Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: 49er on September 18, 2018, 21:15:39

Title: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: 49er on September 18, 2018, 21:15:39
 Fifty years ago tonight, I drove my 280SL home from the dealer never thinking that all these years later I would still own it let alone be driving it. It was beautiful here today and perfect weather for a nice top down drive in the country a little different from that misty evening back in '68 as I lived near the ocean in Southern California then. Here are some  BW pictures that I have previous posted taken that evening when the car had less then 20 miles on the odometer followed by a few taken today. Car (and navigator) haven't aged a bit. The driver, well thats another story. It has been quite an enduring love affair I have had with that little car and am looking forward to many more "Birthdays" with it. Thanks for letting me share this day with all of you.

John
Title: Re: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: 49er on September 18, 2018, 21:17:08
And a couple more pictures....
Title: Re: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: dirkbalter on September 18, 2018, 21:28:43
Congratulations.
Beautiful.
Dirk
Title: Re: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: Pawel66 on September 18, 2018, 21:32:25
John,

What a truly beautiful anniversary! I wish all of you many many clebrations to come!

THANK YOU for sharing.
Title: Re: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: Rolf-Dieter ✝︎ on September 18, 2018, 21:51:18
Hi John,

Congratulations on this the 50 Anniversary of your nice Pagoda! Many more years to come I’m sure. Thanks for sharing this with us and the nice photographs.

Best,

Dieter
Title: Re: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: johnk on September 18, 2018, 22:03:52
Your car and ownership are priceless John.  Congratulations and thanks for sharing with us.

I would actually be interested in hearing if your ever "almost got rid of it" and what kept you from doing so?
Title: Re: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: Garry on September 18, 2018, 22:11:40
John,


What a wonderful affair. It is such a pleasure to see an original owner celebrating a 50 year love of the car.


Congratulations.


Garry
Title: Re: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: 49er on September 18, 2018, 22:46:49
Your car and ownership are priceless John.  Congratulations and thanks for sharing with us.

I would actually be interested in hearing if your ever "almost got rid of it" and what kept you from doing so?

 I did actually but my "navigator' put her foot down and nixed the idea, god bless her ;). My "story" was in Pagoda notes a while back (thanks to Jon Bernardi).

https://www.sl113.org/wiki/uploads/Restricted/PNv7i2US.pdf
Title: Re: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: neelyrc on September 18, 2018, 22:58:02
Congratulations John!  Thanks for sharing.  Wishing the three of you continued togetherness.
Title: Re: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: PSB on September 18, 2018, 23:07:14
Great story John ! Great pictures.
Congratulations and hope you will have many more birthdays together .

Regards
Pedro
Title: Re: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: Jonny B on September 19, 2018, 11:25:19
Let me add my congratulations! Just damn wonderful.
Title: Re: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: MichaelB. on September 19, 2018, 13:27:15
Yes that is a great post.
Title: Re: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: calhippie on September 19, 2018, 18:35:09
John:  thanks for sharing this with us.  These cars deserve a caretaker like you.   And a special 'hat tip' to your navigator, who saved you from certain regret.  :)
Title: Re: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: cfm65@me.com on September 19, 2018, 20:20:09
Congrats John,
50 years are quite something.
If I may ask, are you a CX 49er?
Regards
Chris
Cape Town
Title: Re: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: kampala on September 19, 2018, 21:40:33
Happy Birthday !

Appreciate your participation in this group.   

Congrats.

Title: Re: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: Mike Hughes on September 19, 2018, 22:17:49
That's a milestone worth celebrating!  Although not the original owner, I've owned one of my M.G.s for 45 years, so I understand something of a long-term commitment to a special car.  I know there are a handful of other original Pagoda owners in our group (Ralph has already chimed in) who wish you joy.
Title: Re: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: gimp on September 20, 2018, 04:28:27
Happy Birthday
I have owned my 68 for 46 years and still enjoy shining it.
Title: Re: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: 49er on September 22, 2018, 19:42:41
Just a note to say "Thank You" to all of you and your kind comments. This is a great forum and am so happy to be a member to share in the love of these great automobiles. Ralph, I know you beat me by a few years and yes, there are a few other original owners out there that also hung onto their cars as well. We were pretty damn smart, weren't we! ;) And to Chris in Cape Town, no connection to the SF football team. We live a few miles from where Gold was discovered here in California back in 1848 which started the great gold rush a year later. "49er's" was the nickname given to those thousands of prospectors then came west to seek their fortune. I, like most of them, have never found any gold either :)

John
Title: Re: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: neelyrc on September 23, 2018, 05:59:56
...............Ralph, I know you beat me by a few years..........??
Yes, but only if you are counting MY birthdays, John!  ☹️    I will celebrate the 50th anniversary of my car’s delivery early next year. :) 

My car (007749) is several months younger than yours.
Title: Re: The Big Five-Oh
Post by: su8pack1 on September 23, 2018, 13:10:19
That's fantastic, congrats on the long time ownership.