Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: Cees Klumper on June 01, 2004, 16:28:02
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Today I decided to take my car (rebuilt engine, now run in) to a high speed, to see how it would do. I went no further than 5,500 RPM which took it to 180 KPH (around 112 MPH) and this took no time at all, it pulled very strongly and easily to this speed. I did not want to go any further now, but will do so at some point. Based on how my car runs, I expect it will reach 195 KPH (120 MPH).
Question: to what speed have you taken your car and was this as far as it would go?
Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic
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Speedometer error is pretty great at those speeds, Cees. I wouldn't put too much stock in those numbers. I suppose if everyone is, more or less, equally inaccurate I suppose you could draw some conclusions here as to relative power.
Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260
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Hey Cees.
In every discussion about top speeds, high RPMs, etc. I am always the fuddy-duddy that says "slow down and be gentle" and enjoy the ride in our beloved toys....
Having said that, there was a time when I was much less fuddy-duddy and much more of a kind of crazy kid -- As I recall, when I was about 17, I "borrowed" the folks 230SL and thought it would be really cool to hit 200 (kphs)... I think I made it.
25 years later, I hardly go much over 110KPH or about 65-70. Call me a fuddy-duddy...
James
63 230SL
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Cees:
I assume this question is for autobahn drivers since only 8 states in the USA allow speeds as high as 75 mph, the other 42 states have a lower maximum speed limit...and certainly no one using this Forum would speed just to test their car...
Richard M
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Doug - I calibrated my speedo with a 2004 Audi A6 last week (at a relatively high speed) and it turned out to read 10% too low - due to my rear axle swap two years ago. So I think I'm in the ballpark.
Richard - in the Netherlands the maximum speed allowed on the highway is 75 MPH. So I did speed, on a straight stretch of 4-lane highway approaching Amsterdam, at around midnight with virtually no other traffic, for about 20 seconds. Somehow I figured I would have a relatively good story in case I would be pulled over, and a nice car to tell that story in. But it is a risk.
Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic
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Cees,
A terrible risk indeed. We had a case in Karlsruhe recently of a car that was mysteriously "forced" off the road in broad daylight. It was a very young inexperienced driver with her baby in a small compact. Both were killed. A few weeks later a Mercedes test driver turned himself in to authorities. He had been spotted by some witnesses; the only reason he was ever found was that an intense search for a silver new Merc had him scared. I am sure he never saw her accident--my theory is that she saw him coming up on her at 200+ (km/hr) and freaked out, swerving off the highway into the forest after he passed. He probably blasted through without looking at what happened in his rear-view mirror and was long gone as the tragedy played out.
I think they gave him 4 years... we should all remember that our driving is only as good as our ability to avoid the worst drivers on the roads.
Having said that, Sarasota's Little Red Truck has been known to hit 90 without a sigh, but that's also speeding by FL's 70 mph standards. Done clear sunny days on empty highways for short stretches, and only when protected by 10-4 Buddies in trucks!
Trice
1968 280SL US, signal/bl leather, auto
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Like J. Huber, I didn't drive my Pagoda over 110 / 120 km/h. The reason is I'm not so sure that everything in this 40 years old car would stand high RPMs and would be OK,and living in the mountains doesn't give the opportunity to make that kind of experiences!
Otherwise I understand that Cees' SL after the engine rebuilt is in such a good condition that he'd like to reach the top stars at top speed!
[/quote]
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I admit that driving it is a lot of fun (in Germany I reached electronically limited 250 kmh in a 500E), but it is easy to calculate the top speed for your car. You only need the tire size, gear and rear axle ratio. As examples, based on this, a M/T car with 185 tires and i=3.69 should drive 204 kmh at 6500 rpm, and a M/T car with 205/70 tires and i=4.08 should drive 193 kmh at 6500 rpm. A/T cars are about 5 mph less due to hydraulic slippage.
Klaus
1969 280 SL
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I can't drive 55!
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I pushed my old worn out low compression oil eating car to 140 km/h. It had more to go, but I didn't trust it to hold together past that!
Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both tops
1994 E420
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The 1968 280SL is capable of 124 MPH with 2 people aboard. this with the hardtop on so I am told . I managed to take the old car out for some exersize and blow some carbon out on the freeway. At 4000 RPM is about 60MPH is this correct? I am running 185 TR 14 michelin tires. Car did run sweet and when pushed it did respond well.
How come when our cars where built and Ferrari and Porsche could do 130 to 150 MPH Mercedes-Benz choose to limit a six cylinder engine to such a boreing speed that our cars do. Even the BMW 3.0. CS could do 130 MPH. It makes you wonder what was being discussed as important aspects of sales during the run of SLs in the pagoda years and why they did not get faster with each model year the W113 was built.
