Pagoda Safety

[Sphe]

I just have a simple question for you guys. As many of you already know, my father and I have been hard at work this summer trying to get our 1965 230SL running a little bit. So I was thinking about how much I would enjoy driving this car around when it's in really good shape. Then I stepped back and looked at the big picture... No head rests, no should straps, no air bags... is there anyway to increase the safety of the pagoda? Maybe seats with should straps at least? Just wondering.

[n/a]

Well...the car hasn't killed anyone in 38 years that you know of....has it? You could add all of those things, except airbags, you mentioned if you're leary of driving an old car. I think most people would encourage you to add these things. I propose that if you keep the brakes, suspension and engine in proper order, you have little to fear. But that's just me. These cars are not as safe as newer cars in an accident, and I don't think adding those things make it that much safer. There's a lot more to making new cars safer than adding headrests, shoulder belts and airbags.

Rudy
Los Angeles
1971 280 SL

[n/a]

I saw a good looking pair of aftermarket headrests on a covair convertible but unfortunately I was not able to locate the owner and inquire where they were purchased.

Does anyone know of a source of aftermarket headrests?

Rupert

[Albert-230SL]

Hi,

here's some info about Pagoda safety from MB. Hope you feel safer now!:

The 230 SL was the world's first sports car with a safety body with stiff passenger cell and deformation zones at the front and rear; this had become possible by applying the construction principles of Béla Barényi, which had been used for the first time in the "fintail" sedans.

The Pagoda was the first SL to combine speed with safety. Since it shared the frame/floor unit with the famous "tail fin" model, the world's first sedan with safety bodywork, the SL, too, had a rigid passenger cell and crumple zones, i.e. easily deformable front and rear sections. Like the sedan, the interior compartment of the SL was designed so as to reduce the injury hazard in accidents; there were no sharp edges and corners; as in the predecessor, seat belts were optionally available. The steering gear was moved from the front end, the crash section, towards the firewall; the steering column was offset and additionally fitted with a joint to prevent the dangerous lance effect in an accident. From 1967, the safety package was complemented by a telescoping steering column and an impact absorber integrated in the steering wheel.[/i]

And what about its vintage "airbag" in the middle of the steering wheel, around the star logo? It has no air cushion, but it's softer than the steering wheel!  

If you don't have seat belts or should straps, I would fit it. It's the best way to take advantage of the safety innovations of the Pagoda!

Regards,

Albert de la Torre Chavalera
Barcelona (Catalunya/Spain)
Feb.'64 230 SL Euro 113042-10-002432

[Bob G ✝︎]

Just think of the statment you are making when you drive your Pagoda with out federally mandated issue safety head rest. You have a car when a automobile was truly untouched by federal mandated garbage. How lucky can one be.

Bob Geco

[pkiefert]

Bob, as one who has had 3 head injuries from accidents that were not my fault, I can attest that accidents happen when and where you least expect it, and that shouder belts and headrests (actually a restraint), are not garbage. I would encourage Sphe and anyone else to at least add the shoulder belts.  I'm sure the purists in the group will disagree but that's where I draw a line.  Safety in today's aggresive driving environment is not something to be passive about.  Pun partly intended.