outer sills - floors - boot floor - front cross member - all chrome work - etc etc - finnished it had no money left so had to sell-put it in a classic car auction - auctioner said if this was a football match this car is the man of the match-a proud moment for me-i have just bought (i hope) a 280 sl from california usa-it is they say a very good rust free car-that needs no work-i do hope its as good as it looks-just waiting for it to land-i hope to drive it down to tenerife later in the year after i give it a service etc-have a look see what you think-www kentcollection . com - cars recently sold - would have liked a silver one but this colour grew on me the more i looked at it - is it arab grey ? ime 56 now and dont want to restore anything else i just want to drive it- one used to park near my parents house when i was small - my father used to spend hours looking at it - he never did get one - not alot of good when you have children - mine are grown up now and flown the nest - so its reggie time 
Reg

[A-230]

Hello all !

I am Karl Kristian from Norway (only Karl is OK). 52 years, engineer in oil business. have been working on motorbikes and cars since I was kid, but had never owned an SL before when i got my -64 230SL august 2008. It was already totally gone over. Living in a flat today I have limited possibilities for big jobs on the car myself. Need to use specialist garages. Looking to find a solution to that I like using my hands and head on the car.

I am impressed of all the information sheared in here, and want to contribute if I can.

[Rolland]

Hi all, thought I'd take a moment for a little intro about myself.  My name is Rolland and have owned my 280SL for about 5 years now.  For the most part, I've driven my Pagoda enjoying every minute of it.  This year I decided to change things up a little as even though it has a strong engine, a lot of it is a bit tired and needing a little TLC, so decided this would be the time to give her a new coat of paint.  Originally it was white, but somewhere in the past it was painted Signal Red which I will be keeping.  I'm a believer cars were meant to be driven, so she is not trailer queen.

My Pagoda is was built in 1968, is a Euro version, 4spd stick, black MB Tex, both tops, kinder seat and still has the leather luggage strap (oh, how sweet a set of luggage would be).

Below are listed our other MB's, all a little different  My first Benz was a 57 180 gas sedan.  I sold it in the mid 70's and after a while of driving various autos, I returned to these fine cars. 

[Peter van Es]

Welcome to all new members...

We're very pleased you found us, and hope you will share stories of your cars and adventures with us all. If you have any questions please post them in the appropriate forums! I'm sure you'll find lots of helpful people to help out.

Peter van Es
President, Pagoda SL Group

[flyingv]

hello everyone - My name is Dieter from UK...of austro-german descent i have always loved pagodas and have finally taken the plunge......I am a 'retired' 44 yr old Chartered Surveyor back in the uk now after many years of being in business in Dubai.

Cars have always been in my blood -  As a kid in the early 70's I used to type letters, yes on a typewriter (!) to Ferrari/Porsche etc dealers as if my father had typed them requesting test drives - i would then admit to my dad what i had done - he would laugh and get  the call for the test-drive and i got to go in a Ferrari or Porsche (I also remember a Series III Lambo Espada and Lotus Elite) and my dad got the fun of the test drive........happy days.........I used to collect all the brochures and.......sad but true I still have all of them.........

Having owned ferrari's and other exotics its time now for some individuality/class and panache and no other car does it for me like the pagoda does.....speed is no longer a factor which is a good job!

I have purchased a 250sl which will be restored (i have posted a few topics and got some great response) a rather sorry looking ivory/red, which will become silver/red.....also looking at a 66 230 sl in Arizona - one owner car white/tan.........

So many of you have helped me so far and thx to you all.

Rgds
Dieter

[rgr69SL]

Hi,

just taken the plunge and brought a '69 280sl project to complete to daily driver status. Always wanted one so looking forward to getting it into shape and on the road.

Car was originally Horizon Blue (304G) but has been recently repainted to Silver, though it could have been done a lot better unfortunately. it's essentially rust free and appears to have all the trim etc to put back together. It came with all new carpets, softtop, various bit of new trim and heater leavers etc. Interior is original blue mb-tex in good condition, once I clean it! Car is running though quite rich so in need of a tune to smooth it out. Have already had plenty of help reading the forum and tech manual and look forward to further assistance as I get into the project.

Greg

'69 280SL

[Peter van Es]

Welcome and congratulations....

Peter

[dtuttle123]

Greg -

Welcome - you look like a 'proud father' beside your new baby!  Please raise it 'right'!

[Garry]

Welcome to the Forum Greg,

There are a few of us across the bay.  Good to see another Southern hemisphere 113 getting a new life

[jacovdw]

Welcome to the Group and forum Greg.

Congrats on your new acquisition.

There is also great resource for older Mercs right on your doorstep. You might have heard of him or met him before - a  gentleman by the name of Lloyd Marx based in Hamilton.

He fixed a leaky cold start valve for my pagoda when I was working in Hamilton in 2005. Suffice to say, I carried it in my luggage as no-one here in South Africa was willing to touch a leaky valve for repair and I didn't feel confident lapping the valve myself. 

May you have many enjoyable km's in your pagoda.

[mclewis]

I have been a member for a little over a year now, and have been trolling the site for quite a while before becoming a member.  It is an invaluable site and I enjoy reading about other owners experiences and the details of the cars.  I am not very mechanically inclined, and don't do much work on my car myself.

My current Pagoda (which is my second) is a 1968 280SL, which I purchased in 1994. Previously, I owned another 1968 280SL that I had about 18 months, which served as a lesson on what not to do when purchasing and owning an old car, from buying the car sight unseen from a fly-by-night used car dealer a thousand miles away (needless to say, the car was in much worse condition than advertised) to spending untold sums upgrading the mechanicals without even considering the possibility of rust (which ultimately led me to sell the car at a considerable loss just to stop the bleeding).  I had been bitten by the Pagoda bug, though, and it wasn’t long before I was out looking for another.  After inspecting a number of Pagodas in the New York City area (where I live) that were in one way or another sub-par, I saw an ad in Hemmings by Hatch for a low mileage (69,000) one-owner car.  The car drove well, and was in reasonable shape, except for a little rust in the usual places.  Deciding to take the opposite approach from my first adventure, I had Hatch completely restore the car.  I opted for some changes from the original specifications, changing the color from 726 grey beige to 728 beige grey metallic, 131 black MB Tex to 248 dark brown leather and 740 black soft top to 746 dark brown soft top.  I also added an automatic antenna, swapped the Europa radio for an anachronistic Becker Mexico radio/cassette with Becker speakers in the foot wells and added a passenger mirror.  I have put about 8,000 miles on the car, mainly on sunny weekends, and have it serviced by the local Mercedes dealer.  The car is soon to need a new exhaust system, and could use an upgrade to the original Kangol three point belts.

Data card information and other facts are below:

Serial number 113044-12-000870
DB 726 Grey Beige
131 Black MB Tex
740 Black soft top
401 Single Seats
416 Hardtop mounted
426 Power Steering/Automatic Transmission on Floor
491 USA version
503 outside rearview mirror left
515 Radio Becker Europa AM-FM
524 Paint coat preservation
598 Heat insulated Glass All Around
600 Chrome Roof Bars
641 White Wall Tires
669 mode of packing VE II

Originally purchased from Automotive Engineering, Lexington MA on May 4, 1968 for a purchase price of $7798.

Below are some pictures.

Marc

[Peter van Es]

Marc,

welcome to the club, and you have a very nice specimen.

If I may ask, "what kept you" from joining sooner, or indeed, posting sooner?

Peter