Bob Geco
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Langsam sollste fahren, so daß die Leute uns sehen !
1969 280SL,Signal Red, A/T, P/S, A/C, Both tops. Ret. engr.
Admin translation: "You should drive slowly so people can see us!"
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Hi Cees and all,
All these speeds were reached in a "non-speed limited" German highway... ;) :
I have only pushed my 230 SL to 170 KPH (around 106 MPH), soft top down, and it feels really safe and with good handling, but the RPM were high... and it's 40 years old... so I decided to stop there :| ...
But I drove one of my former cars (a VW Corrado VR6) at 200 KPH (125 MPH) during some KM behind the '64 230 SL (manual, 4 speed) of another member of the Spanish MB Club... so it reachs 125 MPH nowadays! 8) (Note: his budget in case of engine damage is quite bigger than mine...)
Another member of the Spanish MB Club also pushed his automatic 280 SL (W113) to 200 KPH (Note: same case about budget... :oops: )
Regards
Albert de la Torre Chavalera
Barcelona (Catalunya/Spain)
Feb.'64 230 SL Euro 113042-10-002432
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Recently trying to keep my friends in site, I was able to get it up to 100 mph on the highway. Felt great w/ the top down and the car ran well.
There's nothing better than having the top down on the highway in these cars.
Dana
1970 280sl White (050) 4spd
Corinth, TX
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hello Cees,,,, speed lover, I love diving fast , but my more adult comrads on this web site, are correct . How ever , I got the old 250se up to 170KM [106mph] with more to go, and thats with about 103 campresstoin all around .It previously did not exead 110KM but driving these cars makes them better .this is before I adjusted the feul injection . careful regards .
alex,66'250se new york city
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Before I built my engine it felt very trashy at 4,000RPM so I never dared. In the last year I have had it at 6500RPM in top and it was loud but sounded good. My mother had an accident at the other end of the motorway so I pulled a "U" turn and booted it......I didn't care if I got stopped !
Anyway she was okay and so was my licence !! ;)
I have regularly exercised the upper RPM limits of the rev counter, when cruising at 70-MPH and you floor it briefly to go past someone it really picks up and flies !
However I dont speed on a regular basis, if at all, as the car sounds really nice just between 60 & 70 MPH so I'm happy to stay there and keep the points off and the roads safe.
In fact I think the cruising type nature of the 113 is what has me alive today !! [:0]
Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.
'03 CLK Kompressor
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Just last week, not trusting the speedometer, I tested my new mobile navigation system (Ipaq and TomTom). The navigation system shows an accurate speed. According to my speedometer I was doing about 80mph (128kmh) where my nav system says I am doing 163kmh. I know my speedometer does need repairs but for the time I use my nav system just to save money on speeding tickets. 163kmh is also the highest speed done. Highway speedlimits in the netherlands are 100kmh or 120kmh, speeding tickets are VERY expensive.
Gerhard Radstake
1965 230SL
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A police officer pulls a guy over for speeding and has the following exchange:
Officer: May I see your driver's license?
Driver: I don't have one. I had it suspended when I got my 5th DUI.
Officer: May I see the owner's card for this vehicle?
Driver: It's not my car. I stole it.
Officer: The car is stolen?
Driver: That's right. But come to think of it, I think I saw the owner's
card in the glove box when I was putting my gun in there.
Officer: There's a gun in the glove box? Driver: Yes sir. That's where I put it after I shot and killed the woman who owns this car and stuffed her in the trunk.
Officer: There's a BODY in the TRUNK?!?!?
Driver: Yes, sir.
Hearing this, the officer immediately called his captain. The car was quickly surrounded by police, and the captain approached the driver to handle the tense situation.
Captain: Sir, can I see your license?
Driver: Sure. Here it is. It was valid.
Captain: Who's car is this?
Driver: It's mine, officer. Here's the owner's card.
The driver owned the car.
Captain: Could you slowly open your glove box so I can see if there's a gun in it?
Driver: Yes, sir, but there's no gun in it.
Sure enough, there was nothing in the glove box.
Captain: Would you mind opening your trunk? I was told you said there's a body in it.
Driver: No problem.
Trunk is opened; no body.
Captain: I don't understand it. The officer who stopped you said you told him you didn't have a license, stole the car, had a gun in the glove box, and that there was a dead body in the trunk.
