Author Topic: Just your run-of-the-mill $200K Pagoda (Read 10253 times)

Douglas · « **on:** March 03, 2007, 11:11:50 »

Our friend Gernold from SL Tech up in Maine is advertising the Mechatronik conversions on Roy Spencer's site. Apparently, Gernold is the exclusive US agent for the company.

Take a look:

http://www.oursl.com/listing-forms/listings-det.php?op=showdet&aid=1435#

Sehr schön!

Douglas Kim
New York
USA

Mike Hughes · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2007, 15:14:59 »

That's the car that was at the Mid Atlantic gathering last fall. The quality of the mechanical upgrades and restoration of the donor car is top notch.

These two links to the Mid-Atlantic Pagoda Gatherings in 2004 and 2006 will have pictures of the same car, parked in the same spot before (Maroon, w/matching hardtop) and after (Blue, top down) the conversion.

http://index.php?topic=5897+meet

http://index.php?topic=2409+meet

- Mike Hughes -ô¿ô-
1966 230SL Auto P/S
Havanna Brown (408)
Light Beige (181)
Cream M-B Tex (121)

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2007, 17:30:08 »

So has anyone actually driven this 'MSL 320'? Must be a blast ...

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

Tom · « **Reply #3 on:** March 03, 2007, 21:39:05 »

I drove the car last fall-it was fabulous. It is really hard to describe what a tight, enjoyable ride this car is and how it handles and accelerates.

The pictures at the Oursl site look to be taken at Alex Dearborn's location. I know Gernold has the one demo car, but I don't think it is for sale. The Mechatronik company has a demo car in Germany and it is also not for sale, as each car must be ordered.

1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic (restored & enhanced)
1970 280sl Beach Driver with a touch of rust

TheEngineer · « **Reply #4 on:** March 04, 2007, 12:04:41 »

There's probably something wrong with me, and please feel free to enlighten me: I'm perfectly happy with my 280SL. It runs fine, handles well and runs on regular gas. It's very nice to drive, especially on a nice day with the top down. The engine is quite powerful, the problem is that we have speed limits, but the car would go much faster. Why would anyone install a MB 320 engine? It's an all aluminum block, the pistons run on an aluminum surface and when the thin coating on the surface wears thru, the bore becomes oval and you have to throw the engine away. The engine and associated controls have certainly more problems than an equivalent jap engine. I can maybe see that, if the original 280SL engine can no longer be rebuilt (and that takes a long, long time) one installs a Lexus 400 8-cyl engine together with the auto. That provides plenty power and excellent reliability. But it would not be a genuine 280SL any more. IMHO it's so nice to drive a 40 year old car in the original condition.

Tom · « **Reply #5 on:** March 04, 2007, 16:43:01 »

I don't think there is anything wrong with you. I think there is nothing like driving a cosmetically challenged but well maintained original 280sl. My slightly rusted car is the ultimate daily driver-modest rust, dings, faded paint-but mechanically very strong. If it rains with the top down-so what? It's happened a hundred times already.

So I understand your viewpoint. For me, it is worry-free and guilt- free enjoyment-one look at the daily driver and people will park 2 spaces away from me.

1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic (restored & enhanced)
1970 280sl Unrestored Beach Driver with a touch of rust

Chad · « **Reply #6 on:** March 04, 2007, 23:24:35 »

I am interested in older vehicles strictly becuase of the beauty and the joy of the older technology. For the $200k I would simply rather buy a rare and interesting original old car, or rather do completely other things with the money. But I completely understand the interest in this updated, upgraded car!!!

One thing, it has a fast engine, it will be fast, presumably the steering and braking components are updated appropriately... One thing I notice is the absence (aesthetically) of modern safety in the cabin, airbags, side airbags. That steering wheel looks similar to the one we use... padded not bagged. Many early pagoda have no headrest, and none have any original headrest that provides support for safety. Mixing modern get up and go without making the sacrifice in the cabin for the full modern equivalent of safety seems like tempting greater risk to me, after all this modernized car will likely be used, it wouldn't make sense to modernize only to make it a garage queen as like the finest truly original might be. But this safety and such is just a small observation. The owner of such a car would sort out the various plusses and pitfalls of the hybridized technologies.

1967 230SL
2006 Toyota Prius

JamesL · « **Reply #7 on:** March 05, 2007, 09:33:21 »

The Hairpin Company http://www.thehairpincompany.co.uk/ have a 17,000 mile 280SL for sale. In original spec, not Mechatronik, for a mere $100,000 less!

Jonny B · « **Reply #8 on:** March 05, 2007, 15:21:42 »

Wow, the three examples they had were all mighty nice.

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

Kenneth Gear · « **Reply #9 on:** March 06, 2007, 09:17:56 »

Notice the 250sl has the new modern digital Becker radio which isn't yet available in the states. Blue tooth capable, satellite navigation, etc all is a retro package.

Ken G
1971 280 SL
Silver/red

JamesL · « **Reply #10 on:** March 06, 2007, 11:29:52 »

Kgear

Rodd has an article on the retro Becker on his desk. It may be appearing in a future edition of Pagoda World

Kenneth Gear · « **Reply #11 on:** March 06, 2007, 11:35:13 »

Another reason to look forward to the next issue!

