Author Topic: Something's not right (Read 16381 times)

Cees Klumper · « **on:** December 26, 2003, 02:24:07 »

In this picture something's not right for this car. Can you spot it?

http://www.geevers.nl/catalogue/images/04f.jpg

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

hands_aus · « **Reply #1 on:** December 26, 2003, 04:25:44 »

bonnet star

Bob (Brisbane,Australia)
early 250 SL, RHD

Tom · « **Reply #2 on:** December 26, 2003, 07:38:06 »

I saw a car with the same color combination and hood star at the Hershey Car Show/Auction. 32,000 miles (real). It was a nice car that had a bid over $30k but never cleared the reserve so it did not sell.

Best,

Tom

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #3 on:** December 26, 2003, 13:19:40 »

Right Bob and Tom - apparently the car did sell after all, because it's now for sale in The Netherlands - for no less than $44,000 !

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

rwmastel · « **Reply #4 on:** December 26, 2003, 17:17:33 »

What's the deal with the hood star? Is it connected where the laurel wreath should be? It looks so low, almost like it's floating out in front of the car in mid-air.

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

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #5 on:** December 27, 2003, 00:33:40 »

Here's another pic that shows how the star is positioned:

http://www.geevers.nl/catalogue/images/04a.jpg

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

pierre · « **Reply #6 on:** December 27, 2003, 07:15:42 »

That star would have pleased my father who drove Mercedes from 1957 until his death and used to speak of that "guiding star" reflecting all other stars through the nights (he drove a lot for his business, at least 50 000kms a year)!
Anyway, I wonder how it's possible to open the hood with that star on it without any shock.Probably it's been foreseen!

Pierre
230 SL febr 1964

n/a · « **Reply #7 on:** December 27, 2003, 13:40:12 »

Well, I don't think this enhances the cars looks, although it looks like a nice example in other respects. What do you guys think?

n/a · « **Reply #8 on:** December 27, 2003, 16:47:20 »

I'm with you. It doesn't do anything for me. I've always liked "guiding" a Mercedes by it's star hood ornament, but not in this case. Beautiful car otherwise. The "feature" wouldn't keep me from buying or enjoying this car in any case.

Rudy
Los Angeles
1971 280 SL

Douglas · « **Reply #9 on:** December 27, 2003, 18:11:59 »

Too many 3-pointed stars on the front of that Pagoda -- It leaves me "star-struck."

On the flipside to this, does anyone know of a Pagoda that was ordered with the delete option for the 230/250/280 SL badge on the trunk?

As the saying goes: Less is more.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260

hands_aus · « **Reply #10 on:** December 28, 2003, 05:18:16 »

I too wonder how the bonnet can be opened without losing paint.

Bob (Brisbane,Australia)
early 250 SL, RHD

pierre · « **Reply #11 on:** December 28, 2003, 07:37:50 »

I too wonder how the bonnet can be opened without losing paint.[/i]
Hello "hands aus", why not "Hände darauf", let me explain:

Maybe there's a special electric system making the "guiding star" disappear when you touch it( > Hände darauf, = hands on it), like the so called "spirit of ecstasy " on the hood of some Rolls Royce!
( > please note the biblic allusion of the guiding star, especially at this time of the year! )

Pierre 230 Sl man. -64

Joe · « **Reply #12 on:** December 28, 2003, 12:12:42 »

I think the hood has been modified at the rear portion, too. At least, mine doesn't fit like that.
Also, the ashtray cover is cognac, not black. Weren't they all black?
Joe

Douglas · « **Reply #13 on:** December 28, 2003, 17:03:17 »

Joe, I believe the ashtray is correct. They were availalbe in cognac Tex.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260

Bob G · « **Reply #14 on:** December 28, 2003, 17:27:50 »

Bonnet hood star.