Driver: Yeah, I'll bet the lying s.o.b. told you I was speeding, too
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My Mercedes SCCA Rallycar (powered by M130 280-SL engine) was clocked at 114 mph on a gravel forest road. The lightened Mercedes Rally sedan once saw a top speed of 142 mph on pavement with rpms well over redline. I was following a surprised Honda motorcyclist.
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
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The lightened sedan would be the Micro-beast Joe? Would be great to restore it to it's former glory! Maybe I can help you rebuild that engine some time ...
Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic
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As much as I am young and reckless I would still love to see how my 230SL would handle when I punch it....
So far, max speed is 0 mph. As the car still sits being restored in my driveway.
The goal is by the end of the summer to have the car move on it's own power... slowly of course, cause then I'd need to fix the non-existant brakes.
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I think it must be a Dutch thing. Although I haven't tested my top speed, I regularly drive my car at cruising speeds of 140-150 km/h. Also, I occasionally "let rip" at a traffic light. Surprises the others who underestimate the speed our cars can achieve, especially when using 1st gear (move automatic lever to 2nd, change gear manually).
At the Winter Trial rally it was subjected to some 2500 kms of non-too-soft driving, brisk acceleration, sharp braking (at one point a lot of smoke was coming off the front discs with a lovely smell of overheated disc pad). In these rallies endurance is everything. These cars are built to endure. I decided mine will never win a concours event... but I will drive it the way it was intended to be driven.
Peter
Check out http://bali.esweb.nl for photographs of classic car events and my 1970 280 SL
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Today I finally remembered to take my navigation system with me to work in the Pagoda, and was able to properly calibrate the speedometer. A few years back I put in a 3.69 rear axle (replacing the original US-spec 4.08) and now the speedo reads slow. Interestingly enough, it seems to vary in the extent to which it is in fact slow; about 14% at moderate (55-70 MPH) speeds, but less at higher speed. Also, the odometer is far less inaccurate it seems, indicating maybe 5% too few kilometers.
Anyway I briefly sprinted to 6,000 RPM's on my way back from work and the speed according to the navigation system was 190 KPH / 118 MPH. It seems like it could have gone just a little faster, but that was enough for me!
Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic
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Hello Cees,
I found out that the electonic speed governor on my SLK32 AMG is not working. These cars are supposed to electronically governed at 155 mph. Anyway at 165 mph it was still going strong!
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
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Only one high-speed experience to relate: In late 1971, driving my 280 SL through desert Nevada on then-unregulated Interstate 15, I was goaded by a pesky El Dorado to sprint just above 126 mph and 6,600 rpm. My foot wasn't to the floor, but the shrieking metallic whine of the M 130 was getting a little scary, and I recall some darting in the front end as my household goods and I were just trying to get to Louisiana.
At the time, I was under the impression (from my selling dealer) that the car's true rev-limit was actually the far end of the tachometer's redbox, at 6,800 rpm. Who knows if that's what Rudi Uhlenhaut was thinking, but my original shop manual lists 6,500 as the redline and 200 kph (124 mph) as maximum speed for both the G 72 and ZF manual transmissions with US-standard rear axles; and I can vouch for that. I have no reason to believe a properly rebuilt M 130 in a well-sprung W 113 couldn't match or exceed that today.
But why bother when half the cars in America can move that fast -- and get there faster? For my money, the sweet spot is about 85 mph, when you get a near-Porsche scream from the engine and gobs of torque to ease past those malicious El Dorados.
Bill Greffin
Chicago
#22375
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On my way to a car show in Northridge California I gotthe old beast up to 75MPH, thats when I noticed the corrections in the steering I had to make so I backed down. I rebuild the rear & fron suspension and put new Bilsteins and sport springs in for John Olson. I am sure my car can exceed 100MPH the question is do I want to be throughen in jail to prove it.
anyone know of a good crimial attorney?
Bob Geco
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quote:
Originally posted by Klaus
.it is easy to calculate the top speed for your car. You only need the tire size, gear and rear axle ratio. As examples, based on this, a M/T car with 185 tires and i=3.69 should drive 204 kmh at 6500 rpm, and a M/T car with 205/70 tires and i=4.08 should drive 193 kmh at 6500 rpm.
