Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: 49er on May 20, 2017, 21:32:00

Title: 50 years ago today
Post by: 49er on May 20, 2017, 21:32:00
Today marks 50 years of Pagoda ownership for me. On May 20, 1967 I drove home my first SL, a 250, from Hollywood Mercedes. I was 22 years old. I didn't keep the car long as I traded it in for my 280SL the next year. Where have all those years gone? The 280 still looks mighty nice, the owner not so much :'(. Here are a couple of photos of the 250 and the Bill of Sale

John
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: mbzse on May 20, 2017, 22:07:12
Quote from: 49er
.../... On May 20, 1967 I drove home my first SL, a 250, from Hollywood Mercedes.../...
Wow John, that pristine W113 just standing there in your picture, fresh, it is (IMHO) breathtaking  :)

Great thing that you took a number of pictures of both your new 250SL and 280SL back then, most useful. And, thanks for sharing these images with us in our Forum.
I have an original owner (230SL ZF 5-sp) that lives close to me here, Roland, he was 8 yrs older than you when he brought his SL home (early in 1967). However, he has no pictures from that time (unfortunately)
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: ohoraherecaptain on May 21, 2017, 11:36:13
Well done Guys.
JOH.
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: neelyrc on May 21, 2017, 13:51:18
Congrats John!! Best wishes for the 51st and future years!!
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: Jonny B on May 21, 2017, 16:20:50
Awesome, just plain awesome!
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: Iconic on May 21, 2017, 17:24:48
Fantastic John !!
Congratulations.
Thanks for posting the pictures.
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: RAY on May 21, 2017, 18:20:09
Congratulations, that is some achievement.
Great pictures, something to always treasure.
No overriders on the bumpers i notice.
Best wishes
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: Rolf-Dieter ✝︎ on May 21, 2017, 19:16:52
Congratulations John, unforgettable memories are made from such events :)

Enjoy your 280 SL and have a great Summer!

Dieter
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: 49er on May 22, 2017, 18:24:05
Thanks to all for the kind comments :) When I joined this forum nearly seven years ago, I was so pleased to meet people from all over the world, both on line and in person, that shared my love of this car. Up to that point I knew no other owners or for that matter very few that even knew of the Pagoda. It is truly a great bunch of folks, just like our cars :)

A couple of comments in reply; The car pictured was my 250SL which would explain no over riders. My 280SL also came with no over riders as it was a a late '68 but was sold by MBUSA as a '69. Also, although the photos of the 250 looked pretty good, they were taken after repairs were made from a collision that the car (and driver) suffered shortly after taken delivery. The car was never same both mechanically and cosmetically so that is why there is a 280 in the garage today. I have posted these "ouch" pictures before, but for those that missed them the first time here they are again.

Thanks again and looking forward to the 280's 50th B'Day next year.

John
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: thelews on May 22, 2017, 21:56:30
That's a shame, early 250s are unique.  Did you notice the differences when you got the 280?
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: 49er on May 22, 2017, 22:20:41
That's a shame, early 250s are unique.  Did you notice the differences when you got the 280?

 I really didn't like the marker reflectors and the interior (steering wheel, padding on the dash, dull chrome, texture and look of the MBTex and of course, the door pockets). On the other hand, I was happy it did not have the dog eared head rests. Other then that I found the 280 just about the same with just a tad bit more power.

John

Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: thelews on May 23, 2017, 11:52:45
Well, you pretty well nailed the differences.  When I was in college (1971), my mother had a 1971 280 SL.  She kept it for 17 years, her all time favorite car.  So, it was the 113 I knew.  I had the opportunity to buy my 250 SL I have now 10 years ago.  When the car arrived, I looked at it and scratched my head and said it seems different than I remember (20 year gap).  When my mother came over I asked her if she noticed the differences.  That's when I learned of the early 250s with 230 cosmetics and 280 mechanicals.  There is significantly more chrome on the 230/early 250 that gives the car a very jeweled appearance inside and simplicity outside that the 280s just don't have.  And, of course, the door pockets significantly are different (Euro retained the hard pocket).  A lot of it was US safety driven, but I suspect cost savings was another motivator.
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: stickandrudderman on May 23, 2017, 16:42:03
Did ou buy a certain Beatles album at the same time? what a unique pairing that would be!
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: 49er on May 23, 2017, 17:27:23
Did ou buy a certain Beatles album at the same time? what a unique pairing that would be!

 Hmm..Maybe The White Album?? I have a few vinyl Beatle's albums out in the garage somewhere but I don't believe that is one of them.

John
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: JamesL on May 23, 2017, 17:32:36
Sgt Pepper came out on June(?) 1 1967
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: watson2 on May 23, 2017, 22:31:06
Congratulations John! Better than me with my 45 years of my 246 Gt!
We are tender hearts, we love our things….
Have a great summer !
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: 49er on May 24, 2017, 00:07:47
Sgt Pepper came out on June(?) 1 1967
I do have Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Band that I bought when it was released. For folks that grew up in the South Bay Area of So Cal, do you remember Wallichs Music City? Back in those days you actually had to go to a record/music store to buy albums. No iTunes then :)

John
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: stickandrudderman on May 24, 2017, 05:48:22
I'd love to see a picture of you with both the car and the album! What a lovely thing to be able to demonstrate such excellent taste in cars and music!
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: Flyair on May 24, 2017, 16:45:56
John
Happy start of a new half-century!
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: 49er on May 24, 2017, 23:04:56
Thanks Flavio and Stan for your well wishes and Stick, you know this means I will be forced to track down my old LP's out in my garage >:( My DW has been nagging me a bit about the condition of "my" garage so I guess I will have to get at it.

John
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: su8pack1 on May 26, 2017, 02:17:41
Congrats 
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: Brenco on May 27, 2017, 10:50:55
Congratulations John on 50 years of continuous sl ownership which has been so useful to all of us1
Breandan
Title: Re: 50 years ago today
Post by: ohoraherecaptain on May 28, 2017, 14:29:47
Vinyl is big again! As are Pagoda's.