Bob Geco

n/a · « **Reply #15 on:** December 28, 2003, 18:43:22 »

Obviously the hood star for one. I don't care how well its installed, it doesn't belong there!
And, for me, a big no-no are the speakers cut into the kick panels. Once you cut those holes, there is no turning back!
There are some very interesting small speakers, high-out put, that will fit into the original dash speaker location. You could put two of them there, and two bigger ones in the parcel shelf behind the seats. With the right system it would sound awesome! In my car, I have the Alpine CD in the glove, with the time correction feature. I would have put the new speakers in the dash, but that is the speaker that my original Becker is hooked up to.
The parcel shelves behing the seats are just wood anyway, and easy to replace if neccessary for shows. I was thinking of having an extra set just for that purpose. Just my opinion.

Steve W.
1968 280SL
www.stevewaddington.com/camaro

drewsalisbury · « **Reply #16 on:** December 28, 2003, 19:07:45 »

The speakers look like 4" surface mount becker stereo speakers. There are a similar pair in my 1971 280sl, I think that they the original speakers installed with a becker europa II stereo radio.

Drew Salisbury

Tom · « **Reply #17 on:** December 28, 2003, 19:58:17 »

Drew, Steve,

These speakers are original and were part of the stereo upgrade. My car has the same speakers and originally came equipped with a Becker Grand Prix.

Here are 2 more pictures related to this car-a full frontal view and the original overflow tank decal. Whomever ends up with this car will need to address the fuel pump. The fuel pump engages when the driver's door is open. The car was not well documented or at least the handlers at the auction said they did not know where the documents were. I believe the spare was original to the car.

Best,

Tom

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hands_aus · « **Reply #18 on:** December 29, 2003, 06:52:20 »

Hey Tom,
That fuel pump is a known problem and is easily fixed. Only on late 250 and 280 models.
It is related to the brake fluid level being low which activates the sensor contacts.
Aparently a diode can be inserted in the circuit to isolate the two systems.
I think it is mentioned in the Technical Articles of this site.

Bob (Brisbane,Australia)
early 250 SL, RHD

hands_aus · « **Reply #19 on:** December 29, 2003, 07:06:59 »

Hey Pierre,
Let me explain the name, Hands_aus
Hands = masseur
Aus = Australia
I use it for my emails etc, it tells people what I do and where I am.

Bob (Brisbane,Australia)
early 250 SL, RHD

pierre · « **Reply #20 on:** December 29, 2003, 09:21:50 »

Hey Bob!

Thank you for the explanation. Afterwards, I had understood that "aus" means Australia, and that it couldn't be a mixture of german (aus = out) and english. Like my wife, you must be physiotherapist(masseur-kinésithérapeute, that's the whole name in french, usually called "kiné")

Steve!
I agree, this star doesn't belong here.
That kind of icon is usally absent from sports cars of the fifties and sixties (no jaguar icon on the hood of a E Type , for example, and no SL with such a star, even a Bentley is supposed to be a sport ing Rolls royce... and consequently no icon on the hood )

Douglas · « **Reply #21 on:** December 29, 2003, 10:07:03 »

Cees, was there any real confirmation of that car's mileage? Is that 32K genuine?

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #22 on:** December 30, 2003, 00:28:42 »

Doug - according to the seller, the mileage is original. And the interior has never been replaced, it has the original body undercoating, etc etc. See below for a link to the complete listing. Oh, and with the current dollar/euro conversion rate (1:25 to 1) it lists at $ 47.800:

http://www.geevers.nl/catalogue/04.html

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

Douglas · « **Reply #23 on:** December 30, 2003, 01:27:06 »

A couple of things: First, this car is missing the beltline trim that goes behind the rear wheels. I would guess some kind of repair went on in that area.

Second, I don't like the amount of wear on the brake pedal. In my opinion, you shouldn't be able to see any wear on a 32K brake pedal.

Always the cynic......

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #24 on:** December 30, 2003, 01:31:53 »

Hi Doug - my glass is always half full

I don't know if you can determine from this photo that the brake pedal is worn. It actually looks pretty good on my monitor. Tell you what - if a couple of people want me to, I will go over to this place when they have the car there (it's listed as 'arriving soon'), will take photos, talk to the seller, test-drive it etc etc and see if we can run a short article on the car if it is genuine, for Pagoda World.

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

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Author Topic: Something's not right (Read 16381 times)

pierre

n/a

n/a

Douglas

pierre

Douglas

Bob G

n/a

drewsalisbury

pierre

Douglas

Douglas