This is close, but not quite right.
km/h = rpm x 60 / ( rear end ratio x tire revs per km), but the revs/km can't be accurately calculated from just the tire size because the tire diameter is slightly smaller under load. For example, a 185/80-14 tire (the 113 original size) has a calculated diameter of 65.16 cm, which would result in 488.5 revs/km, or a speed of 216 km/h at 6500 rpm with a 3.69 rear end. But the Tire Rack gives 811 revs/mile = 503.9 revs/km for a Bridgestone that size under load. Using that figure gives a speed of 210 km/h at 6500 rpm with a 3.69 rear end (assuming no tire slippage). For a 205/70-14 Bridgestone the Tire Rack gives 814 revs/mile = 505.8 revs/km, giving a speed of 189 km/h at 6500 rpm with a 4.08 rear end.
quote:
Originally posted by Bob Geco
.How come when our cars where built and Ferrari and Porsche could do 130 to 150 MPH Mercedes-Benz choose to limit a six cylinder engine to such a boring speed that our cars do. Even the BMW 3.0. CS could do 130 MPH
Not sure what you mean by "even" -- the 113 is indeed elegant and a wonderful car, but the CS is newer with more modern technology, and when it comes to driving, is superior to the 113 in almost every way. I had remembered the top speed of a stick shift CS as 201 km/h = 125 mph, but my owner's manual gives that as the maximum permitted sustained speed, and the top speed as 132 mph at 6400 rpm, or 128 mph for the automatic. The CSi had a top speed of 220 km/h = 137 mph.
I've never driven my CS at top speed here, but I sometimes did drive my CSi at top speed in Germany. It was fun, but required so much alertness that I usually settled for a more comfortable normal cruising speed of 180 km/h = 112 mph on the Autobahn. As yet, I've only driven my SL here at about 80 mph = 129 km/h.
Chris Earnest
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I work on the principle that I get 10mph for each 500 RPM
Mine will be sitting at 3500 at 70mph, and at 4000 at 80mph (and 2500 at 50mph)
And I have been up to about 5250 RPM - 105mph. Sounds fine but I do have visions of an old piston fliying through the head
The sweet spot really is between 3500 and 4500 RPM - 70 - 90.
My last trip was early in the morning and overtaking in the old girl is fun (particularly in a 60mph limit)- especially knowing that the bloke you have just passed is wondering how he's just been passed by a 35 year old car. I also gave a 996 a run for it's money on the highway back from that trip and I think he was bemused that the oldtimer was happily sitting with him for a few miles
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Hi Guys,
I took Carling up to 95mph on Interstate 75 in Sarasota. She was smooth as silk. I love it when some Nissan at a stop light thinks he's gonna get in front of me... looks of surprise as a 37-year-old car disappears! Lots of smiles from modern SL drivers.
Actually my fave is when decelerating topless--that lovely POPpoppoppop burbling out of the exhaust. No wonder the Brits call it pop and fizzle.
Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder
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Interesting that many have said the "sweet spot" is 70-90mph. It would agree - my car is eerily quiet between 4,200 and 5,000 rpm. When I used to "commute" from Santa Cruz to San Francisco, CA up Hwy 1, I ran that range for the whole trip, with runs up to 6,500 rpm on the long straights. These cars really do perk up and become sports cars once you get past 60mph. Below that my 2000 Golf is just as quick and much quieter.
I have seen 6,800 rpm occasionally and once reached 7,000 - but there was a 40mph tailwind on that run.
Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex
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This response is usually Rodd's... :)
Factory data on the M130 (280SL) engine with the 3.92 rear end indicates maximum HP at about 5800 RPM; highest efficiency (whatever that means...) at about 5600 RPM and maximum torque at about 4400 RPM. So, based on this data one would expect to see these wonderful feelings at higher speeds and higher RPMs. This data is from the reprint of the "Owners Manual". When I'm cruising at 75MPH in my 113, there's all kinds of room to get it quicker in a hurry--it really wants to pull away even at that speed. I dare not do much more then 80--not too safe to do around here--crowded highways, police, large trucks spewing stones, etc.
Contrast this with my Ford Explorer SportTrac which cruises on the highway at 80MPH no problem...at about 2500 RPM[:0]
Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored
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Several responders have said the sweet spot for a Pagoda is between 70 and 90 mph. This doubtless has to do with the characteristics of the car itself, but I wonder if it's also partly due to our comfort level as drivers (in any car), and to the speeds of other drivers.
In the US, I tend to cruise at about 80-85 when I can in just about any car I'm driving -- for example, BMW Bavaria, Ford Taurus, Mercedes ML320, or a typical rental car. (Any slower than that on I-5 between LA and SF gets you run over!) I do sometimes cruise at higher speeds (100) in the ML and some other cars, but usually about 80 is most comfortable for me for a long distance. Even Germany has set its Richtgescwindigkeit -- recommended speed -- at 130 km/h = 81 mph, and many people do seem to drive at about that speed there.