Ken G
1971 280 SL
Silver/red

TR · « **Reply #12 on:** March 06, 2007, 14:14:42 »

Love that Mechatronik.

Tom in Boise
'71 280SL 4-spd, signal red w/lt. tan interior, restored/enhanced

JamesL · « **Reply #13 on:** March 06, 2007, 14:29:30 »

FWIW, I visited their facility last summer with a mate. Who promised me he'd write up the visit/send me pictures so I could get it to PW.

I'll chase him...

Little fun things in the visit like.... 2000 hours on JUST the bodywork of a 300Cabrio. OK, it was one of the first built (floor shift). A 107 built on a 115 chassis (one of three built). And a picture of the inside of the mechatronik SL door. Electric windows, central locking and soft close doors (a la S class). A bit busy in there!

Douglas · « **Reply #14 on:** March 06, 2007, 15:07:12 »

quote:
And a picture of the inside of the mechatronik SL door. Electric windows, central locking and soft close doors (a la S class). A bit busy in there!

That's the first thing I've heard about the Mechatronik cars that doesn't sound appealing. I understand why you'd want the car to be tight, fast and balanced in ways only a modern car can be, but why the added weight and complexity of frivolous creature comforts? Are those really an improvement?

Douglas Kim
New York
USA

hauser · « **Reply #15 on:** March 06, 2007, 15:59:45 »

BTW don't forget about the heated seats!

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

TR · « **Reply #16 on:** March 06, 2007, 19:02:49 »

quote:
Originally posted by hauser

BTW don't forget about the heated seats!

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

Hmmm ... I wonder if they also offer the seat coolers & massagers by Webasto?

Tom in Boise
'71 280SL 4-spd, signal red w/lt. tan interior, restored/enhanced

hauser · « **Reply #17 on:** March 06, 2007, 21:27:33 »

I had the opportunity to see this car last year and can honestly say that it is absolutely top notch. The quality of work that went into it is unbelievable. At $200K for the MSL 320 car you'ld still come out ahead of the $250K Hatch 280sl 3.5.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

Douglas · « **Reply #18 on:** March 07, 2007, 08:46:01 »

Extremely impressive:

http://www.mechatronik.de/en/index.htm

Douglas Kim
New York
USA

TR · « **Reply #19 on:** March 07, 2007, 09:07:04 »

Not a W113, but another pretty nice looking machine from Mechatronik:

http://www.mechatronik.de/img/fotos/msl_neu_1.jpg

Tom in Boise
'71 280SL 4-spd, signal red w/lt. tan interior, restored/enhanced

rwmastel · « **Reply #20 on:** March 07, 2007, 10:39:51 »

quote:
Originally posted by Douglas

http://www.mechatronik.de/en/index.htm

There's some interesting pics on their web site!
http://www.mechatronik.de/img/emotionen/DSC00076.JPG

The list of pics:
http://www.mechatronik.de/en/emotions.htm

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

nick350 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 07, 2007, 12:41:23 »

This is quite interesting as this is about £100k in the UK and although I dont have that kind of money, I do have a £40K car and if I were in the market for that kind of spend, I think that I would consider it . That kind of money ( we call it football money) is all over the place here in the UK with expensive 4x4's, Rollers, Bentleys, Astons, being driven by 'celebrities' so really in the scheme of things it represents good value. The difficult thing here would be to find someone with sufficent taste, sadly lacking in the new Mayfair set. I have said it before on this forum, good pagodas are expensive here. There are loads around in London, I see maybe three a week, probably the same ones but driven by media types..and me. By chance, I met Paul (paulr) last week, in Mayfair actually and although he is a bit of a celebrity photographer himself and could probably afford it has the most beautiful Navy 280sl. 1971 I think. I think he has good taste keeping an original. That must be worth £50K.

Nick350
r107 SL red
w113 SL white

JamesL · « **Reply #22 on:** April 20, 2007, 15:29:54 »

http://www.silverarrows.co.uk/Car7/car.htm

A shade under £50,000

This months Classic And Sports Car has a Silver 280 advertised at over £50k

http://www.silverarrows.co.uk/Car3/car.htm

http://www.silverarrows.co.uk/Car8/car.htm

http://www.thehairpincompany.co.uk/ - another at £50k in here, plus another at £45k

I was saying to management a few weeks ago that I thought UK prices were flat at best, if not down. Perhaps due to the number of £16-14k cars being advertsied both privately and through dealers. A 10 minute search dug up those above. I would think the UK is fragmenting. Top cars - or those that can be sold as such - going for top dollar, with a raft of "normal" cars, er, not going for top dollar. In my 10 minute search I found dealers selling cars for £14k through to the £50k mark. That really is some spread!

mille · « **Reply #23 on:** April 21, 2007, 01:24:45 »

I agree with theengineer - I can't really get exited and in fact I think it's a pitty. But, at least it's a MB engine, not like what I saw the other day advertised - a MGA cabriolet fitted a Mazda rotary engine....

Have a nice day

/Finn

1964 MB 230 SL 4 speed manual Euro silver metallic with black interior

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Author Topic: Just your run-of-the-mill $200K Pagoda (Read 10253 times)

Douglas

Chad

TR

Douglas

hauser

TR

hauser

Douglas

TR

nick350

mille