Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: festsentralen on March 20, 2011, 18:42:17

Title: Need help for Pre Purchase Inspection in Santa Barbara
Post by: festsentralen on March 20, 2011, 18:42:17: First of all hello to everyone, as this is my very first post in this forum!

I have to admit I have spent quite some time reading and searching in this forum before singing in as a member. I’m very impressed by the general quality I see.

So, I have finally got a few ideas of the kind of 113 I prefer, and also found an advertisement for a manual 250 Euro-model that looks very promising to me so far.
My challenge is that the car is in Santa Barbara, CA, and that I live in Norway (will import the car), so I need some professional help to inspect this SL and to send me a report.

Do any of you have any recommendation for companies, mechanics or members you trust for such a job in that area? The gentleman selling this car has offered his help to give me a few options for Mercedes inspectors to choose from, and I have no reason not trusting him doing this honestly. But there will always be a hint of doubt doing it this way.

Thanks in advance,
Thomas
Title: Re: Need help for Pre Purchase Inspection in Santa Barbara
Post by: MRB43 on March 21, 2011, 05:40:14: I have heard very good things about....

Scott Melnick
Calabasas, California
Telephone: 818.222.1800

...and Calabasas is about 90 minutes from Santa Barbara.

Good Luck.
Title: Re: Need help for Pre Purchase Inspection in Santa Barbara
Post by: J. Huber on March 21, 2011, 13:47:23: Hello Thomas.

I would call Stuttgart Motors

421 Anacapa Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2308
(805) 966-2612

Ask for Gunther, who is the owner. This shop does quality work. The only problem is, it has been many years since I used them (90s) -- so I cannot guarantee Gunther is still at the helm. The shop is still there for sure.

Good luck.
Title: Re: Need help for Pre Purchase Inspection in Santa Barbara
Post by: dakman29 on March 21, 2011, 19:31:33: I don't know Gunther, but you can't do better than Scott Melnick.
Title: Re: Need help for Pre Purchase Inspection in Santa Barbara
Post by: Tom Colitt on March 23, 2011, 07:49:50: Hi Thomas

I do pre-purchase inspections at a very reasonable cost regularly for members of this Pagoda sight. You will find from past posts that I specialize in Pagodas and I am right in that area so I can view the car for you with only a few hours notice. My services range from just a thorough visual and driving inspection to more detailed diagnostic and written appraisals including compression and leak down tests....Prices usually range from $250 to $350 for local inspections...

You can contact me at:

ClssicAutosLA
(323) 251-0987
tcolt@netzero.com
Title: Re: Need help for Pre Purchase Inspection in Santa Barbara
Post by: festsentralen on March 23, 2011, 11:23:40: Thank you very much for all suggestions.

It seems that I ((un)fortunately) won’t need any help, as the seller never contacted me back after I asked for a few more photos and how to arrange such an inspection.

Instead, the car is now put back for sale on ebay: deleted

deleted

Some more search on the internet led me to these photos from May last year – which are not really as glossy as the one I first looked at…deleted

Thanks any way for you help,
Thomas
Title: Re: Need help for Pre Purchase Inspection in Santa Barbara
Post by: J. Huber on March 23, 2011, 14:07:24: Of Course, Tom Collitt!

Sorry Tom. I looked at the question more from a "local" inspection standpoint. There are not too many people who would make the effort to drive 90 miles or more away and be enthusiastic about it. Tom would!

Good luck
Title: Re: Need help for Pre Purchase Inspection in Santa Barbara
Post by: Tom Colitt on March 30, 2011, 18:28:40: Thanks James

I appreciate the enthusiastic attribute :-)
I actually just took an extended weekend trip to see three 405 Bristol cars in England and Greenwich, Connecticut, so we can multiply my enthusiasm radius (or diameter?) by 100. Don't ask me why 405 Bristol, but I like the shape and they actually have a good portion of BMW pedigree. (Where are you going to move this thread to Peter-the BMW site ;-)...

Whatever the car is, I have found that I will find detect that even the seasoned Bristol specialist at the other end had never been aware of (in this case, the body line of the rear doors was substantially different on two otherwise identical 1955 405 Bristols...)
Title: Re: Need help for Pre Purchase Inspection in Santa Barbara
Post by: Garry on March 31, 2011, 03:10:59: Just to get the thread completely off track, Tom you would like this photo then. Mates cars.
Title: Re: Need help for Pre Purchase Inspection in Santa Barbara
Post by: Drewtee on March 31, 2011, 07:18:25: Ferstsenttrelen( Thomas)

Keep up the search, you may end up with a lovely looking car such as the green one in the same picture as the Bristols -(back on track :D )

Nice colour combo by the way Garry.I'm bringing a silver car back to it's original moss green and wonder how your combo would look with soft top and hubs ( back off track :( )
Title: Re: Need help for Pre Purchase Inspection in Santa Barbara
Post by: Tom Colitt on April 16, 2011, 18:13:09: ....and back off track again ;)

Thanks for the picture Garry. I'm still negotiation for that 405 Bristol. Something about that and when you look at it you know the Porsche designers had one sitting on their desk when they drew the Panamera....