As I've mentioned,though, my comfortable cruising speed in Germany is higher -- about 180 km/h = 112 mph -- again in various different cars. For example, I recently rented a Peugeot there with a tiny engine, and while it would go 200 km/h or faster, I found myself cruising on the Autobahn at about 180 most of the time. Typical speeds (and attentiveness levels) of other drivers are certainly higher in Germany than here, and that seems to affect my own most comfortable speed. (It isn't the express highways, which are now often better and less crowded here than there)
Chris
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Oh, dear, Chris!
You must not have been on the A8 to Stuttgart lately! 8) What a parking lot, no matter what the time of day. The only time you'll be doing anywhere near 180 kph is the dead of night or early Sunday morning. In fact, many of the motorways in Germany are now parking lots. I have also noticed a severe deterioration of driving skills there within the last 20 years. Most people seem to be asleep, not using their rear-view mirrors, and the old system of flashing lights and staying out of the fast lane (supposedly the passing lane) has died. They just stay put. While we still drive the XJS and SL at 180 plus, I never fool myself that anyone around me has any skill at handling a crisis. The ultimate result can be seen on the Italian motorways, where a US-survivable accident results in a charred shell. I've seen way too many of those... come to Alsace if you really want to drive!
Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder
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quote:
Originally posted by France
Oh, dear, Chris!
You must not have been on the A8 to Stuttgart lately! 8) What a parking lot, no matter what the time of day. The only time you'll be doing anywhere near 180 kph is the dead of night or early Sunday morning. In fact, many of the motorways in Germany are now parking lots. I have also noticed a severe deterioration of driving skills there within the last 20 years. Most people seem to be asleep, not using their rear-view mirrors, and the old system of flashing lights and staying out of the fast lane (supposedly the passing lane) has died. They just stay put. While we still drive the XJS and SL at 180 plus, I never fool myself that anyone around me has any skill at handling a crisis.
Well, I'm used to Los Angeles freeways, so maybe my expectations are just lower. As it happens, I was on the A8 near Stuttgart late on the Friday afternoon between the Himmelsfahrt holiday and the weekend, so it wasn't surprising that it was a parking lot. But the A70 from Bamberg to Bayreuth, the A92 and A3 from Munich to Passau, the A96 from Munich to the Bodensee (except for the construction zones), and even the A5 from Walldorf to Darmstadt later on that same Friday were mostly quite reasonable. I admit the proliferation of trucks which are limited to 80 kph does make driving more of a challenge. Of course, Lichthupen is no longer used (or even legal, I believe), but turning on the left direction signal serves the same purpose and worked pretty well. All in all, though, I definitely agree with you that driving in Germany is not the same as it was 20 years ago!
Chris
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About 25 years ago I tried out the top speed in my parents' '69 280sl. With the soft top up, I had it at the redline on a cool (high 50s/low 60s) evening; the engine felt as strong as I'd ever felt it. On a slight downhill, the indicated speed was right between 123 and 125 mph. Its very hard to read the needle at that spot on the dial because of the knob used to reset the trip odometer obscures the speed numbers.
I now have a '68 280sl which I once had up to just over 105 mph.
I agree with those who find the 113s to have a natural gait of around 85 mph. I don't think it carries over to other cars - my wife's c320 wagon feels like it is parked when its going 85.
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About 24 of the 9,000 km I have driven the Pagoda since last year were done on the A3, right by my house. Not a whole lot of fun.
I had her up to 140 km/h once, but that was on a regular Bundesstrasse.
As one poster wrote: She becomes really quite engine-wise, but maybe that's because you have a veritable tornado in the car since the windows and the top are down...
Knowing that she can if she has to, I am happy to stroll along at 90 km/h.
Juergen
64 230SL #2933, 4sp, signal red, white hard top
93 Citroen XM station wagon
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I generally cruise on the highway at 75 mph, on the way to and from Blacklick, there were occasional "bursts" to 90+; I agree it seems to want to go that fast and faster, it is me who does not!
Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored
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I had my 250SL up to 105 MPH a couple of weeks ago in Atlanta (with the top down) and didn't pursue my madness any further. :D I wished I paid attention to the tachometer...I know it is very 4000 RPM at 80 MPH. What impressed me was how solid the car was!
