Author Topic: Sad - one less Pagoda on the road  (Read 3870 times)

GM

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Gary
1971 280SL - Sold
(98 from the end of production)
DB180 Silver Gray Metallic
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lreppond

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Re: Sad - one less Pagoda on the road
« Reply #1 on: April 16, 2021, 18:16:09 »
That is painful to watch!
~Len

1971 280 SL
576G red/251 Beige
4 speed manual
Family owned since new (father —> son)

doitwright

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Re: Sad - one less Pagoda on the road
« Reply #2 on: April 16, 2021, 21:16:10 »
Several cars were used to film that scene.  It's been previously discussed here.
Frank Koronkiewicz
Willowbrook, Illinois

1970 280SL Originally Light Ivory - Now Anthracite Gray Metallic

Theo113

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Re: Sad - one less Pagoda on the road
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2021, 12:13:00 »
Albeit Hollywood it is agonizing to watch both the demise of the Pagoda and the fear on the faces of those involved in the crash!  Note that the hardtop stayed basically intact just as it was designed to do by Mercedes-Benz.

doitwright

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Re: Sad - one less Pagoda on the road
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2021, 14:02:02 »
And the windshield exploded like tempered glass which they never are. They are laminated.
Frank Koronkiewicz
Willowbrook, Illinois

1970 280SL Originally Light Ivory - Now Anthracite Gray Metallic

georgem

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Re: Sad - one less Pagoda on the road
« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2021, 05:01:17 »
Hopefully, the fact that the hardtop stayed in place was due to its normal mounting rather than because it was welded on to hide a roll cage.
George McDonald
Brisbane
230 Sl
1973 VW Kombi Single Cab Ute
2022 Volvo XC 40 Pure (100% electric)

ChrisInNashville

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Re: Sad - one less Pagoda on the road
« Reply #6 on: April 18, 2021, 11:03:52 »
I’d long ago forgotten about this movie.  But what struck me is this:
- I’ve only had to lock up my breaks once
- a deer jumped in front of me in a very rural area
- in doing so, without moving the steering wheel, I fishtailed to the left - just like in this scene. 
- of course, I quickly compensated and straightened

Is this left bias natural or just a coincidence?
‘69 280 SL
‘24 GLE450e
Tennessee, USA

badali

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Re: Sad - one less Pagoda on the road
« Reply #7 on: April 18, 2021, 12:31:22 »
I have had a few hard braking incidents and my car favor a slide to the left also.  Maybe it's a built in feature... :o
Brad

1961 220 Sb
1966 230 SL
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Shvegel

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Re: Sad - one less Pagoda on the road
« Reply #8 on: April 22, 2021, 23:41:43 »
Front and rear brakes are separate but are not biased side to side.  That being said there is more weight on the left front corner because of the battery etc.  You may be experiencing increased braking on the left front due to the left front tire getting more bite as the nose dives. 

Surprised no one noticed the funky exhaust system that was rerouted to clear the pyrotechnic charge that rolls the car.

I remember a couple conversations on here about that scene.  Someone at that time was involved in the procurement and set up of the cars used.  There was a "Hero" car that looked good in closeups and the other cars were perfumed pigs.  Back then it wasn't economically feasible to fix rusty cars so we really didn't think of it as much of a loss.

Merc_Girl

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Re: Sad - one less Pagoda on the road
« Reply #9 on: April 25, 2021, 22:50:11 »
A bit of fettling, T-cut and a polish would be as good as new 🤣
230SL

ChrisInNashville

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Re: Sad - one less Pagoda on the road
« Reply #10 on: May 16, 2021, 13:50:49 »
Sadly, it wasn’t a very good movie...
‘69 280 SL
‘24 GLE450e
Tennessee, USA

Benz Dr.

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Re: Sad - one less Pagoda on the road
« Reply #11 on: May 16, 2021, 16:32:05 »
The production crew called me before the movie began filming and bought a speedometer that was used as a closeup just before the crash. That scene was filmed several times until they had all of the footage they needed.  I was told that they used a new front fender each time and then they made up a tubular frame behind it so they could quickly detach it after it was smashed up.
The hardtop was welded to the car. No way that thing would have survived a crash that brutal.

The crash was done at a much slower speed than the 80 MPH shown on the speedo, then the film was speeded up to look like 80 and then they went to slow motion. It looked fairly convincing.
Richard Gere ended up with the car used in the film but I don't believe he has it anymore.

   
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

ChrisInNashville

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Re: Sad - one less Pagoda on the road
« Reply #12 on: May 16, 2021, 16:50:19 »
The production crew called me before the movie began filming and bought a speedometer that was used as a closeup just before the crash. That scene was filmed several times until they had all of the footage they needed.  I was told that they used a new front fender each time and then they made up a tubular frame behind it so they could quickly detach it after it was smashed up.
The hardtop was welded to the car. No way that thing would have survived a crash that brutal.

The crash was done at a much slower speed than the 80 MPH shown on the speedo, then the film was speeded up to look like 80 and then they went to slow motion. It looked fairly convincing.
Richard Gere ended up with the car used in the film but I don't believe he has it anymore.

 
That it awesome insight!!
‘69 280 SL
‘24 GLE450e
Tennessee, USA