Automatic Antenna for 280sl ?

[n/a]

Has anyone recently installed a Hirschman Antenna in a 280sl. The original electric antenna is over $400, and I would rather not spend that much. Any experienec with their AUTA-2040 ($40), or any other replacement?

[Douglas]

One of my friends who used to show his 280 SL will tell you that he prefers the Radio Shack electric antenna. To his credit, he won a number of national first place concours with that antenna installed.

(Personally though, I prefer the simplicity of a good old-fashioned manual Hirschmann.)

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260

[Bob G]

Doug:
I fine it hard to fine your friends story true. Unless he had the Hirishman outer fitting and used the gutts of an off brand electric antenna how can a Judge not notice a none orginal antenna? I would have deducted at lease 1/2 point. But then its hard to fine a nice SL  at a concours anymoreno one seems to remember how they went back together and there for each has their own views of what their car should look like. All the more reason to get the technical retoration manual out so our members and future Pagoda owners will have a clear defined picture of what is correct and what year and model they have.
Just my 2 cents this morning.
Bob Geco

[Douglas]

Bob, it's an absolutely true story. The car had some flaws that you or I might notice, but it was pretty stunning -- signal red with a tan Tex interior. It was sold for 39.5K on ebay in 2001 and the buyer was ecstatic.

Keep in mind that even national-level concours out here in the East are generally not of the same caliber as West coast events. Frankly, many of these shows are just a bunch of guys standing around in a field with a bunch of rusty old cars.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260

[Bob G]

Doug:
I was only pulling your antenna mast !!! Generally their are not alot of judges fimular with the Pagoda SL Its bad enough when a guy with a 1954 300SL gullwing has to write out a discription sheet to hand the judges so they don't ding him for items not found on his car untill 1955-56. Frankly the only a few of us guys are expert enough to point out the finer points of one of these diamons in the rough.

Bob Geco

[Bob G]

Good wine cost!!!!!!! but the tast remenist forever.

Bob Geco

[n/a]

I bought a 280SL with replaced fenders and no antenna, but cabling for the original was left. However, I opted for a somewhat later Hirshmann, where the antenna looks like the original with only 4 tall sections, but the motor is more modern. It cost about $200 from the oldest car radio specialist in the city. The Senior mechanic still had the bore templates for the Pagoda, and was real happy to do the job for me for a low cost.

/Lennart
280SL 1968, manual German spec