Best Regards,
J. P. Mose
1968 250SL
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Great discussion Cees, as I just thought to start a discussion about the cornering capabilities of the Pagoda. This weekend I drove my car home at night over the dutch highways doing 150 km/h for half an hour stretch, doing only around 4250-4500 RPM, the engine was having a ball (so was I) and felt like it could do a lot more, but as I said, it was dark...so I behaved. The main trill though I get from corners with my car (not straight top speed), I can't do a slow corner, the car just begs to dive in corners and accelarate, and it corners so well its just amazing...I once red they had a test when the Pagode was launched in Italy and it only lost 0.10 seconds on a lap to a Ferrari 250 GT!! Sometimes I get cars following me in long fast corners on the highway, but seldom you meet a car that could keep up if you floor the pagoda....am I the only one feeling this great roadstickyness of the pagoda? Last but not least I really love the sound of the car coming out of a tunnel:-) what a thrill!!
230 sl 2.8 - 1966
ex 400 SEL 1993
ex 450 SEL 1974
ex 230.6 1966
ex 230.6 1974
ex 280S 1969
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I had mine at ~180 km/h last summer in Sweden, in the dead of night and all alone!!!! The car felt rock-solid. I felt there was a little more to go but not much. I did it with the soft-top on. I agree with the roadholding capacity. I'm having a friendly argument with a friend of mine who has an E-type. I claim that I'll outrun him on any decently twisted track, even though the Jaguar is faster flat-out, he's confident he'll beat me, but he has yet to answer me if he also thinks he can out-run a Ferrari 250 GT....
'67 250 SL Papyrus White 113043-10-000023
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Wow 180 KPH thats a lot of speed :) The fastest I drove my Paogda was around 140kph. I did not see the tach so I can't tell what that reading was. Just like you guys it wanted more but I am no race car driver so I maintaied it to where I am comfortable. Yea yea I know chicken chicken hehehe
Just like Mulrik and Mark, my 1969 280SL automatic with 120K Kilometers on the clock was rock solid. The steering was so steady it would put newer cars to shame. It did not have a single wiggle.
Of course the most pleasure I derrive from driving my pagoda is when I am driving slow in the city and the people all around me are giving me a huge smile and a thumbs up sign :)
Yeah thats what its all about :)
Cheers group,
1969 280sl auto
White exterior
Blue interior
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I once pegged the speedometer at 220 kph for about five miles. I was going as fast as a friend's new Mercury Capri 5.0 or Ford Mustang 5.0 liter, and my friend was suprised that I kept up. At that speed my car felt strong and controllable. Of course that does not mean my car actually went that fast. I do not remember at what rpm it was turning at that speed. That was many years ago (~22 years) and it is my strong belief that the car would still do it (because it now runs better and stronger, and the suspension has been upgraded); however, I would not do it now. I do nonetheless rev it up to 5,500-6,000 rpm on an infrequent basis; however, after reading some of the other inputs to this forum maybe I should not.
Danny
1970 280SL Euro manual
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Hello Cees,
Mine 230 SL automatic was doing 135 mph on the A28 last year. Only the speedo was a little optismistic: by checking the accurate speed with my tomtom she was "only" driving about 185 kph. Still not bad. As I rememberred, I was driving topless. Just felt great!
Maybe I should trade my speedo with Gerhard because his speedo is showing to low..
230 SL '67 Automatic
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Wing! Watch out! The A28 is hunting grounds for our ever vigilant highway patrol (the 'KLPD'). Still, they would probably look favorably upon such an old girl giving them a run for their money. In fact, once I was sure I was photographed at maybe 20 km too fast and the ticket never came in. I attributed that to KLPD 'gedoogbeleid'.
Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic
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Hello Cees,
Thanks for the warning. I am aware of their appearances. About four years ago I was driving top speed with mine former oldtimer at about 01.00 am on the same road: driving about 180 kph itopless with a MGB. The temperature was about 4 degrees Celsius (very cold).
At some point I saw a motorcyle in mine mirrow. Coming in with high speed. I reduced mine speed, but that was a little late: he passed me while I was driving about 165 kph: it proved to be a policeman. He looked to me. I looked to him. I felt his smile. He drove on. I drove on.
The reason for driving that fast is, that I sometime "clean the engine" by burning the dirt insight the engine (I was told in mine childhood that this is a good thing to do from time to time. Especially because these cars usualy are driving very carefully (we also did this with the 10 years old VW Golf (Rabbit in the USA) convertible of mine wive last year on a trip to Berlin. After that the car uses less fuel (about 10%), topspeed raised with 10 kph, and the torgue felt definitely stronger. Minw wife uses this car only for short trip for the last eight years).
For those who wants to do this: make sure your engine is in a good condition. Listen carefully for noises and don't try to drive max speed after a long period of stalling.
230 SL '67 Automatic
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In the US, this type of engine cleaning is known as 'an Italian tune-up' ('Italiaanse onderhoudsbeurt') ...
Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic
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Returning from Frankfurt to Amsterdam this afternoon, I decided to 'open it up' for a while to check top speed and do a proper Italian tune-up. The car pulled nicely all the way to 6,000 RPM. It hovered there for about 5 seconds, then slowly accellerated further. At 6,200 RPMs and 120 MPH (194 KPH) I decided it was enough and slowed back down to the 3,800 RPM that I kept at for the rest of the 250-mile trip.
Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic
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Just renewing this interesting topic. My 68 280sl does well at 80-85mph...but I do not agree it wants to go much facter. I know it could..by the whinning engine and it makes me feel uneasy. The Porsche (83sc)..not that car the faster you go the better it feels. Soooo, any new speed updates since this was first posted?
abe
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I got my 1970 280SL up to 80 mph this last weekend on a straight stretch of Highway 1 on the Central Coast of California. It quickly and easily got up to that speed, but I did not feel like pushing the car any further. I could have made 85 mph with not problem, but I just don't see the point of pushing the ol' girl or my driving skills to their limit. I think I will leave that to the younger drivers and younger cars!
8)
JIM
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not that I shy away from speed- I must be a little concerned over the groups "behavior" Please remember that these are 40 year+ old cars, I'm sure many still have 40 year old suspension bits and more, failure is not impossible with age and at challenging speeds I'm concerned. Add to that the lack of "modern" safety gear,- our simple three point belts, no air bag, no abs, no traction control nannies, absolutely no roll over considerations- perhaps caution might be a good piece of advice. Just my 0.02
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Hello peterm,
Going fast in a robust, well maintained, over engineered Mercedes-Benze does not worry me. It those crazy Olimpic ladies going 80 mph on skis or 90 mph in a bobsled with no abs brakes or air bags that makes me nerous ! ;D
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took my Triumph TR6 to 200 km/h ten years ago and it felt like it was beginning to become airborne, but I'm not sure I'll ever reach similar speeds in my Pagoda - although I'm sure its capable of similar speeds, but having two small kids since then has so far prevented me from such goofiness ;)
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Last fall just after installing my Velleman electronic ignition I took my 230SL out at 12:30 AM down a big stretch of a State highway that crosses the County line. I never see cops there, so I decided to open it up and see how the ignition worked. There was a car way back, but the cops always turn off before the County line. So I thought it was just fine. I was going along watching the speed, I hit 97MPH and was still gaining speed and on come the lights, the red flashing ones. The Sherriff pulled me over and asked me why I thought he was pulling me over. I always wanted to say, "well, if you don't know why you pulled me over how am I supposed to know, but I just laughed and said we don't have to play any games, I was speeding. He asked how fast? I said "at least 85, he agreed as he couldn't keep up in his Tahoe. I got my ticket for 70MPH in a 55 zone. Went to court, my friend the judge gave me no fine with an $85.00 court cost and a reduced charge. Got away lucky on that one.
Not so lucky years ago with my Triumph TR250 though, 17 years old, drunk as a skunk, I put that Triumph sideways into a tree on the drivers side at 90MPH, wrapped right around the tree, trapped in the car for hours while fireman as drunk as me cut and yanked at that car and finally brought in a circular gas powered construction saw and cut me out. Got to see my leg bones sticking out and my new Red Wing boots saved my life by acting like a bandage over the compound fracture for the long period stuck in that car.
Oh the 70's, back when nobody cared and everybody partied. I can still hear my good friend and next door neighbor,the first responder, a Deputy Sheriff climbing over the back of my car pulling the rag top back saying, "What have you gone and done now". I only got a ticket for driving after dark on a junior operators license, he came and visited me in the hospital and said he had to at least give me that ticket. Now you would have a felony charge for sure. The laws have saved many lives, and probably mine.
That Triumph held up incredibly, the headlights shot out about 50 yards into the field I hit so hard. The tree hit right at the lead edge of the drivers door. Luckily my family doctor lived in the house next door to the tree. He came out and gave me some Morphine to help with my alcohol buzz while I waited to be rescued, got my last rights read to me while in the car and learned a valuable lesson about drinking and driving that night.
Not long after a drunk driver hit my wife's car and killed her and seriously injured my 4 year old daughter. Hard lessons in drinking and driving. I have never had another serious car accident since.
I do like to go fast, but not so much anymore, just every now and then, and not with such great luck lately. I can't afford another ticket now. So my speed testing days are over for awhile.
