Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => Photo Gallery => Topic started by: RobSirg on October 17, 2022, 23:48:18
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Hi Group,
I’d like to share my recent good fortune of winning ‘Best in Class’ at this year’s Motorclassica in Melbourne, Australia which is Australia’s premier car show. Like many other events it was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 so this was this first for 3 years.
I purchased this 1970 280SL locally in 2014 as a Rusty but driveable car - intent on doing a ground-up Pagoda restoration. The car appealed to me as l liked the colour combo of Dunkelrot with Bamboo MB Tex, and the condition(poor) and price of the car removed any guilt l had of stripping down a good car.
The 5 year restoration was gruelling at times, but I’m happy l didn’t hold back and achieved the best result l could. Whilst not doing any real physical work myself, l managed the project using local vendors who l could trust and had past experience on Pagoda’s.
I could not have achieved this result without the help of this Group/Forum! I particularly used John’s ( aka 49er) original engine bay photos as reference - down to the yellow caps on the battery.
The car was finished in time for the 2020 MB concours in Victoria but had to wait 2 more years for Covid restrictions before entry.
I won a number of awards at the 2022 MB concours including ‘Best in Show’. Last month it won ‘Best in Class’ at Motorclassica. The class was “New Age British & European Classics 1961-1980”. ( I thought Britain was part of Europe 😆)
I was amongst friends at Motorclassica as my buddy, Jimmy Christo had 2 of his beauties on display - a 1967 280SL ZF 5-speed and his 1970 280SE 3.5 Cab.
We then promptly celebrated with another friend who manages Lindsay Fox’s car collection including the overall Motorclassica winner - a stunning 1930’s 540K.
( N.B: Lindsay Fox is a well known Australian Billionaire, Philanthropist and Car Collector).
See attached a few photos from the show and afterwards outside the Fox Museum with friends.
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A few more photos ….
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Winners are grinners….
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Congratulations Rob, that car is winning lots.
Garry
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At the Fox Museum with friends
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Thanks Garry
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Last one …
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The winning (stunning) 540K
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And again..
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Rob,
Lovely car, great colour combination, super 5 year project and well deserved trophy!
Thanks for sharing,
Dieter
PS, The boys expression tells the story, he must be thinking "what a lovely car perhaps some day later in my life"
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Thanks Dieter,
Hopefully everyone longing for a Pagoda has the opportunity.
I received many nice compliments - but the friends and connections made via (any) Pagoda ownership is truly priceless.
Rob
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Amazing, well done
(Funky building too. Reminds me of the QVB)
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Well done! Great venue, great car... happy owner!
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The building has wonderful history “Royal Exhibition Building”
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What a fantastic Venue,
Congratulations
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Beautiful car and venue. Another great example of bringing a rusty old car back to new.
Congrats Rob!
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Beautiful car, well done on saving it and doing such a great job that it is an award winner !
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Thanks Dave & Andrew - much appreciated 🙏🏻
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Congratulations Rob, a labour of love indeed and encouraging that there are still enough craftsmen in Australia to sympathetically restore these cars.
Regards
Ben
Adelaide, Australia, 69 280SL, 906G, 904G
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Thanks Ben….rapidly reducing pool of resources and quite expensive in Australia
P.S: Stunning colour combo on your 280SL !
I have a similar one but l think the contrasting colours you gave is even better.
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Everything looks just right! Nice that you started with a rough one, it’s a shame when a perfectly good car gets restored (but I’m sure the restorers prefer those).
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Beautiful! Well done. While every color combination looks great on our cars, your colors are particularly pleasing to my eye. Lee
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Lovely car, lovely venue
Well done!
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Thanks Dave, Lee and Merc_Girl 😀
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Hey Rob,
You should be VERY proud to have orchestrated such a beautiful restoration. That dark red color has amazing depth and bamboo works perfectly against it. The engine bay sparkles.
The great Bauhaus architect, Mies van der Rohe, coined the phrase “God is in the details”. Although he wasn’t referring to your car, it is, nevertheless, possessing all the right details. BRAVO.
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Much appreciated Len!
Cream on Red is a great combo too.
4 speed 280SL also - hope you get to enjoy it often.
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I love the white walls, I am yet to change but yours look perfect
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Thanks - I certainly flipped and flopped over the white walls.
The first set l bought had a white band that was too wide and didn’t look right. I managed to find a set of Sumitomo’s that looked better.
I’m also considering putting a mint set of Bundts on it with Black Wall
Tyres. I think it might look better but my friends talked me out of it. It had the Bundts when l bought it but per the datacard was painted Hubcaps.
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Haha, I considered Bundt too!
Your car is beautiful, mine is not a concours car as i have made it how I like with central locking, electric windows, headrests, the wrong radio and a W108 front roll bar 😀
I hope to spot a few W113 when we are in Aus next year.
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Sounds like you set yours up for driving - which is the best we can do for these cars. Let me know if you make it to Melbourne. Cheers. Rob
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I note your car list, my 62 E Type made way for comfort and automatic of the SL. Its now living in Hong Kong.
It would be nice to catch up, we have a wedding to attend and maybe Lord Howe Island but other than a return to Bathurst we don’t have a plan.
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Well done. Very well done Rob!!!
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Thanks John :)
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Thats a great group of cars. E-type looks stunning in Metallic Grey. Pagoda is a peach, but I am biased :)