Years of Ownership

[Eryck]

I suspect that this topic might have been posted before but I wanted to share this story.

My one and only 'Pagoda' friend in Hong Kong, Alex, has owned his 1964 230SL since about 1966 or 1967, which makes over 40 years of continued ownership.  

He loves the car.  In addition to the Pagoda, he currently owns a fully restored Ferrari Dino, a Rolls Royce (late 60's early 70's), a convertible MB 280SE 3.5.  He says, he'll sell any of these cars and his house, but never the Pagoda!  

We get together from time to time to talk about Pagodas and usually start at lunch and finish at sunset after over two bottles of wines...on weekdays so I tend to have to write off a working day when I have an appointment with him....

1965 230 SL White Manual
Hong Kong

[JamesL]

I'll let him keep the Roller in return for giving me the 280SE and the Dino

You're welcome!!

[PnHi]

Hard to believe for me, but ten years this September.

[al_lieffring]

It was in the early spring of 1976 that my father and I drove from Kansas City down to Olden, Texas and picked my SL out of a salvage yard.

32 years. Who'd a-thunk it.

Al Lieffring
66 230SL

[paulr]

10 years old and it was already scraped...it just goes to show doesn't it, once these were just 10 year old rusty 60's sportscars, not what they are now.

quote:Originally posted by al_lieffring

It was in the early spring of 1976 that my father and I drove from Kansas City down to Olden, Texas and picked my SL out of a salvage yard.

32 years. Who'd a-thunk it.

Al Lieffring
66 230SL

paulr
1970 280 SL

[Cees Klumper]

Nice story Eryck - Alex definitely has his priorities straight (Pagodas and banter with good wine better than Rolls Royces and work).

My ownership 9 years this summer 'and counting'.

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

[Bob G MN]

I bought my '65 230SL in Stuttgart in Feb  1968 so it has been 40 years.  Doesn't seem that long.
Bob

[J. Huber]

Wow Bob -- that is a great testament to how attached we get to these beauties.

My "attachment" actually started soon after my brother, brother-in-law, and father (3 different people!) went on a quest in 1979 to find Pagodas. My dad was determined to get an automatic so my mom could drive it -- ended up finding a fairly beat 230SL down in North Hollywood. My brother & bro-in-law found their 280s locally (SB). Theirs were in much better condition but they only kept them a few years. Shame, shame. My dad got his roadworthy and when he noticed me always offering to exercise it -- made it my college graduation present in 1987. So technically, 21 years this June.

James
63 230SL

[enochbell]

...10 years this year.  My wife was going through our tax stuff a few weeks ago and came upon an astonishingly sad statistic: that we purchased 8 cars in 2007. And we only own a total of 3, including the 230sl! Oh, did I mention that we have two teenagers who, together, had their (really our) cars wrecked, stolen, flooded or otherwise destroyed.  No injuries, unless you count my bank account.

Anyway, I think we have probably gone through 20 or so cars in our family over the last 10 years.  The only constant in the garage is the 230sl.

Best,
g

'64 230sl, fully sorted out...ooops, spoke too soon

[dseretakis]

11 years for my 280SL.  Seems like most of us have owned them about 10 yrs or about 40 years.
Dimitri

[mrfatboy]

I bought mine in 1995 so 13 years.

1969 280sl
Signal Red
4 Speed

[saygold]

I purchased mine in 1986 - sold it to my brother in '92 when I moved overseas again.  I bought it back from him 6 months later, even though he got to drive it until I returned to the states in '98.  I have moved 4 times and the only thing that has moved with with me (beside the wife) is the MB.

Ken
'66 230SL (Euro, 4-speed)

[Richard Madison]

Just to bring the average time of ownership down, I've had my car for 0.5 years.

In fact, the car has not been out in public yet. Maiden voyage will be in about two weeks on that first 65 degree (19 C) Sunday in The Big Apple...driving slowly down Fifth Avenue with the top down, giving slow soft-wrist reverse Italian style hand waves to the admiring public.

I'll be in a light leather jacket, sun glasses, and maybe a white silk scarf but I fear my slow parade speed will not allow the scarf  to flutter properly to the rear.

I also have a Beanie with a Propeller that spins in the wind but I think it might detract from the dignity of the occasion. Perhaps a bouquet of roses in one arm would be nice but I need two hands to drive the manual shift car.

Let me know if you plan to be in town, I'll let you know where to stand to see the wonderous sight of the Debutante's Coming Out.

For most of you, the first time roll-out thrill is over but I'm still looking forward to it. Jealous?

Richard M, NYC  )

[rhersberger]

I think I have had mine 16 years.

Rod Hersberger

Santa Barbara

'68 280 SL, red, tan, 4sp, two tops
'01 Jag S Type brg
'07 Cayman S Carmona red, sand beige

[France]

Richard,

Lovely.  Wish we could be there to throw rose petals under her wheels!

Good luck on the maiden voyage.

This birthday will mark 5 years of bliss; Carling was my present to myself.



Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder seat
Sarasota FL; Alsace France; Switzerland
Think of your Pagoda as a woman with a past...stable now including a 92 911 Carrera 2 Tiptronic

[benzportland]

I've owned mine a grand total of 4.3 months, and have driven it a total of 18 feet.  It went into the shop in December and has yet to emerge, although I think this may finally be the week she comes home....

[Longtooth]

I've owned mine since August '84.

Longtooth
67 250SL US #113-043-10-002163
'02 SL500 Sport

[Benz Dr.]

I've owned some sort of 113 since 1988 so that's 20 years. I bought the red rocket as a birthday present to myself on my 39th in Dec 1993. It was sold to me in North Carolina but came from Virginia and originaly came from Italy. Most five speeds seem to come from there.
The only thing I've owned longer than a 113 is a 190SL since 1977 but that may soon change as I'm considering selling my '61 powder blue French example.

Dan Caron's
 SL Barn
benzbarn@ebtech.net
 slbarn.mbz.org
  1 877 661 6061

[Garry]

I brought my 113 as a retirement project around 2000 but I recently ran out of garage space as we down size in retirement and was given the ultimatum from wife that one of the mistresses had to go.
 
An awful dilemma. Sadly I sold my 190SL and kept my 280SL. As usual, the younger girl got to stay. Decided that mistress 2, Miss Pagoda, is much less crankier. She is far less difficult to take anywhere you wanted to go, facelift parts are easier to get and she is a far more modern girl who is much less demanding. The old girl was very pretty though and caught the eye of many a young lad and was quickly taken.

Garry Marks
Australia
69 280SL Manual
02 320ML
05 A200

[Dottore]

Small world. I'm new to this board, but also know Alex in Hong Kong. He used to own a Porsche or two as well, and we often discussed the merits of our Porsches versus the Dino. He always argued for the Dino, while I defended the Porsches staunchly - usually over some wine.

[waqas]

Looks like this Alex chap is quite popular.

I've had my green 230sl since 2004... and then in 2006, in a fit of mind boggling madness bought my red 230sl (along with a 111 250se coupe and 108 280se sedan that same year).

Since then, I've sold my Honda Accord, and bought another 111 250se coupe, along with my only (currently) non-60s vehicle: 2001 Aprilia Scarabeo scooter!

where did it all go wrong....

Waqas in Austin, Texas

[Halftrack]

Our Hellbeige basketcase was purchased shortly after the big earthquake here in the San Francisco Bay Area, 1989.  Lots of serious attention to her mechanicals in those first years. Can't believe it is nearly twenty years now!

Mark DeBacker
'64 230SL
Sonoma Wine Country

[ghenne]

Bought mine in 1978, 30 years ago!