What have you done to your Pagoda today?

[Paul & Dolly]

Given it a bit more room in the garage  !

as My 1936 Alvis Firebird has now been sold, I have had it
since 2002, and I made a 128%  return on its original  investment !

All the more to spend on the Pagoda....

[71Beige280SL]

Beautiful car and congratulations! I am so glad your Firebird doesn't have the big Firebird decal on the hood! 

[Flyair]

Paul, I cannot help my financial background deviation…. for the 128% return on investment, are you speaking of gross or net result (i.e. after expenses, fees, etc?

regardless of the above, it looks like you had fun with this amazing beauty… hope it found a good new nest  

[Paul & Dolly]

Hi Stan,

Funny that Alvis made the Firebird in 1935, about 30 years before the Pontiac model.

The Alvis ran ok when I bought it, but not to the standards I require, so the  Brakes, exhaust, tyres, springs, steering, engine all needed work in first 2 years

My very basic calculation here..

(Purchase cost to me in 2002 + costs to make it useable and reliable over the first 2 years)  =  " Investment"
 
(Sale price achieved - commission of 10%)   = "Return" in 2013

(Return - Investment) = "Profit"

("Profit"  /  Investment )  x 100  =  worked out as 128 %

It is only a hobby to keep me busy in the garage !  I had a great decade with the Alvis, - we did many trips and made many new friends.
I did not include  "running" costs as any car you use needs maintenance and fuels ect.

I fully expect the Pagoda will give me even more enjoyment, certainly my partner Dolly prefeers it, she does not get wet and cold now !
I am improving the Pagoda, and it has had over the winter new front springs, wipers, carpets, refurbished seats, and a Tonneau cover.

roll, on the spring..

Keep well
Paul

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Cees Klumper

Great Thread ! ... I started one on the M3Post.com site for my ///M3 it gets great responses / posts ... Thanks for starting it here!

Cheers,

Rolf-Dieter

As to what I did on my Pagoda today "I tightened the screw on the driver side sun-visor it kept slipping down yesterday when I took my daughter for a drive

Few steps I took in the past 2 weeks since I have the car ....

1) Removed the hardtop and tried to suspend it from the ceiling. Gave that up and ordered a stand and cover instead. Expect delivery by FedEx on Monday next.

2) Got all the papers in order to satisfy the ownership.

3) Ordered a personalized licence plate.

4) Admiring my new found friend every day.

5) Last Wednesday took a spin and got cut in the rain (few drops) had to put the soft-top up

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Beige280SL ... I will have the same problem (never ever will use my wife or daughter for this task). Glad to have a helping neighbour for this task, only I fear the hard top will remain in the stand and under cover for ever My soft top like yours seam to be new, I do have problems engaging the two front locks when the rear lock is engaged, same problem with the rear lock when the front locks are engaged. Is there a trick to it that I don't know? I hate to use force to close the three locks.

BTW, ordered my stand and cover for the top last friday, FedEx will deliver on Monday Right now the hard top is resting on the ground on a carpet of course

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

awolff280sl

Wow ... nice job, how long did this project take you and did you shoot some photos? if you did that would be great!

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hi Andy, I did not see this (before responding to your previous post). Can you post the link to the "wiki" Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

Rolf-Dieter

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hi Tom,

I accepted your challenge also and checked my 1969 280 SL Hood using a tape measure (soft one from wife's sowing basket ~grin~). I'm happy to report mine is right on the money. I take cantering very seriously, way back I always told my draftsmen "First God created the centreline" It turned out pretty good draftsmen and eventually good engineers.

Cheers,

Rolf-Dieter

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

mdsalemi, Quite typical in Europe Did you know that on May 25th they declared a Holiday in Germany when München played Dortmund in London UK ~grin~ so I was told anyway since 75% of the German population watched the game

Cheers,

Rolf-Dieter

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hi Jordan,

How and where did you order your passenger side mirror? My dealership here told me they are not available for my 1969 280 SL. sounds like they did not check hard enough now. Your feedback will be appreciated ... kind of miss the right hand side mirror. I know it will deviate adding the mirror from stock, still safety is more important in that case.

Cheers,

Rolf-Dieter

[Jordan]

Rolf, your 280SL will have a different mirror than my 230SL.  I have the goose neck mirror and they occasionally come up on e-bay.  That is where I would keep watch.  Alos, if talking to MB tell them you need a drivers side mirror for a RHD car.  Don't forget to come out to Mosport on June 15th.  In addition to the MB, Porsche and BMW car shows they are running historic car races all weekend.  Hopefully you and family can make it and I'll get the chance to lay eyes on your gorgeous car.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hi Jordan, I understand ... Perhaps I just leave it stock and not add a mirror. Looking at the Top Gear video again I have the option of ordering a Euro RHS mirror like the one that Jerremey C of Top Gear is driving here

Clip to Top Gear Season 3 of 2003 Episode 8 ---> http://www.streetfire.net/video/top-gear-season-3-episode-8-all-rightsbbc-uk_part-1_2196804.htm

[49er]

 Today was the annual "white knuckle" job of hoisting off the HT and stowing it away for the year. We really do have it down to a science but always scary when the the top is dangling high over the car. Alway a glad to back the car out from under it and lower it down on to the cart and it is safely tucked away. Out tomorrow for a drive.