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i bought a vw campervan called a california in may 2006-then set off for the monaco gp-on the way i reached 200 km - 125 mph my wife was sat in the back she said is it lightning i said it must be darling-it was the speed cameras flashing ha ha - it was late at night with no other traffic about i must add - ive heard my 280 sl i think they call it a california will land at felixstowe on the 16th of this month-i cant wait - wont be speeding in it tho-bit silly isnt it
Reg
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I came across this thread by accident (searching for something). I found it interesting and read every post.
Looks like another great thread started by Cees! So I decided to revive it I'm sure some of our new members have a story to share about Speed :)
My speedometer like most is out and I too drive by the rule 500 RPM = 10 MPH and I do take a TomTom along (purchased in 2014 after my embarising lead drive down to Williamsbourg, VA ~ when I made an unexpected Expressway exit and gave two of our members quite a shock).
I love the comment by The Engineer
Langsam sollste fahren, so daß die Leute uns sehen ! Translation ~ You should drive slowly so people can see us!"
Anyway, I've driven (like most of you here) quite a few cars in my lifetime. Most of them mine and some of them rentals. Once I started my business in 1992 and had a bit more of the green stuff I started to drive fast cars. Not for the speed mind you for safety. Having said that I like to relate 2 stories to you one in my first 2004 ///M3 and another in my 280SL.
Driving to a project in British Columbia in 2006 in my M3 I overtook a truck with a trailer full of cut trees. There was no traffic ahead and all was clear I recall our speed was around 120KPH. As I was nearing the truck cab he came over into my lane and I put the pedal to the metal so to speak and leaned on the horn as I shot by him. Half my car was in the gravel and the other half on the pavement a steep cliff to my left. Once I got past him I noticed in the back mirror the truck driver must have been falling asleep his truck was swaying from side to side as he was trying to bring his rig under control again. I strongly believe that my M3 saved both our lives that day and ever since then I drive fast cars for safety (as my Dailey Driver anyway).
Driving home from PUB 2015 in my 280 SL (with Hardtop in place) on one of the express ways a 2015 MB 550SL came speeding up the road behind me in the left outside lane. According to my TomTom I was going 75 MPH basically with the traffic. When he saw me he pulled behind me in the middle lane. When I felt that he was too close for comfort I pulled away from him. He then overtook me and settled in front of me in the centre lane of this three lane expressway. He slowed back to traffic speed that was around 75 MPH. After a few miles like this he took off and I decided to follow him this time. He settled back into the centre lane and I overtook him at around 105 MPH. He gave me the thumbs up as he overtook me and I let him go. I normally don't push my 280 for I believe in what The Engineer mentioned in his post ... only I like to think of it as;-
"Langsam aber sicher, kommst auch ans Ziel" Translation "Slowly bud surely one also reaches his destination"
I have to admit, like Peter in his post here in this thread ~ here and then on traffic lights (a specially when someone pushed me then wildly overtakes me and we then meet at the traffic light) I give my 280 the gun and "let her rip", just to let the more later model cars know that this 47 year old lady still can do it. :)
Enjoy the tread it's worth reading. Now what's your "Speed" story?
Dieter
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Hello Rolf Dieter
speeeed ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbHd2GPhG-4
now with V8 Brakes
Peter
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbHd2GPhG-4
Well that was fun...too bad you didn't pan out to view some of the roadway. From the wind noise it sounds like the top was down, and I swear your fuel gauge moved lower during the short video... ;)
About the highest I've had mine, ever so briefly was about 95 MPH...
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Only once back in the early 80's, did I break 100MPH, and the wife was ready to kill me. Now a days no more than 60. ;D
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When I was younger and more foolish, and when the car was nearly new, I pushed it past the 100mph mark more than once.
I learned after my father's death in 1972 that he had apparently had a go also. The car was kept in my parent's garage in Birmingham in those days while I was working in London and was exercised occasionally by my dad. My mother told me that after returning from a drive one day my dad told her, "that thing will go over a hundred miles an hour."
These days 70 to 80, skirting the legal limit, is good enough for me!
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I find if I am not careful that I tend to drive at 90 mph. The car just wants to go there.
Apparently my car used to be exercised at 120mph quite regularily - that was one of the reasons it was put away 25 yrs ago - my Dad almost lost his license due to speeding (and excessive speeding) so he parked the pagoda (he told me it was so he could restore it|) and went out and bought a Chevy Sprint that had troubles getting to 70 mph.
I really try hard to keep within 10 mph of the speed limit but .... its hard.
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Gernold and myself where going to my house in Duluth, MN after the last PUB.
Gernold was in a Pagoda in front of me and he took this photo
Smooth ride......