Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: Iconic on May 28, 2016, 14:05:32
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It is strange how things happen. I’ve been pretty lucky when it comes to cars.
I purchased a “new” Pagoda. Here are some pictures. If you want to read about the details, just see below.
I was starting to think about selling my Anthracite Grey (173G) Pagoda due to the price increases. We are all in different financial situations. In my position, I was starting to think that it didn't make sense to have such an expensive piece of metal spending most of its time sitting in my garage. When the value was down at US$15k or $20k, I was comfortable with that. Then, while thinking about the possibility of being Pagodaless, I was getting cold feet about selling and realized I didn’t want to be without one. So, the next idea was to buy a less expensive Pagoda to replace the 173G car, make some money selling the 173G car, and fix up the “new” one over time. I do love that process of improving the car. So, I started looking at a couple of cars and Benz Dr. and Tom Colitt were both helping me on the phone. The cars were in California and Canada, which explains why I wasn’t talking with other experts on this forum (ja17, stickandrudderman, and others). Both Dan and Tom are great guys and I appreciate their advice and the conversations we had. Then, while figuring out the logistics of the possible purchase of one of those cars, I went to a local gentleman's home to buy some used parts from him. He had a number of Mercedes, but only one Pagoda. He wanted to show it to me. Of course, I love looking at Pagodas. Then he told me it was for sale …. and I bought it. Based on what I’ve learned here in this community, it was an easy decision. Here is the part of the story that some of you might get frustrated with. This whole process, from inception of idea to having the car in my garage, took about 3 weeks. Now it’s been in my garage for 2 weeks. I’ve been hesitant to “announce” it on the Forum since I did not have the title. There were some title issues, but I’ve got that under control …. at least I’m 95% sure of that. Enjoy the pictures. The one of the headlight notch was from before I washed the car. It had been sitting for a long while. Most of the rest of the pictures are after an exterior wash and interior vacuum and wipe down. No wax. No scrubbing. No shampooing, actually a little chrome polishing ;). The car was out of gas when I picked it up, but I had heard it run a week earlier when I saw it for the first time. We (my good friend with a trailer and I) put some gas in it on the way home and it started up when it was time to take it off the trailer. Cold start was not good. I know what to look for. This is one of several small items to fix and refresh. Lots of deferred maintenance too, to catch up on. Lots of cleaning and polishing needed. This is dream car for me (and many others). Original metal. Very nice re-paint (not original, but 15 or 20 years old). Mostly original interior. Tool kit only missing a couple of items (has the original red MB-Tex bag), top handles and pouch, jack, chock, spare, spare cover, date coded original steel wheels (plus the later bunts you see in the pix) are all present. It was a great deal for the seller as he didn’t have to do anything to sell it. There are very few records from before the seller bought it and only enough records after he bought it to see he put less than a thousand miles on it in 24 years. I know that is not ideal, but for me I have no issue with that. I will bring the mechanicals back to safe and reliable and both doors clunk the same, if you know what I mean. When it was painted, the painter was so thorough that he filled in the spot welds on the fenders to make it look pretty. >:( Thank goodness the PO told him not to fill in the notches! All in all, I feel like I won the lottery. A member of this forum introduced me to the PO. In an effort to keep the PO’s identity private, I will not publicly thank that member, but he (or she) knows who he/she is and has already been thanked. I hope some of you enjoyed reading about the details. I will say that without this entire contributing community, I would not be able to own, repair, maintain, and ultimately enjoy these cars. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED THEIR TIME, KNOWLEDGE, RESEARCH AND IDEAS OVER THE YEARS !!! (and yes, I am yelling as loud as I possibly can).
I’m way past the point where they would have started playing the music if I had won an OSCAR, so I will stop now. :) ;) ;D By the way, the color is 906G Blue-Grey. It will take me a while to attach all the pictures that I want to attach.
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more pix
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more pix
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more pix, enough for now.
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Very nice car! Congrats!!
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Very nice, congratulations and thanks for posting the details as well.
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Nice car ... congrats .... Thanks for sharing the photograps
Happy Motoring
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thats a really nice car. great find.Good luck with the title stuff. Both the ones I had bought hand no titles. luckily in NJ there is a 14 step process to getting a new title issued. takes a while but not impossible to do.
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looks really really nice. enjoy.
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Mark,
I knew you were up to something when we messages, Totally agree with the value sitting in the garage, its why I don’t necessarily like the big increases in prices, it does not make me feel good.
Well done and it looks like it is a great buy. I think I may do the same if I can find what I am looking for!!!!!
Garry
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Thank you all so much !!!
Yes, Garry, we were messaging back and forth right before I stumbled on the car.
A couple of observations:
1. My wife was asking about the posts and who commented and I made the simple observation that I know three of you in person !! How great is that. I look forward to when we all see each other again.
2. I'm looking at the number of times each picture is looked at. Take for instance, in post #4 a bunch of people looked at the firewall pad (3rd picture) YAY !!, but much less looked at the last picture. That is a good one too !
3. In general, many people have looked at the post in (129) but only 20% of that open the pictures.
Anyway, thanks for your positive words and take care.
Mark
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Congratulations. Such pagodas we are looking for all, but only a few find it.
In 2013 I find also one. She stood in Colorado 13 years in a barn.
Your engine bay looks totally untouched, the original mat and all other things on the right place.
Super chrome, paint and pristine interior.
Lucky Boy. 8)
Peter
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Peter h,
Looks like you are a lucky boy too ! Great color combo !!
Interesting.
I have two build in August of '69. Does your 08.69 mean it was manufactured in August of '69?
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I see it now. Its wrong.
Both from 68. August and September.
Enjoy the the next weeks, with working on your great car.
Peter
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Some guys have all the luck... 8)
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Congrats with that great car.
Gr. Ger.
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Mark,
Great find. Glad we get to keep you in the group....
Mike
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Good for you Mark. Always great to see another one of these cars to be now be lovingly cared for. Must be nice to have 2 in the garage just like Peter:-)
John
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Thank you all for your kind words.
John, I will be selling the Anthracite Grey one ... so two in the garage is just temporary, but you are correct, it is nice !
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Nice car Mark, lucky find and nice color.
But as you know I like the anthracite grey ;D
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Yes Urban, I will miss my Anthracite Grey. I too love it as you know.
I will tell you that at first I didn't understand why the new car's color is called Blue Grey, but in certain light it looks like light Grey. See picture. MB did such a fantastic job on color selection for all of our Pagodas.
Nice to hear from you.
Regards,
Mark