Author Topic: First Drive of the Season  (Read 3363 times)

neelyrc

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First Drive of the Season
« on: December 05, 2018, 04:01:14 »
I returned from Italy a couple of weeks ago and finally on Sunday after having worked off the hottest items on my “Honey do” list, I was able to get to the Pagoda.  We had a cloudless 70 plus degree day in Alabama.  In the morning I pulled the hard top, checked the fluids, adjusted the tire pressures and took a 15 minute spin around the neighborhood to confirm that all was ok. 

After lunch I dropped the wife for shopping and drove about 15 miles to a local car gathering supporting Toys for Tots.  Most of the cars gathered were modified Detroit Iron and Street Rods.  My car, a W107, and an AMG E63 were the only MBs in sight.  After a couple of hours of kicking tires, engaging some of the participants in conversation and receiving quite a few compliments on my car, I made the run back home collected my shopper on the way, arriving just at dusk.  Amazing how many shopping bags one can load in a Pagoda with the hard top off!

Looking forward to the next five months here in the deep South with frequent drives in the Pagoda.
« Last Edit: December 06, 2018, 02:47:20 by neelyrc »
Ralph

1969 280SL, 4 Speed Manual, Dark Olive (291H), Parchment Leather (256), Dark Green Soft Top (747)
1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SEL 4.5
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL
2007 BMW 328xi (E90)
Italy
2004 Toyota HiLux D4D Pickup
2008 BMW 330xd Futura Coupe' (E92)

49er

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Re: First Drive of the Season
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2018, 04:26:32 »
Beautiful Ralph, welcome home and hope your nice weather continues.

John
1969 280SL 003820
Un Restored, All Original, including the paint
Original Owner, Purchased September 18, 1968
4 speed manual, PS. 77094 miles
7157 miles since awoken from her 20+ yr "nap" in 2010

kampala

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Re: First Drive of the Season
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2018, 10:30:22 »
Ralph

Nice to see that gorgeous Pagoda out of its hibernation. 

Best

250sl - later - manual
280sl - 1971 - Auto - LSD

Aslam

Mike Hughes

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Re: First Drive of the Season
« Reply #3 on: December 05, 2018, 23:21:03 »
Welcome back!  Now you get to balance the front Zoll plate mounting with your new Pagoda Group Badge and see if your rear Zoll plate remembers its original home!
- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havana Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎

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Re: First Drive of the Season
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2018, 00:58:57 »
Welcome back home Ralph and taking your nice Pagoda for a spin must have been very high on your agenda :) It is certainly a wonderful car and so much fun to drive.

I drive mine whenever I can and yes also in Canadian Winters. Our winters here in Southern Ontario are mild enough often no snow on the ground. When the roads are nice and dry my Blue Tornado gets a short 15 to 20 KM exercise just to keep everything nicely lubricated.

Dieter
DD 2011 SL 63 AMG and my 69 Pagoda 280 SL

neelyrc

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Re: First Drive of the Season
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2018, 03:27:45 »
Thanks for the kind replies guys.  Although summer was wonderful in Italy as always, it is great to be back in Alabama.  The highlight of the summer was the Euro event in Provence at the end of September.  Of course I owe a debt of gratitute to Peter March (Suedtiroler on the forum) for providing me with a Pagoda for the event. Thanks again Peter! I’m looking forward to a few months of driving my own now.

Balancing my front bumper display is the next job on my list Mike.  I will post a picture when it is checked off.  The new Pagoda Group Badge looks great and one of the two I bought is at the ready on the work bench! I’m not quite sure what to to with the newly discovered rear Zoll plate.  Perhaps I will re-mount it for the next event I attend and take a few pictures.  It will get a prominent permanent display position in my garage for sure.

Thanks again for the posts.




Ralph

1969 280SL, 4 Speed Manual, Dark Olive (291H), Parchment Leather (256), Dark Green Soft Top (747)
1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SEL 4.5
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL
2007 BMW 328xi (E90)
Italy
2004 Toyota HiLux D4D Pickup
2008 BMW 330xd Futura Coupe' (E92)

gimp

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Re: First Drive of the Season
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2018, 20:32:16 »
looking good