Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: Peter van Es on February 05, 2012, 13:06:33
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Yesterday I attended the Bremen Classic Car show in Germany, partly to have a look around, and partly to meet up with Achim and board members of the German Pagoda SL Group and the Pagodentreff.de forum. It was a 350km drive (so I did 700 kms in all) through a frozen winter wonderland (it had been snowing in Holland and was very cold in Germany too) so I did not take the Pagoda, but something with all-wheel drive and winter tires.
It was very noticeable at the show that Pagoda's are moving into high-price territory. Although not yet blessed with ridiculous, over Eur 100K prices like in Essen, the prices for reasonable and pretty good cars in Europe are pretty high. It almost becomes sensible to buy a not-so-good car in the US (a decent driver e.g. for $25K), and to restore it to a high standard... enjoy it for 5 years, and then you'll be able to sell it and recoup the investment.
Very telling was that all Pagoda's were only for sale in the main halls, and none at all in the halls where private individuals and smaller dealers were selling their cars.
Below are some photographs, examples and prices. Enjoy
Peter van Es
Pictures and Report
See how a 190SL has been chopped in half to make a nice luggage trailer... (Note: not for the feint of heart or 190SL Group members)
(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/thumbs/vanesp/img5014.jpg) (http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/?v=vanesp/img5014.jpg)
And from the rear:
(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/thumbs/vanesp/img5015.jpg) (http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/?v=vanesp/img5015.jpg)
A nice watch made using a VDO speedometer for a European Pagoda...
(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/thumbs/vanesp/img5017.jpg) (http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/?v=vanesp/img5017.jpg)
The green 280SL was sold by E. Thiessen, a German dealer known for pretty strong prices and (as far as I can tell) pretty good quality cars. The car looked like a neat, nice specimen, with no obvious flaws. The price asked: Eur 97,500 which is over $128K at todays exchange rate.
(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/thumbs/vanesp/img5020.jpg) (http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/?v=vanesp/img5020.jpg)
(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/thumbs/vanesp/img5021.jpg) (http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/?v=vanesp/img5021.jpg)
Next a few images of a white SL (not for sale) showing a restoration in progress.
(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/thumbs/vanesp/img5022.jpg) (http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/?v=vanesp/img5022.jpg)
(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/thumbs/vanesp/img5023.jpg) (http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/?v=vanesp/img5023.jpg)
(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/thumbs/vanesp/img5025.jpg) (http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/?v=vanesp/img5025.jpg)
The following red Pagoda was on offer by Mechatronik, the company most known for spooning modern Mercedes engines into restored cars. This example, a 280SL with 39457 miles was imported from California in October 2011 and since put back into healthy shape -- but no modern engine. Mechatronik is asking Eur 84.900 for it (over US$ 111K). Maybe someone knows how much the car left California for in Oct 2011, and can figure out the profit margin?
(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/thumbs/vanesp/img5029.jpg) (http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/?v=vanesp/img5029.jpg)
The Silverbeige 280SL (DB729) has 58000 miles, is partially restored and was also imported from the US. Mechatronik is asking Eur 69.800 for it ($ 92K). A neat, but not perfect car.
(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/thumbs/vanesp/img5031.jpg) (http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/?v=vanesp/img5031.jpg)
(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/thumbs/vanesp/img5032.jpg) (http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/?v=vanesp/img5032.jpg)
The following car is a Pagoda under restoration by one of the members of the German Pagoda club.
(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/thumbs/vanesp/img5035.jpg) (http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/?v=vanesp/img5035.jpg)
(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/thumbs/vanesp/img5038.jpg) (http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/?v=vanesp/img5038.jpg)
The following red Pagoda, 250 SL 4-speed manual, with 2 owners and rolling restoration was for sale by Schulz Classic for Eur 69.900 (almost $92K).
(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/thumbs/vanesp/img5043.jpg) (http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/?v=vanesp/img5043.jpg)
And then finally three photographs of a 230SL which has not been restored, in pretty original condition with the exception of a respray (as far as I could tell). The car has nice patina. Has done 56 kilometers and is bering offered for sale for Eur 75000 (US$ 99K). Achim also had a look at this car and pronounced very nice and original, but expensive.
(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/thumbs/vanesp/img5048.jpg) (http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/?v=vanesp/img5048.jpg)
(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/thumbs/vanesp/img5049.jpg) (http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/?v=vanesp/img5049.jpg)
(http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/thumbs/vanesp/img5050.jpg) (http://www.sl113.org/imagebank/?v=vanesp/img5050.jpg)
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Hello Peter
sorry we don't find us in Bremen.
We drink a glass of mosel wine with Achim, Detlef and the other guys.
You are right with the high prices. The only Pagoda i would buy is the white original for 75000 Euro....if i had the money.
The other cars from Mechatronik, Schulz, Theisen and other high end dealers are to expensive in my eyes. Maybe they are testing the market for the big events in Stuttgart or Essen.
Pagodas with all papers, right numbers, one or two owners and very original, climbing up in price. You don't find cars for under 50000 Euro from dealers and no car from private owners (Maybe too coooold in the parking space)
Peter
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Hello Peter(s) Looks like you fellows had a good time at Bremen and nice to hear the value of our automobiles is increasing. Looks like that $6986.25 (tax and licence included) purchase I made back ib Sept 1968 turned out to be a pretty good investment after all. ;)
John
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It is amazing to see the european pricing and compare it to what is happening in the US. I recently reviewed all the listed US ads in Hemmings and found an Average list price of about $48k, with a range from about $14k to $89k. It would seem to make sense for european buyers to pickup good quality US rust free cars at these low prices. I am amazed at how much of a price disparity there is from Europe to the US!
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I am amazed at how much of a price disparity there is from Europe to the US!
Perhaps because the dollar is in the toilet....?