Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: jmela on April 09, 2007, 13:19:52

Title: Wasserpagode
Post by: jmela on April 09, 2007, 13:19:52
For those of you worried about a bit of fender rust peeking through, this should boost your spirits...

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007/04/04/wasserpagoden/
Title: Re: Wasserpagode
Post by: Douglas on April 09, 2007, 13:25:01
Low miles, original owner, matching numbers, 2 tops, unmolested..... Just needs a little TLC. :-)

Douglas Kim
New York
USA
Title: Re: Wasserpagode
Post by: gnj588d on April 09, 2007, 13:39:51
Seen worse in autotrader  :D
Title: Re: Wasserpagode
Post by: J. Huber on April 09, 2007, 14:13:56
Yeah, but how many of you actually saw it go down????

Download Attachment: (http://images/icon_paperclip.gif) ben_submerged.jpg (http://www.sl113.org/forums/uploaded/J.%20Huber/200749161058_ben_submerged.jpg)
73.52 KB

(just hollar Mr. Cosgrove, if you'd like me to remove it... since I didn't really ask).

James
63 230SL
Title: Re: Wasserpagode
Post by: harleydan on April 09, 2007, 14:51:13
James,

Great picture.  That must be the new James Bond car capable of going on the water, under water, and on the ground (and possibly maybe even in the air).  A true testament that Bond has come long way....a W113.

Cheers,
Danny
1970 280SL silver Euro 4-speed
Title: Re: Wasserpagode
Post by: ja17 on April 09, 2007, 16:39:13
Low miles and has been in storage for over thirty years!

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
Title: Re: Wasserpagode
Post by: mdsalemi on April 10, 2007, 09:19:32
While unlikely, don't think for a moment that this can't be restored.

In 1971, there were no surviving, flying B29 Superfortresses.  Despite looking for them for years, the Confederate (now Commemorative) Air Force found some that had been sitting in a gunnery range in the desert near China Lake, California.  They had been used as target practice; had been stripped; vandalized and otherwise destroyed by the heat and the sun, having been there for 17 years.

A team of restoration experts came in, and in only 9 weeks time, rebuilt and FLEW A B29 OUT of there to its new home.  Named Fifi, it is the only flying B29.

Similar stories abound in the aircraft world--planes being found at the bottom of lakes, in glaciers, etc. and I've heard of buckets of parts being restored to Concours-quality cars as well.  Rare, expensive and unlikely but it does happen!

So, it may be a curiosity but MAYBE somebody will restore this Wasserpagode someday! ;)

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored
Title: Re: Wasserpagode
Post by: Cees Klumper on April 10, 2007, 15:29:53
The story I heard associated with this car was that it was probably an insurance fraud, dumped in the river to claim theft insurance.

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic
Title: Re: Wasserpagode
Post by: mdsalemi on April 10, 2007, 18:05:45
quote:
Originally posted by cees klumper

The story I heard associated with this car was that it was probably an insurance fraud, dumped in the river to claim theft insurance.

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic



Goes to show you how different the German/American cultures are and why the DaimlerBenz/Chrysler "merger" didn't work and is about to be undone.  In the USA, for insurance fraud, WE set cars on fire. :twisted:   In Germany, they drive them into the river! :D

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored
Title: Re: Wasserpagode
Post by: jmela on April 11, 2007, 11:58:29
Slightly OT, anybody catch the NOVA special on PBS a few years back titled "Frozen in Time"? It's one man's quest to fly a ditched b-29 out of Greenland where it sat since '47. I don't want to give away any details of the outcome, but it's an especially captivating piece of television IMO. Here's a link:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcripts/2303b29.html


quote:


In 1971, there were no surviving, flying B29 Superfortresses.  Despite looking for them for years, the Confederate (now Commemorative) Air Force found some that had been sitting in a gunnery range
in the desert near China Lake, California.  They had been used as target practice; had been stripped; vandalized and otherwise destroyed by the heat and the sun, having been there for 17 years.


Title: Re: Wasserpagode
Post by: glennard on April 11, 2007, 12:09:05
That was a sorry story.  Those guys had too much money and too little moxie.  Gotta have mixed emotions on that one.  On one hand - totally in sympathy with their quest and goal.  But, to screw up the last plane that way-no sympathy.  Makes every Shade Tree Mechanic proud of one's little successes with limited resourses.
    A success story was down in the Carolinas at Matthews Lake and the training bomber(B-24/25/26?) they pulled up.  Lots of macnines and money.   That Rhine SL should get such treatment!