Here is a picture I posted a few years back. The block and tackle does not have the "twist" anymore

John

[Lou F]

I refilled the air conditioner of my 1969 280SL with R134a refrigerant.  That project when well and is spelled out in “Do it Yourself A/C recharging”.
Then I when for an hour long drive and that when trouble started.  It was about 85F outside.  First I noticed that the 280SL was losing power when going up a shallow grade at 50 MPH.  Then the car was sputtering and I was afraid it will stall.  I then filled the tank with about 9 gal of fuel (the fuel gauge is not working and I thought I was low on fuel).  That got me back home when I went shopping for some fuel cleaner.  That took about an hour and the car cooled down.  I made it back and added the bottle of cleaner to the tank and ran the car again.  And again I felt I was losing power so I returned home and the car stalled out just climbing up my drive way.  Then I could not crank the engine.  This 280SL has the automatic transmission and the ignition was acting like the car was in gear (Drive).  I cycled from  Park to 2 and back again and I was able to start the car.  Then the car would not go into drive.  I looked under the car and saw the shifter linkage has separated from the transmission.  I was able to reach under and reconnect the shift rod to the transmission.  But it looks like the bolt holding the two together snapped off with the nut.  I was able get it into drive and put the car in my garage but the linkage separated when I put it into park.  I decided to have my 280Sl towed to the MB dealer to fix the linkage and trouble shoot the sputtering problem.  I got the linkage back together in neutral so I can push the car  into the street and wait for the tow truck.
The sad news was I was going to take the car to its first car show on Father’s Day. 
Oh well Happy Father's Day.
Lou F

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

I took my new addition (a 1969 MB 280 SL) to the legend of the Autobahn. My round trip was 640 KM (398 Miles). It was my first long trip since finding and purchasing this fine automobile last month. I meet many people from the MB club and otherwise.It was a fun day, thanks for organizing such a fine event.



Members of the Toronto MB Club Section organized this event.



Five (5) Pagoda MB showed up for the event it was a fine sunny day.

[49er]

Rolf, glad to see you are enjoying your SL and looks like there was a good turnout of Pagodas. Any belong to members of our Forum?

John

[Markbhai]

I took mine to a car show at Harewood House near Harrogate, UK. Its an annual affair, which takes place every Fathers Day.  The car looked well and it was one of the first times I could show off my new engine bay after having it restored over the winter.  Mine was one of only two Pagodas there, but there were about six R107 and around a dozen or so later SLs.

I am proud to say mine won the 'best two door' contest.

Mark.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hi John,

Peter (PJ) and Marcus was there with there Pagoda and a few others I guess all are from this forum here (sorry cannot recall all the names). One fellow was from Qubec Canada, his green Pagoda was for sale, I think most of the organizers are also members of this club here. Doug Dees was there with one of his fine cars ... see photo below. It was a fun time all around.

[JamesL]

Took my dash pads/under-cards off to try and get to my immobiliser. Which on checking appears to be broken in the "on" position - ie is immobilising the car entirely. I managed to get it home with help from two strategically positioned  (eeerrrr, warm) wires (immobiliser doesn't stop the fuel pump!) but the joy of modern sealed unit electronic security stopped me actually using the car...

So in one respect it works, but in another...

[pj]

Hi James,
I know what a "bonnet" is, and a "roundabout" and a "trunk call," but please tell me what is an immobiliser??

[Tomnistuff]

Good question.  The only English immobiliser that I know of is a Lucas electrical system.  -- Sorry!  I couldn't resist.

Tom Kizer

[Larry & Norma]

 

[JamesL]

It's an electronic doojamiwotsit... a doomahickey, if you will

It is a level of security on the ignition system to stop the car being hotwired from inside or, even if the thief has a key, may delay the engine start until they find the way past the immobiliser

In my case, it simply stops the ignition (from the key) getting through the firewall and to the starter motor or coil.

Seeing as no-one here pays a blind bit of notice to a car alarm, this will, hopefully, stop my car being driven away... trailered away, yes, broken into yes, but it'll go nowhere under it's own steam. The tracker system I have in the car will help me find it if it does go for a ride on a flat bed truck..

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Last Sunday took her to Mannheim, ON, (up here in Canada), it was the annual meet shine and show Mercedes Picnic. Had a few rain drops along the way and put up the soft top. Meet Benz Dr and a few other familiar faces. It was great fun.

Today I took her to the local Thursday Steve Plunkett Estate in London car show ... about 50 Corvettes rolled in this evening. Three SL cars were there too including my 280, the other 2 were both 380 SL.