Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: Alex D on August 18, 2013, 22:14:44
-
I know we are all interested in the Pagodas with low mileage/km. Does anyone know the highest mileage/km Pagoda on a original factory engine that has not been rebuild or had a major overhaul?
-
I am at 140000 miles, but I think that is way too little. I spoke with an original owner of a 230 SL at the European event, and she indicated she had not had the engine apart, and that it had at least spun the odometer twice, so 230,000 KM + (so she has me beat by a little, but I did not get the exact mileage from her car).
-
Mine has 246,000 km, but the engine was redone at 170,000. One of the pistons fell apart - the biggest piece left was the size of a walnut.
-
Because the odometers don't go over 99,999 and many cars' maintenance records went missing, I don't think we can ever know what the highest-mileage Pagoda is. I know I don't have a clue about my car's. I do know I added 70,000 kms on it over the past 15 years.
-
Yes Alex,
This is (... commonly...) known.
It is the late 1963 230 SL owned by the late Paul Eppel and his wife Ilse.
This one-owner car has collected 1,200,00 kms which is equal to 745,800 miles. First engine (M127II), never opened, never overhauled.
The original miles are fully dealership-documented !! All inspections performed, very few spare parts exchanged throughout the car's life.
When Paul passed away a few years ago his wife (being in the late 80ies as well) sold the car off.
I think the car is still on sale, but I am not sure...
Yes, it is. Please see Joachim Stickel's homepage:
http://www.pagoden-center.de/
select language, select showroom. It's the silver 230 SL 4-Gang (= 4 speed).
Enjoy!
Achim
(parts collector)
-
Most interesting, and presents another point in the ongoing discussion(s) about originality vs restoration. What do you do with a car like this?? At 1200000 km, wow! But it is quite tatty on the interior and engine.
The listing has "price on asking" - do you know what the range is??
-
Jonny Achim,
That would be a real dilemma on whether to restore or leave as is given the documented milage and one owner. It is a problem that I dont think I would like to make a call on one way or the other. Given that it is one owner and was always correctly serviced it seems odd and a shame that they did not keep the whole car correctly up to scratch and not just the mechanicals.
-
I know of one locally that has about 6 times my cars mileage (62k).
It's very rough but seams to run well, however I wouldn't want the restoration bill.
-
Given that it is one owner and was always correctly serviced it seems odd and a shame that they did not keep the whole car correctly up to scratch and not just the mechanicals.
I can think of a few reasons: they probably started using the car in earnest when it was brand-new and a long way from collectible. Then they just kept using it. Once they picked up a few dings, the cared less about those. Went skiing with it in winter.
If you've always really used it, it's hard to then see it as a car that increases in value. If they were not in touch with the Pagoda scene (and why would they, they were just driving a reliable car) they probably wouldn't even know of the value of a well restored car.
And then there's the money: they might not be able to or want to afford a proper restoration; keeping it running is cheaper.
And finally, they might have considered that actually restoring it might reduce their enjoyment of the car: they'd then be afraid to use it the way they enjoyed using it.
Those last two points are what separate my well-running but mediocre car from a full restoration. Would you see me rallying it afterwards?
Peter