Author Topic: Modified 250SL  (Read 9587 times)

RPM PAGODA

  • Guest
Modified 250SL
« on: May 22, 2015, 07:24:47 »
This is my 250SL project. My passion for these cars started when I saw the movie Intersection and a few years later was fortunate enough to find one for a fair price. The floor and chassis was badly rusted which suited me just fine as I never intended to use the original driveline. I want the car to retain a factory built look when it's finished hence the use of factory brackets on the suspension and the style of chassis, not that it's intended in any way to imitate Mercedes, just the way I want to build it. It has a Holden 5 litre V8, automatic transmission and a Live rear axle with a 3 link/watts link suspension assembly.

RPM PAGODA

  • Guest
Re: Modified 250SL
« Reply #1 on: May 22, 2015, 07:48:40 »
Whoops, new to forums so realized it would be better to continue on the same thread!

Sump modifications to clear rack and pinion steering and design of rear chassis

RPM PAGODA

  • Guest
Re: Modified 250SL
« Reply #2 on: May 22, 2015, 07:52:43 »
Chassis fabrication

GGR

  • Associate Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, DC, Washington
  • Posts: 1470
Re: Modified 250SL
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2015, 11:06:17 »
Quite a project you have there. I guess you know it already, but you can find aftermarket panels, like here: http://www.kkmfg.com/catalog_loader.php?page=113/113BodyPanels.svg

There have been many V8 conversions on Pagodas, some with MB drivetrains like here:

http://www.hatchandsons.com/pages/280sl/

http://inventory.eurocaroc.com/web/used/Mercedes-Benz-280SL-3.5-1968-Costa-Mesa-California/1715581/

http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=16902.0;all

http://www.carbuildindex.com/3739/mercedes-benz-280-sl-restoration-with-6-3-liter-v8/

http://www.mechatronik.de/en/engineering/the-m-sl/

here is mine: http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=15521.0

Here is one that was built many years ago by Gary Ensor in Kentucky, a really great guy:
http://bringatrailer.com/2015/04/17/properly-v8-swapped-1967-mercedes-benz-500sl/ that car was at the Williamsburg 50 years gathering. the comment made by Jim Rosenthal (at the bottom) is about my car.
 
There were also many V8 conversions made with non-MB drivetrains like the one of  Group Member "justken2u/frankenbenz" here:   http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=11783.0

You may have already noted that the MB crowd is usually quite more conservative than average, and modifying older MBs is usually met with more resistance and disapproval than in BMW, Jaguar, Porsche or Alfa Romeo circles for example, as the latter are more performance minded. Though MB has a very glorious past in competition, I guess people who collect MBs today are more attracted by the image they convey and by their build quality. So don't be surprised if you end up attracting some flak directly like "frankenbenz" did or being bothered indirectly by people who do not have the guts to voice their disapproval in your face (I got moderated more than my fair share on this forum - I will always remember the time when someone complained that I was spamming the forum for having posted a great number of left over W113 parts in the dedicated section of the forum as I needed the money to finance the body work and new paint my car was in need of   ??? ??? ).

Fortunately, you will also find some support and interest, as illustrated by the links above and the number of readers they got. And as Magnus Walker puts it, "the good thing with an outlaw, is that nobody can complain for it not to be original", they would just be missing the point. The other unique pleasure with that kind of projects is the satisfaction of creating something by yourself out of a vision you have. Finally, no stock Pagoda could ever put the kind of smile I have on my face each time I drive mine! I'm sure you will get the same with yours!

So please keep posting! From the pictures you posted so far you seem to have some very serious fabrication skills and many of us will surely learn many things from you!
« Last Edit: May 22, 2015, 15:50:59 by GGR »

stickandrudderman

  • Vendor
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • United Kingdom, England, Richmond
  • Posts: 2799
    • http://www.colinferns.com
Re: Modified 250SL
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2015, 13:59:45 »
It's a shame that you're not sticking to a Mercedes drivetrain as others have done, but nonetheless you have some serious fabrications skills and a very impressive trophy collection!

RPM PAGODA

  • Guest
Re: Modified 250SL
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2015, 23:29:54 »
Thanks GGR, I found your project very interesting too.
I realize that mine may not suit everyone's ideas or tastes but I'm not building it for them! The cars that I have built over the years I have chosen because of the way they look, but understand that factory cars have limitations and by today's standards they don't handle, brake or ride very well. I love the design, lines and that special something about older cars, however not the dynamics. As for cutting up a classic, well it's just a car, and had I not gotten hold of it it may have rotted away to nothing like so many others. The purists should happy with what I'm doing, really happy, as it makes their standard cars even rarer and therefore more valuable! And surely it's about a passion for all things automotive, whether it's your taste or not it's having an appreciation for the work, detail and craftsmanship that goes into car building. I remember going to a car cruise in Huntington Beach and the coolest thing there was one of those old wooden hulled boats from the 60's, it was a thing of beauty and the finish was amazing and there in this car park of custom cars, classics and all other types of cars was this glorious boat being admired by everyone.

hands_aus

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Australia, Queensland, Brisbane
  • Posts: 1543
Re: Modified 250SL
« Reply #6 on: May 24, 2015, 04:04:14 »
Hey Mark,

With lots of pictures you take us along on your journey and at the end many of us would love to go for a drive with you in the finished car.

Please keep the story and pics of your progress coming.

I would love to have the warewithall to own a Mechatronic car as well as my own 250SL.
What a combination it would be.
Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL #114, auto, ps , 717,717
best of the best