Hello to everyone on the forum .... I live in Glasgow Scotland, not the best climate for running an old SL, I've had my 1964 230sl since 1986, and it had lots of use, between the months of March until mid October each year it would be my daily transport, it was always put in storage over the colder months. It's had the usual share of problems... hot starting issues, cutting out at high speed, diff problems, but overall it's been a trusty reliable car..... I remember doing an overtake on the road to Fort William and reaching to downshift, and the entire gearstick came away in my hand, mind you it had been getting a bit sloppy... Anyway, in 1999 I was shocked to discover the extent of corrosion that had infested the car, hidden away by rubber underseal, when I began to explore the problem I realised that major chassis and inner body work would be required, I decided to undertake it myself. In 1999 prices for body panels from Merc were relatively cheap, I was payiing £80 for a rear wing , £90 for a front inner wing £30 for a front crossmember....... it's now almost 2012, 13 years have passed and I am finally ready to put the car back on the road, a hugely long and arduous learning experience but finally well worth the effort..... My main problem was aquiring space to do the work, and had to move the car several times, and on occasions put it in storage until I had secured yet another workshop space, I almost sold it at a project on a couple of occasions but I would have regretted it. I have been out of touch with prices and couldn't believe the current values, I payed £3200 for my car when nobody wanted them, now a full set of factory chromes costs double that !!!! shocking .... I have shipped the car to Heaneys in Ireland to have the mechanicals and fuel system recommisioned and the engine/box checked and tuned and then comes springtime and the open road .... Regards to all you Pagoda lovers ... Jim Lambert
